the Ogden Runs

Last Halloween, my dear friend- Dayna- talked me into running the Ogden Marathon.  We signed up the next morning and the fun of training began.  We didn't really start doing any long runs until after the holidays were over.  I will be honest... I sucked when we first started... and I don't know that I ever got too much stronger.  I had a few good 15 mile runs, where I felt pretty good after.  But those were few and far between.  However, I stuck with it, and Dayna stuck with me.  She is by far a much more dedicated runner than I am.  She was so kind to get up extra early to make Saturday runs possible (working around work and baseball schedules).  She even made a trip up to Salt Lake so we could get a run in down Provo Canyon- before going to see conference in April.  I cannot say enough about how awesome Dayna is as a running partner.  I love training with her!

Marathon weekend rolled around and Kami and I left Friday morning to drive up north.  We stopped at the Lunds and met up with Nana, Papa, Raleigh, Kaci and the triplets.  We went to the new mall in Salt Lake... I think it is called City Creek or City Center... something like that.  I am not really the shopper type, believe it or not.  How could I not be growing up with my mom and Kami?  But for some reason, I have never just loved shopping.  However, I do love hanging out with my family... even though that usually entails some type of shopping.  I must admit I do enjoy shopping if I can find some great deal.

After shopping, Kami and I headed up to Ogden for the expo and to pick up my race packet.  The expo is always fun as there is a buzz of excitement in the air.  I got my race bib, time chip, and the coveted shirt.  We walked through the expo and met up with Dayna.  Dayna had just fallen in a hole outside the expo and messed up her knee.  It was swelling and hurting and she was about to cry.  I was about to cry too.  She was not sure she was going to able to run in the morning because she could hardly stand as it was.  Dayna left to go ice her knee and Kami and I left to do more shopping and get something to eat.  

We ate at Rumbi's, which is one of my favorite restaurants up north.  I had brown rice (my attempt at carb loading), chicken, and vegetables.  Something didn't seem right about my dinner.  The chicken seemed a little more chewy than normal.  I didn't think much about it until 3 am when my stomach began to churn.  I kept having throw-up burps and feeling queasy.  Kami woke up at 4:30 and we were off to the buses.  Dayna was there- thank heaven- and she and I loaded the bus about 5:20.  Her knee was still hurting, but felt better than the day before.  My stomach was settling down and I was feeling better about running.  

The start-line of the race was cold.  I didn't think it would be that cold and was certainly not prepared for it. I shivered for an hour waiting for the race to begin.  It finally started and we headed down Ogden Canyon.  Usually after 3 miles, I kinda find my groove/pace and I settle into running.  By mile 6, I still had not found that groove.  By mile 8, I understood why.  I had developed the runs.  I spent the next 10 miles in every porta-potty I passed.  It was very frustrating, not to mention gross.  I sprinted between aid stations just hoping to make it in time to the next bathroom.  Needless to say, it was not my best marathon run... but it was a marathon of runs.  The course was beautiful and I loved that there were so many people along the course cheering the runners.  That part was super fun.

My family was at the finish and Grant ran the last 3 blocks with me along Grant Ave.  Funny huh?  It was very fun to have him run along side me through the finish line.  He kept telling me I was doing good and that we were almost there.  He is a great kid!  

When the race was all over, I had a medal, and new shirt and this to show for running 26.2 miles....

Ahhhh... until the next one!