~London's Run~

Last weekend I did London's Run for the second time. I really like this race, because it is out at Schnepf Farms and the atmosphere is so fun! This year they had a little problem on the course because of the mud created by the huge rainstorm we had a couple weeks ago. So I guess they changed the course at the last minute, but not all of the volunteers were sure which way we were supposed to go. So I'm running along, getting a great time (because of my amazing Garmin!) and all of a sudden I come to a sign that says "Mile 5". And I'm like, wait a second, I don't even remember seeing a "Mile 4' sign! So I look at my watch, and sure enough it says I have gone 4.3 miles. About half a mile back there was a "T" in the road, some people were going to the right for a little out-and-back stretch but the volunteer guy was yelling at them to come back and yelling at us to go left. I am thinking that that little out-and-back that some people did was the .7 mile that I was missing! And, around mile 5 (according to my watch) all of a sudden there was a big group of fellow 10K runners that came out of nowhere and joined up with us, which I was really confused about. I didn't bother asking them where they came from because now I knew that the course was messed up. Also it didn't help that the 10K and half-marathon runners joined up at several points on the course! Crazy!
All in all, I only ran 5.5 miles when it was supposed to be 6.2! I told people afterwards, "I feel cheated. And I feel like I cheated." haha! Plus, I'm not complaining about the 1-hour 10K time on my record now...although I probably won't count it among my PR's. That would be cheating.
To make up for all of this, I am running another 10K on the 20th. I think I can get a pretty good time on this one, and hopefully their course will be more organized. It's at Las Sendas, which is a uber nice neighborhood in North Mesa. Looking forward to it! 

Can I get a holla?!

I've lost 5 pounds!! Now only 10 more to my goal, I am pretty sure I can do it!!

Holla!!

My secret? Eat less, but eat more of the good stuff. Make sense? Also, get at least 5 days of exercise in. I usually take Fridays and Saturdays off. My pilates class is kicking my butt (literally!!) and then two days at the gym on the treadmill and weights, and then Saturdays I do long runs. This Saturday is London's Run, I'm soooo excited because it was my first real race last year, so it'll be fun to revisit it and reminisce over the last year. Hopefully I can beat my time, but I doubt it. For some reason I am slower now than I was a year ago. I think it might be because of all those long, slow miles I did during marathon training. I've been doing lots of speedwork lately, so hopefully my pace will pick up! I'm predicting a 1hour 10minute finish. We'll see! Hopefully with the help of my Garmin I can keep up a good pace throughout.

Future races- I think I am going to do either the Utah Valley Half OR Full marathon in June. It all depends on whether I get into St George again, which I am really really hoping I do! I won't know until May, though. Also, another prospect is taking a trip up to Logan for a couple of days and doing the Bear Lake half or full. I would LOVE to visit Logan, I haven't been back since I left in 2008. So, it's been way too long. I'm still excited, for whatever I decide to do!

It finally feels like my life is getting in order. I have a wonderful new job, my social life is looking up, school should be easy this semester, basically life can't get any better! Actually...it could. If I had a boyfriend. hahaha!! Other than that, perfect!

My best friend.....

Meet my best friend.

It's a watch, but not just any watch.

It's my Garmin Forerunner 405.

I seriously cannot get enough of this thing!!

That's all.

Christmas!

Christmas was ah-maze-ing! First and foremost, we fed the homeless Christmas morning, just like we did last year. It was such a neat experience, and one I wish everyone could enjoy. We set up under a bridge in Phoenix with all of our cook stoves and fed a couple hundred homeless people. Whew, it was hard work! Good thing there was our family and a few other random families that my parents knew. My mom invited them all on Facebook. hehe! Anyway, I truly believe that serving those less fortunate while being together as a family was definitely the best way to spend Christmas. It made the rest of the day so much better, it also made me much more thankful for the things that I have! Seeing those who have nothing be so grateful for something as small and simple as a hot breakfast really changes my perspective on things. I hope that this is a tradition that we keep on having for as long as possible. I almost can't imagine Christmas without it!

Well, for Christmas my mom (I mean Santa, of course) got me an amazing device called the Garmin Forerunner 405. On first look, you might just think it's a glorified (although large) wrist watch. Don't be decieved. This baby packs a very accurate GPS system which measures my pace and the distance I run and also comes with a heart rate monitor that measures my HR continuously. This way, I know exactly how fast I am running by just a glance at my watch! Amazing, right? This will change running for me forever. The best part, my favorite part, is (wirelessly!) loading all the info from my runs onto my computer. This, in turn, is automatically transferred onto the Garmin Connect website, where I can analyze everything from average pace to total distance to my route...to basically everything else. I LOVE this thing!! Might just be the best present I have ever gotten!! Thanks Mommy!!

