...{she's} going the distance... {she's} going for speed...

i want to dedicate this post to my AMAZING sister who ran her first half marathon in vegas and put my small accomplishment into perspective. jacks you are my hero (you and dad) and i can't wait to run a half with you and dad. together we gotta bring down the old man. i love you jackie and i'm so proud of you. you did it!!!!

on our way to vegas for the relay

*me a runner? can you believe it? it's probably more like jogger than runner, but it's more than walking that's for sure :).  my dad and sister started running a little while ago.  and everyone in the fam minues my mom and myself have been doing a few races together.

i ran the 6 mile leg and brad ran the 7.1
bry ran the 6 mile leg and my dad ran the 7.1
my sister ran the whole half {13.1}

i was in complete denial that i could run a mile let alone a 10K since i graduated from highschool.  mental block. HUGE mental block for me. running is SO boring. SO boring.  bry even promised to make me the best running playlist in the world... still not motivated.  i would much rather do something else with my time.

finished just over six miles in 59 minutes

then talk started going around about a half marathon two person relay in las vegas. everyone (my dad, my sister, my bro-in-law, and my husband) were telling me i should do it with them.  ha, yeah right!

my dad demolished the 8 minute lead i gave brad. he's unstoppable.

then out of no where came a completely insane idea to my mind that i would do it with them! crazy i know. the race was in three weeks. too late to start training? oh well.  here's goes nothing.  i put it in my mind i was going to do it, and i did.  i went from not running at all to running over six miles. 

six tunnels run at the hoover dam

just before starting the race {sorry they are out of order too lazy to fix :)}

it's all mental. whatever clicked in my brain made it possible for my, a sluggish, out of shape, 26 year old body to complete the task and ENJOY it. :)  yes that's right i ENJOYED it.  by the time i hit mile 6 i'm rearing and ready to go for more. on a side note, i really struggle with miles 1-3-3.5.  i want to die during those first few miles. but, after i hit my fourth mile i feel like i can run for days.

after the race. both our relay teams placed in the top 10

i remember on my first six plus mile run... looking up and thanking Heavenly Father.  this had to be a blessing from above. being able to run this long and have a smile on my face. i was really feeling like i had one of those movie moments where everything just seems so perfect (i.e. meg ryan's bike ride into town at the end of city of angels, thank you bry for remembering that) and then WHAM... something goes terribly wrong (i.e. being hit by a truck). 

pat's run in april 4.2 miles {my number}

i was half expecting that to have one of those horrific things happen to me on my approach home.  and i was thinking to myself as a went along... i'm ok with that.  i feel so great right now and so grateful to my maker for giving me this opportunity that i wouldn't mind if this was it.  RANDOM i know right? well, thankfully that didn't happen.  and thankfully i was able to finish the two races without serious injury.

before pat's run. we were in corral number nine
no finish line pictures.
my time was 38 minutes and 42 seconds

i think i may well be addicted to race day. i hate the in between. i hate trying to find time to run after getting home from work. but oh well.  it's been a great opportunity to be with my family and spend time together. *bry may disagree with that statement seeing as i don't like to run with him or another person (i.e. it's a mental thing for me... i worry so much about the other person that i can't find my stride or "happy place" because i'm freaking out that i'm responsible for the other person finding their's... i have no idea if that even makes sense).

to bry: kudos to you for running after your knee surgery which can be seen here: surgery. warning the post is kind of graphic.
to my dad: even with your knee gone you still beat me every time! i'm coming for you daddy. look out.

daddy and his girls
thank you for the awesome gift of running shoes

if you have any running tips or great music to listen to while you run please share.  i'm really new at this and i'm excited for our next outing as a family. 

things i've learned during this process:
one. put your mind to it, trust in the Lord, and you can do anything.
two. shoes make or break my run. i first ran in these and had a so so experience. then switched to these and LOVE it. visit a store that will let you try a shoe for 90 days.  it's great. like this one in AZ: RoadRunner.
three. play music that makes you wanna move and makes you happy.  i did put an "angry" song on my playlist to push me past all the "haters" i have encountered in my life (no names necessary).
four. smile. when i smile while i run i run better.
five. be grateful.