This last weekend when Papa Q and the girls were in town I got a request to write about my experience training for this weekend's marathon. So, that's what I am going to do.

Last year after Danny and I had a pretty rough and discouraging race I made up my mind that in one year I was going to do it again... only better. So right when I was able to walk again I started working some small things to get prepared for training... pre-training maybe? For example I started doing what are called tempo runs, which are basically moderate mileage runs at a pace about 1 minute less per mile than race pace. I had never done this before and started realizing that my endurance was improving so I kept it up. I also started introducing intense weekly workouts of intervals. It's a really encouraging workout because it gets easier as the time goes on. You can do this on a treadmill or outside. You warm up for 5-10 minutes whatever that means- for me it's just a brisk walk and then you go all out for 5 minutes. After that you cool down for 5 minutes, my goal was to never stop running just take it down a huge notch. Then you go all out for 4 minutes and cool down for 4 minutes, then 3, 2, 1 and then 30 seconds. The idea is that each time you decrease your minutes you increase the intensity. I always get the mentality of "well today I won't have to do it for 5 minutes again" and so you get more confident.

I hit a road block in April as I was getting ready to sign up for the race (which is always on Tayler's birthday, May 1st). I was beginning to have pretty severe shin splints and outer knee pain. I was eating healthy and taking appropriate rest days so I didn't understand what could be happening. I visited the chiropractor and found out that not only do I have tremendously flat feet (thanks Dad haha), but my achilles tendon bends like a bow. Imagine looking at someone from behind and their tendons curving in the shape of a "c", that's me :) Because of this my weight was not being evenly distributed. Danny and I decided that before I would run a single mile more I would get special orthotics, and guess what? I have not had knee pain or shin splints since. Woohoo!

In May I was anxious to start my long runs and get on the road- but I knew I couldn't jump the gun because I could peak too soon. So, to keep my endurance up but save my legs I started biking everywhere! I hardly used my car from May to July and it paid off. There is a huge hill about 5 miles from our house on the way to work and each time I would repeat a song in my head like "1, 2, 3, 4 come on legs let's work some more" or something dumb like that to keep a cadence and now it's cake.

At the end of July I was ready to start pumping up my mileage. I started running every Saturday morning on the actual race course which is mainly downhill to get my quads ready for the grilling they are about to take. The routine was wake up at 4:30- make toast with jam and cottage cheese- 4:45 wake up Danny- on the road by 4:50. Dan would drop me off on the road with my blinking light and I would run home. Then my dear sweet husband would rub my legs and make me stretch. Then we would eat fruit and oatmeal and I would down 12 oz of lemon-lime gatorade (that's what they serve at the aid stations so I had to get ready for it- it's so nasty). I started with 10 miles and I would do that mileage for 2 weeks and then increase two miles for 2 weeks. All the way up until 2 weekends ago when I did my last long run of 18 miles.

Since the beginning of training I have gone from a consistent 9:55 mile to now I am running 9:30 miles for my long runs. Which doesn't seem like a lot but I am pretty proud of myself. Not only has training for the marathon improved my long distance running but it has improved my short distances as well. My PR for 5k is 22 minutes and my PR for a 10k is 52 minutes.

I have two goals for marathon day. Goal 1= Don't cry out of frustration- it's okay to cry but only happy tears. Goal 2= Complete the race in 4 hrs and 30 minutes. It's kind of a given but I also don't want to poop my pants. Don't be grossed out but running is a natural diarrhea maker. Ask any runner and they will tell you the same. Around mile 15 your tummy starts making noises and you get the picture. Also don't want to fall or get injured in any other way but those are also givens.

I love you guys and hope you aren't too bored by this post. I promise I will do better at keeping you updated.

Weekend In Moab

Hello family! Here are the pictures of our amazing Moab trip!

They are super out of order, but the whole story is told here.



The story started off with me, Dan and Mike going on a bike ride in St. George that was amazing! From there we decided to go to Moab.

Cut to us one week later, 4 am loading our bikes onto the back of our friend Matt's SUV wondering what the crap we were doing!

6 hours later we are setting up camp in the most beautiful place on earth! Not kidding it was breath-taking.

The first ride of the day was called Amasa Back. It was only about 11 miles, but the whole first half was completely uphill. About 25 seconds into the ride we found a drop (or something Dan would want to drop off of). He landed the jump, but landed goofy and ended up crashing and then doing a somersault/cartwheel. Those who were around us clapped so loud when he stood up and bowed.

Naturally, we were a bit grumpy when we got to the top of this mountain (about 4.5 miles), but Mikey was hopeful that if we kept going we would hit the famous Pothole Arch. We were all dumb enough to follow.