With the new year coming up tomorrow night (2010! where did the time go?!) I decided to give my blog a makeover. You like? I do! I even downloaded a picture editing software and made myself a header. I also changed my title to "Always an adventure..." because honestly, when am I not doing something insane? Case in point- I went skydiving for my birthday. Best. adrenaline. rush. EVER. Holy cow. Words cannot describe the feeling of jumping out of a perfectly good airplane into thin air. I would be an addict if it wasn't so expensive! I really believe in living life in the moment, but don't believe I don't plan for the future as well!

p.s.- If you have not read The Hunger Games, stop what you are doing right now. Borrow it, buy it, I don't care what you do to get a hold of that book.....READ IT. Might just be the best book I've ever read. So so so intense!! I couldn't put it down. There's also a second book already out (it's a trilogy) but the third isn't due until August of 2010!! Total cliffhanger!!! I got them both for Christmas...and finished them within 5 days. hehe :)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Dreams deferred...

So, I was planning on doing a half-marathon at the end of January. I guess it wasn't meant to be, because three days ago I got sick. I don't see myself running for at least a week (head cold= hard to breathe deeply!) so I decided I would face reality and downgrade to a simple 10K that day instead of the more intense half. There's no way I could catch up on training for a half after being sick. With the race less than 7 weeks away, it's not really possible.

In other news, I ran my first Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving and LOVED it! Although it was pretty warm and during the race I wanted to die, afterwards I felt great, because that is 600 calories I didn't have to worry about that day!! hehe! Also being around alllll those people was pretty fun, and it was very laid-back event. Definitely going to be an annual thing for sure!

Welp, I am for sure looking forward to Christmas. This weekend I am having a big birthday/Christmas/end of finals party at my house, and I am way excited. These parties always end up being good! Then, on Monday I am SKYDIVING on my birthday!!!!!! holy cow. Talk about super adrenaline rush. It is official. I am adrenaline junkie for sure!! Then there is Christmas, and all the awesomeness that it brings, and then school doesn't start until after the middle of January!! Can you say sweet?? (sweet!!)

I LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR!

(except for the sick part, of course!)

Can't wait for Thanksgiving!

First of all, because I am pretty sure I will be running that 10K Thanksgiving morning. I ran 4 miles tonight and it felt amazing, and I even kept a fairly good pace throughout the whole thing. I need another event to run so that I don't get lazy!



Second of all, the food. Duh. I honestly don't know how people can eat oven-cooked turkey. It is, quite frankly, like trying to eat cardboard. Dry and tasteless. Now, pit-roasted turkey.....my mouth is watering just thinking about it. Pure juicy goodness straight from heaven (or hell? since it comes from underground?). Also, besides turkey, we also roast some buffalo roast and pork roast. Now you can see why our Thanksgivings are better than yours.



Third of all, being with friends and family. This year is our "anti-family" Thanksgiving, and we're having a couple families from our ward and neighborhood over for the day. Way fun!!



Fourth of all, I get to go on my first bull hunt ever!! The day after Thanksgiving we are heading up to unit 23, and I swear I will not leave that place, nay, I will not sleep (comfortably) or eat (a lot) until I find the biggest bull in that forest and take it down with my bare hands (a.k.a. my rifle). The elk have been warned. I am coming!



Fifthly, after Thanksgiving comes Christmas. And with Christmas comes Christmas music. And cold weather. And happiness. And cute winter clothes. I have been trying my hardest not to ruin the Christmas music by listening to too much too soon, just a little bit here and there. Since August :). Can't help it! I love Christmas music way too much.



Anyway, this month is turning out to be crazy! But I like being busy much more than being...not busy. AND...I might get a full-time job soon!!! Well, between now and January I am getting interview and I desperately need this job so PRAY for me!! Thanks! :)

HAVE A GOOD NOVEMBER!

Feels like forever...

It seriously feels like forever since I last went running. In reality, it's been like, a week and a half. I think tonight I'm going to try again. After all, I still want to do that turkey trot on Thanksgiving, and I can't run a 10K if I'm not prepared.

Anywho, I am so glad it is finally FALL! Although October was really hot in the beginning then really cold towards the end, I think I'd rather have the cold any day. Hopefully November doesn't heat up again. I'd be pretty ticked if it did.

Halloween was kind of fun. I am very anti dressing up, but I have a friend who also didn't dress up so I don't feel dumb. Anyway, before we went to the YSA party we went to a haunted house that was going on right behind my house. It was so fun and scary! The worst part was when people would jump out at me. And then at the end, if you run out there is a chain saw guy and he will chase you for a bit and rev up the chain saw right behind you. Yeah, I screamed. And ran, then screamed even more. It was a blast.

The single adult party at the stake center was pretty fun, actually the only fun part was seeing how creative everyone got with their costumes. I saw Nacho Libre and his friend walking around shirtless. I can't even name all of the costumes that I saw, but the Nacho one stood out because I almost got touched by "Jack Black's" naked stomach. Ugh.
The rest of the night wasn't too interesting. So I'm not even gonna bother. But that's how I like my Halloween, which in my opinion is the most pointless holiday ever. Let's dress up like buffoons, eat a bunch of candy and get fat. Sounds like a typical American holiday to me! Haha!

Welp, we are now into my favorite time of the year. Thanksgiving and Christmas!!! I LOVE this time of year. Especially the weather. It's mostly awesome because now if I want to go running or go on a bike ride, I don't have to wake up obscenely early or wait until it gets dark. Love it!!