And I didn't even throw up!

If ever there were a goal to accomplish after running a marathon, it would be that one. And I did it. Marshall and I ran the Top of Utah marathon over the weekend. What a great race they put on there. It was very cold that morning but luckily they had a tent set up with heaters. It was so nice to stay warm as we waited for the race. The first 14 miles are down the canyon and it felt so great. I hit the 13.1 mile mark at 1:54.40, which is 2 1/2 minutes faster than my best half marathon and 3 minutes faster than the one we did in August. It was great. And then I died. I really tried to hang on, and I sort of managed until we hit mile 20. It was pretty much over at that point. There was nothing left. My quads were so beat up from the pounding on that downhill that I could hardly lift them anymore. It was a spectacular death. That is the only word to describe it. If I wouldn't have been dehydrated from the race I would have cried. But, oh bliss, to cross that finish line. That was the best feeling ever. I wouldn't let myself sit down because I was so afraid of throwing up like I did after the other 2 marathons I have run, so we stretched and ate a fat boy. I was concerned about our kids and wanted to get out and find them. We hadn't seen them as we were running through the finish. Luckily we found them rather quickly. They had missed our finish because they had gone into a store to use the restrooms. But Amy took this picture of us. (I forgot to take off my sunglasses).

Our time was a 4:09.47, a PR by 26 minutes. Yay!! We are still recovering and can't walk down the stairs, but we are already planning to do a half marathon Oct. 30. I didn't hit my goal of going under 4 hours, but I was still so happy with the race. And I can hit that goal at the next one.

I wish I had pictures

because we had the best day Saturday. We took the kids tubing down Provo River, which was freezing cold, but oh so fun. Afterwards we took our tubes to Deercreek and hung out in the warm water for an hour or so. Then, to top it all off, we made the trek to Heber for milkshakes at Granny's. Perfect day!!

Should I work backwards?

Here is a run down of events in our lives.
Scott and Amy were watching a movie with Marshall and I thought it was so funny how Scott was hanging on his leg. So Cute.
Okay, here we go.
American Fork Steel Days were last weekend. We missed the parade because I had a difficult time running our 15 miles. I had been sick the night before but thought I could gut it out. Let's just say I walked a lot and we didn't make it back in time. On the up side, the kids didn't care. We did make it to the carnival and to the picnic in the park and fireworks.

The 5th of July was a fun day. We got up early and ran the Freedom Run 10k in Provo. It was the slowest 10k I have ever run. The kids did the 1 mile race. We didn't get to watch them, but Samantha came in 1st in the 12-13 year old division (7:30 mile) Amy finished in 12:30 and Scott took it out at a dead sprint and walked the rest of it in 15:00. After the race we met up with our good friends the Ockey's for the Parade. I think we have them talked into the 5k next year!!
We were going to tube Provo River, but my dad called and asked if we wanted to go shooting with him. He bought a new gun a while back but hadn't taken it out yet. We decided to celebrate our independence and our right to bear arms. My dad is a pretty good shot. He hit the target from twice as far away as the rest of us were shooting.


The 3rd of July we went to Stadium of Fire with David. Carrie Underwood performed. It was okay.
The 1st through the 3rd the kids had a swim meet at the AF rec center. Amy swam incredibly well. She dropped 18 seconds in the 200 IM and dropped a second off her 200 freestyle time and came in first place. She qualified for state, which was her goal.
Samantha didn't swim as well at this meet but 2 weeks before that she swam at the Cottonwood Heights meet and did outstanding. She missed making finals in the 100 breast so the next day she really went after the 200 breast. She cut 3 sec. and was seeded first in Consolation Finals. She really wanted to win it. She stayed with the girls on both sides of her and then pulled ahead on the last 50. She beat them and cut another 5 seconds, plus got her first A time.
Scott got a first place in the 25 fly at a rec league meet. He was pretty excited to get a blue ribbon.
Got to see my dad perform with the Wasatch Winds here in AF.

Over Memorial day we went camping by Vernal with Marshall's sister Michelle. It was cold and windy, but still a lot of fun.
So there you have it. That's our summer so far.
Oh yeah, I couldn't leave out the sushi. We tried making it for the first time!! Break out the wasabi!

To Blog or Not To Blog

To be honest I'm kind of bored with it and does anyone really read it?
Well, I guess for today I'll put something on it. Here's the rundown.
* Today was the last day of school. We had waffles w/ homemade whipped cream and strawberries, bacon, sausage and smoothies.
*Great report cards. Very pleased!
*Tyler graduates today from the same high school I graduated from 18 years ago. His mom is in town for it. Got to visit with them last night. Also 2 of Marshall's nieces graduate and his sister got her degree last week in Cali.
*Marshall's niece Brittany had her baby! Can't wait to see her.
*We didn't get into St. George (Marshall excited). Decided to do Top Of Utah Marathon in Sept.(Marshall not excited). Here's hoping I can be ready in time.
*Helped out at an Eagle Project last weekend. David came and Samantha's friend Hanna. It was a NICU reunion for UVRMC. Brickoven after. YUM!
*Amy had a pioneer trek at school. I got to volunteer for some of it. She was so cute in her pioneer outfit (Thanks Tamra)
*Fun dance festival at school for Scott and Amy. I'm so glad I don't have to work so I don't miss these "Important" moments in their lives. Volunteered at the first grade cake walk.
*Went to lunch twice with my friend Tamra last week. Discovered Kneaders. Seriously need to go there again.
*Hiked to the Y with my kids and Tyler a while back. Dang, but I forgot how hard that climb is!
*Lots of cooking and eating. Kids are well fed. (on a side note, someone wrote in Samantha's yearbook not to get any skinnier or she'll look anorexic. Not Cool!)
*Bike riding in Provo Canyon and some hot dog roasting and smores. Marshall has a true talent for getting things where they normally shouldn't go, like 5 bikes in a small SUV and no bike rack.
*Summer's here!!

I Did It

I signed us up for St. George! I know, I wasn't planning on running it this year (hence the reason I waited until the last minute) because I really wanted to get some good mileage under my belt and then go for it. But I changed my mind. I was thinking about it all last night and decided I would do it. Then I spent all day going back and forth on "do I really want to attempt this?" Now I'm really scared. This thing freaks me out like nothing else. Marshall was hoping I wouldn't want to do it, but if I'm in then he's in. Now that's my kind of compromise.
p.s. We won't find out until May 7 if we made it in

Something you should try

if you feel like cooking. Barefoot Contessa's Chicken Bouillabaise. So yummy. Some others we've made this week were baked blintzes and tomato and goat cheese tarts. We also started making tortillas, since my friend Leslie suggested it on her blog. MMMMMM!

Bridal Veil Falls

Last Saturday I had to get the kids out of the house for a few hours so Marshall could work with his new boss. We decided to hike from Canyon Glen to Bridal Veil Falls. It's not very long, but the weather was great and we had a really good time.