The picture of the tiny hole in the rock up there, yeah that's pothole arch. It was a total bummer to find that we pedaled up and up and up to reach that tiny hole. Dan is showing off his muscly legs in one picture, needless to say we made the most of it. The cool thing is, out of all of the people who started with us, our group went the farthest out. Luckily, we still had water and granola bars because we had about 2.5 hours back to the car. This is the part where I crashed. I was probably dehydrated, and went off a jump a little too slow and flipped over the handle bars. I held back tears pridefully and we made it back to camp.

That night was hilarious, Dan and the boys made chili mac dogs (use your imagination) and we all had to endure tons of stinky farts. I slept like a log, however the boys woke up miserable, Dan woke up numerous times throughout the night. I swear I was the manliest one there.

The next day we took a shuttle to what was called Porcupine Rim. We should have known that it was going to be a long day because the shuttle itself was a 45 minute ordeal, but we were going uphill and that was exciting. See, there are two types of mountain bikers, those who like to go up and downhill and those who like to go downhill. These boys get their kicks from going downhill so fast that onlookers would pee their pants. I went off of jumps and drops that would make my mom very nervous. Even though it was mostly downhill, it was between 20-25 and was probably the hardest thing that I have ever done. Totally worth it. It took us about 4 hours to complete and we were so sunburnt!

All-in-all it was the best trip ever! Minus the nasty port-a-potty at our campsite.

So, as you know I have been on a huge baking kick! I love to make treats and give them to the neighbors and mine and Dan's co-workers. Thought I would post a pic of some brownies I made. They are chocolate cheesecake brownies, and they taste so amazing! I also made peanut butter chocolate brownies, but they were gone before I could take a picture of them. When I first started baking I would rush and then be mad that the recipes didn't turn out right (surprise!). Now I know that baking is not the same as cooking, it requires patience and exactness, two things I was not born with. I'm getting much better!

There isn't much new for Dan and I except that it is finals week (hence the baking; it calms me down). To celebrate our first day of no school, tomorrow we are going to go and ride "the loop" with some friends. It is a bike trail that (other than the very first 5 minutes) is essentially all downhill with intense drops. The first part of the trail is called the 3 fingers of death! Basically stuff that my mom would not be happy with me doing. We wear helmets! Besides scars are hardcore. Maybe I'll post pictures if I remember.

So, today was my day off so I tried out some awesome recipes! First off, I made my Mom's banana bread recipe. It was so amazingly good! Also, I made what are called banana bars and those are also very yummy!
Danny got off work at 5 and I had a special surprise waiting for him for dinner. I have been wondering about certain foods that have been served where I work and how they would taste. I made red quinoa which is delicious! Also, I made purple mashed potatoes! I wish I had taken a picture but they were lavender I swear to you! We also had salmon and steamed brussels sprouts but that is pretty typical.



After our dinner date Danny had a surprise for me! We went rock climbing for the first time in a couple of months. As you can see the weather was so appreciative. Funny story, as we were getting done with our climbing Danny thought it would be cool to try and drive the Pathfinder up what is actually a four-wheeler path. Needless to say we are pretty sure we bottomed out on that first attempt. I almost peed my pants laughing. He wouldn't give up though so we tried another hill and we barely made it. What a fun evening!




We are at what we call "the gap" in Green Valley. It is beautiful and I have seen two Gilamonsters in the past here which is awesome. This is also the first place that Dan and I ever climbed together. When he asked me out he said, "would you like to come with me on a date and we'll put our hands and feet on rocks?"

So, no pictures yet, sorry about that. Danny bought me a camera 2 Christmas's ago and I still can't work it! This week was a blast for me and my adorable hubby. Last weekend I got to go up to Salt Lake and see my family, but most importantly my new nephew Ryker! He's perfect in every way and I can't wait to see him and Brody again. Tuesday morning Dan and I went on this wicked mountain biking trail called Dinotracks! I know, it sounds lame but it's pretty intense. Lots of cool drops and a couple places where you feel like you could fall. Let's just say my mom would not be pleased if she saw what we did :) Another fun event, this week I made yummy ricotta and spinach stuffed pasta shells with a homemade fontina dipping sauce. Dan loved it, I loved it, yeah it was amazing! Other than that the week has been full of exams and homework. The best news? Danny went and saw his counselor and he is on the right track to graduate in December with his bachelor of business administration with an emphasis in finance. Phew! A lot to say, I know. Well, we are going to hit the sack now! LOVE YOU! NIGHT!

Hello Family!

So, I've started a blog. This is BIG because I pretty much vowed never to start a blog. I realize that our extended family rarely gets to see what our tiny family does with our free time and so I thought this would be a good way to connect. Once I get the hang of this I will try to make weekly posts (or more often if we have a wicked fun day and it's worth posting). Dan and I love you guys and hope that with this blog you can learn more about us.