we're going back...

Only this time, Puerto Vallarta will be just one stop along the way...

80's and sunshine for us starting April 24 through May 1st!!!

triumph in SLC

So happy to report that I finished my third Half Marathon on Saturday, and it was an unbelievable day for running.  I can honestly say I enjoyed it, and that doesn't happen often. ;)  Despite my denials that I was not competing for a personal best, I secretly hoped that I would beat my previous record, and luckily for me I did!!!  I trimmed last year's time by about 4 minutes, and have been feeling pretty good about myself ever since!

My review of the SLC Half Marathon:

The weather was perfect - cool and overcast.  The course was crowded but energized.  The elevation change was quite favorable too - a loss of about 600 ft.  Overall, I can only come up with one complaint: a noticeable incline during the 11th mile that had all of us grunting and cursing under our breath.  But the finish line made up for it, I think.

Clint says he would have loved to run it too; however, he has had a busy season of studying for his PE exam and he is now beginning training for the Wasatch Back in June.  So, in short, the man has been plenty busy!  He still accompanied me on race day in more ways than one.  He dropped me off at the start line, waited in line with me for a porta-potty (see picture), took pictures along the way, and greeted me with a big grin and congratulations at the end.  Thank you so much Clinters!  It was amazing having you there.

Annie and Bri, a major shout-out to you and my favorite nieces, Avie and Eliza!!!  The sight of you guys cheering for me was nothing short of miraculous.  (I'm sure snoozing Maxwell was happy to be there, too.)  Thanks so much you guys! :)

Anyway... I felt so good about this race that I had to write a letter to myself to remind myself to do it again.  I think I am hooked on this running business. Hahaha.  I love to sign up for races with family members too... maybe there will be a family team for the Wasatch Back in the next year or so?  Count me in!

SLC Half Marathon

The throng at the start line.

pix from Half Marathon

These files would not all fit in one email, so I am spreading them over multiple posts. :)

Fwd: pix from Half Marathon

The finish line at the Gateway and me with my post-run fuel.

From my runner self to my future self:

Dear Self in 2012,

I don't know what particular trials are riding you right now, I don't know what items are adding stress to your schedule.  Frankly, it doesn't matter.  I want you to sign up for a Half Marathon right now.  Go to the computer.  Right now.  Find a race.  Any place, any day... just sign up. 

Do it.  It will be worth it.  You will have some days where you know you are too tired to run.  You will go running on some days and deal with side cramps and maybe chafing shoes.  You will ache.  You will run into the wind for miles and want to curse out loud.  But Self, you will also have rewarding days.  Days when you feel the pavement flying beneath your feet.  You will feel the movement of your entire body from your head to your feet, flowing together.  Your blood will pump in your ears, and your breath will set a rhythm for your entire body.  You will feel the energy of the ground beneath you, and you will feel the joy of the sky above you. 

Remember the Salt Lake City Half Marathon of 2011?  I just ran it on Saturday, and it was one of those joyful days.  I looked at the runners around me--thousands of them--and marveled at the symbolism they represented.  Thousands of humans with a determined spirit inside them came out on the same day, April 16 of 2011, to conquer something difficult.  Everyone had their own cause, their own motivation, to pound out their miles that day; but we were all on the road together, proving to ourselves that we could.

That is why I run.

An epiphany came to me somewhere between 5 and 6 miles.  I had just passed an unexpected group of family members cheering for me.  They waited for me on the side of the road, and cheered out to me as I passed.  I think the picture of their faces is imprinted there forever now!  I felt like my legs were lifting off the ground without any command needed from my brain.  The only word I can think of to describe the moment was pure, overwhelming gratitude.  For the support, for the strength I felt, for my body's ability to do what it was doing, for the day, for the moment, and for the husband with the camera who knew what it all meant to me!! :)

I'm convinced that the "runner's high" is not only a happy side effect. God gives runners--and, indeed, any athlete--endorphins to encourage them to fight through the physical strain.  Like a little reminder that doing something that uncomfortable comes with a gratification you won't get somewhere else.  Nevertheless... in case my body forgets the feeling of those lovely endorphins... Dear Head and Heart, this letter is for you.  Remember that you actually WANT to go back for more!

Much love and keep fighting,

Your Self,

Samantha

I'm not even worried, and yet...

I'm considering sending this picture of Clint to the Professional Engineering exam reviewers.  What do you think? I can't say no to the puppy-dog face, so... how could they?  They couldn't!!!  I know professional engineers have hearts in there somewhere!  Haha.

 

It's a moot point, anyway.  Because I know my man aced the socks off of that test.  He has studied almost every day for the past few months.  The guy is a natural when it comes to preparation!  The PE exam took all of 10 hours, but at last... at long last... he is done.  I wasn't at all surprised to hear that he breezed through the first half, with only a minor portion of doubt in the second half.  So, even though I know we'll get favorable results back in a couple of months... I can't help believing in the persuasive power of this face!

 

Congratulations, Clint.  On the meltingest puppy face I've ever succumbed to.  Not bad on the exam, either! ;) You are amazing!

Me and Half Mary on Saturday...

I like to refer to the leg-stretcher I will be running on Saturday as if she were an old friend.  A person.  A competitor.  A voice inside my head saying, "Yes this is hard.  But Samantha, YOU CAN DO HARD.  Hard feels good.  This is You time.  This is for you."  Because you see, Half-Mary is not merely a term for 13.1 miles.  She is like my personal trainer and an unexpected BFF.  I wonder... since I've already run 2 half's (halves?), perhaps I could just refer to her as one whole person.  My personal trainer, Mary.  And then after Saturday, when I talk about her, she will be Mary Andahalf.  Hahaha.

 

Anyway, if anyone out there harbors secret interest in more information about the Salt Lake Marathon and Half Marathon, here is the source. 

 

Let's hope "partly cloudy" will be my only nemesis on Saturday.  (I'm watching this ksl.com weather forecast like a pair of Geico eyeballs on a stack of bills).  Is it just me or was Spring supposed to have started about 3 weeks ago?