run. eat. sleep? repeat...

This year me and Clint had the opportunity to run the Ragnar Relay race, fondly known as the Wasatch Back.  We had such a fun time - I love hanging out with him and even doing crazy things every now and then.

Our team of 12 was called "ASA...P?"  We were invited by our Bishop, whose company was sort of sponsoring our team.  I like the yellow shirts.

I already know that runners are a strange people. The Wasatch Back relay race just confirms this.  I'm just telling it straight here, okay?  You HAVE to be a little bit insane to voluntarily put yourself through the experience of running 3 different relay legs in the space of about 20 hours, with little to no sleep, living out of a van shared by 5 other sweaty runners, and living for the sight of a Honey Bucket on the horizon. (Not to mention that you are actually paying for this experience, as if you thought that the Ragnar Relay logo represented an entirely different sort of R and R.)

I guess that puts me on the far end of the strangeness spectrum since I whole-heartedly admit that I thoroughly enjoyed myself during the Wasatch Back.

I also loved watching Clint run and taking pictures of him in action. This was the very first leg of the race - Clint was Runner 1.

I was Runner 2.  This is my 2nd leg, and the one that hurt the most.  I still got about 14 kills though!

We had so much fun.

The fun factor is majorly affected by the people you share a van with.  My van was awesome. I have 5 new Ragnar BFF's!!!  It was me, Clint, Creed and his daughter Emily, her friend Laura (speedy little thing), and Creed's co-worker Pam.  We tallied our van's road kills for a grand total of 439!!!  (About 84 of which were contributed by Yours Truly).  We had a great time tallying our kills and goofing off.   Ha ha.

I also like to run out to support other runners.  Obviously.

Maybe there is a running formula to prove that the crazier your running experience is, the more thrilling your runner's high will be.  Because when I was running my 3rd leg at about 3 a.m., in near blackness and with the occasionally twinkling back-light from another runner up ahead, I thought to myself, "WOW, this is COOL!!!!"  Sure enough, I was dosed up on exedrin and protein bars, but I couldn't help but notice what a unique and electrifying adventure I was having.  When else in my life was I ever going to run an 8:30 average pace at 3 a.m. under a full moon at a chilling 40 degrees while counting the "kills" I passed along the shoulder?  The answer is: next time I sign up for Ragnar!!!

You better believe we will do this again! :)

Here is Clint getting ready for his night run, his 3rd leg.  It was chilly!!

Don't be surprised that I am actually smiling in this pic.  I was really having a great time.

We did not get to hang out with Van #2 a lot during the race, but the accomplishment would not have been complete without them!  We all crossed the finish line together triumphantly!

Of course, the accomplishment of completing the 192 miles from Logan to Park City would not be so great if it did not come with struggles along the way.  Nothing about Ragnar was comfortable.  Everyone in the van experienced an ailment at one point or other... or continuously.  Stomach pain, knee pain, calf pain, blisters, severe tiredness, wooziness, sun burns, thirst, the emergent need for a honey bucket... Oh yes, we were not exempt from runner's ailments. But... when will you ever get the opportunity to experience all of them in the space of the same day?  If that's not an enticing enough selling point, I don't know what is.

At the finish line, we laughed about our misadventures...

,,, and captured one final memory of being a proud runner of Van #1!

bet you haven't seen it like this

As it turns out, June this year in Utah defies everyone's accusation that it "should be SUMMER!"  June, in fact, insists that it is actually Spring.  Putting aside the fact that the official day of Summer Solstice is not until next Tuesday, school is out, pools are open, and the entire Salt Lake Valley is sitting by its window with their pool toys ready to go at a moment's notice.

 

Some of us, however, are indignant.

 

Despite the rain and cold; some of us persist in going for runs outside while pretending to dodge the raindrops, or we go up the canyon for some weenie-roasting only to have the rain drive us back to the car before we're done eating s'mores.  Some of us also go to the drive-in movies and end up having to turn on the windshield wipers. 

 

But there are unexpected rewards for those of us who chance the rain crashing our summer parties.  At the Redwood drive-in last Friday, for instance, "Thor" was accompanied by a thrillingly serendipitous lightning- and thunderstorm. 

 

Now that's a surround-sound, XD experience you just can't purchase!!

it's close enough

I've often said that I wish I could have seen Clint in person during his high school football-playing days.  I have seen film clips and highlights of my young huz-to-be in his Skyline games, loyally recorded by his parents.  Nowadays I get to watch him play in his flag football league.  I have to admit to a schoolgirl-like crush as I watch him sprint across the field, scoring touchdowns and winking over at me when I cheer.

 

I still haven't seen the Skyline Eagle bald look in person, but I definitely like the athletic buzz.

what i love

Firstly: this man.

Secondly: the fact that I am married to him and I can have a party with him any ol' night of the week if we want to. Such as this past Tuesday night, for instance.  (Clint, remember when one of us had to DRIVE somewhere if we wanted to hang out?)

Thirdly: cheese pull-aparts from The Pie. Mmm.