It's a Strange Feeling.....

In 2 days, it will be time to sign up for the 2014 St. George Marathon.  It's a strange feeling to not be signing up for it!  It feels like I just signed up for the 2013 marathon!  The excitement of it all is so fun and parts of me are jealous of those signing up.  There are also parts of me that are ok with not signing up and doing it this year!  The main and almost only reason I am not doing it this year is because I need to give my family more of my time this summer!  Last year my family sacrificed a lot so that I could be around for my training runs on Saturdays.  So, we didn't do a lot of camping or Saturday activities because after a run I'd usually be dead to the world the rest of the day.  This year I want to be able to go and do family things and not worry that I got to bed too late or that I'm not in town because I need to be able to do my long run.  Also, mentally, doing the marathon right now scares the crap out of me.  So, this year I will continue to do half marathons and keep my running up.  I'm also getting the breast reduction, which would take out of HUGE CHUNK of the training I would be doing.  However, 2015 I will be coming back to sign up!  I want to do it again to prove to myself that I can do it better and finish stronger!!!!!  I have it in me!

Spectrum 10k 2014

 Everyone lined up at the starting line!

 Kendra and I, right before we lined up to start the race

 (Shannon, Laura, Nancy, Cheryl)

These amazing ladies came to see me do this race!

 Kendra and I, after we had finished the race!

Cruising down Snow Canyon, probably around mile 3.

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On March 25, 2014, I ran in the Spectrum 10k race.  My goal for this race was to finish in 1:10.  I did this race for the first time last year and finished in 1:28.  Last year I struggled BIG TIME and had to have Amber hold my hand at the end to get me across the finish line.  This year I finished strong and I wasn't in tears!  I felt really good this time!  I love running in Snow Canyon.  #1: It's BEAUTIFUL there!  #2:  It's a lot of downhill so, a lot easier to run on!  We loaded the bus around 7:45 and headed up to the starting line.  When we got off the bus, it was COLD!!!  The win was blowing and it was very chilly!  I was glad to start the race so I could warm up.  The first mile went by FAST!  Then I started to hit the rolling hills and slowed down a bit, but not too bad.  Around mile 4 I started struggling with my breathing.  The wind was blowing against me so, that made it a little harder.  At mile 5, I ran into my friend's Nancy and Cheryl.  They were there waiting for me!  It was perfect timing because I was starting to get winded and discouraged.  However, seeing them gave me an extra boost.  PLUS, they had gotten me a smores topped donut and I wanted it BAD!  So, maybe that gave me the extra push to finish strong.  Once I got to about 5.75 miles in I got really excited because I knew I was very close to the end so, I started to pick up my speed.  Right after mile 6, my calves started to cramp up and get tired so, I had to slow down just a minute.  Then, I could really see the finish line, I saw my sister-in-law (Shannon, and my friend's (Nancy and Cheryl). At that point I picked up my speed, pushed myself, and sprinted to the end!  I felt AWESOME!!!!!  My watch said I finished in 1:13 but, I didn't really believe it because my watch had been off, like usual, so I just didn't trust it.  I was worried it was more around 1:15.  I checked my official time and I finished in 1:13!!!!!!  I am MORE than happy with that time!  I knocked of 15 minutes from my previous time!  That is HUGE for me!!!!