Run. Rest. Sleep? Repeat... For 188 miles...

CAUTION: Long story and WAY

too many pictures!!

**I debated about whether to blog this or not, hence the huge time lag. But I decided I wanted to remember this with all the goods and bads. I've realized it was a big accomplishment for me regardless of how I got there.**

So, on a whim this year, I ran the Wasatch Back Ragnar Relay June 19th and 20th. Well, I was actually a substitute. One of our friends decided not to run and I joined the team around Memorial Day. I was so-super excited because I had been listening to Stacey Merrill talk about it for months and it sounded SO fun! Well, in March I registered for the Disneyland 5K which is held around Labor Day every year. I was "training" for that (had to start somewhere, right?). I had never run any real races so this was my "slow track" to the 5K, if you will. Well, when the NTU team asked me to fill in I was super nervous (partly because of the whole driving in the car bit. I get car sick so easily) but I figured what the heck, I won't kill me to try, right? Ha! Little did I know what I just signed up for.

Stacey (have I said how much I just love her yet?) called me 3 days before Memorial Day and asked if I wanted to run the Strider's Memorial Day 5K. I figured the Ragnar will be more than a 5K so this could be good practice. Stacey registered me as a birthday gift. It was a little harder than I anticipated. I couldn't keep up with Stacey but I ran with her sister Cami. I'm so glad I did it! I didn't do nearly as bad as I thought I would. From here on out I went a little bit... kamikaze. It started with me doing a second run the night after the 5K race. I just wanted to improve SO MUCH that I figured if I ran every single day I might possibly be prepared for the Ragnar. Bad logic, I know. It started with shin splints (which were easily managed) and ended with an injury to my IT band. Shortly after my "double run" I went out and did my warm up walk and took only 2 running steps before I felt the sharp pain on the lateral part of my right knee. I wish I could say I rested and that it was better in a few days but that wasn't the case. I was so upset and kept berating myself for being so foolish.

Striders 5K Memorial Day Run. I don't have any pictures of me but here is Stacey and Gage at the finish line.

Gage ran the kids 1 Mile run. He was so proud!

My father-in-law works with a place called Cor Performance where they specialize in athlete training. HAHAHA!, I know, right? ME?? An athlete??? SO NOT! I felt so stupid even walking into the building, but they were so nice and said without a doubt that I would have no problems running the relay and that they deal with IT band injuries all the time. I went every day except for Sundays and a couple of 12 hour work days, for the remaining 3 weeks prior to the race where they did Thera-Stim to both of my kness (once the right knee felt better, then the left knee started to hurt) as well as various excercises intended to help relieve some of the spasticity in my IT band. I'd never hear of Thera-Stim and was skeptical, not to mention that it hurt like heck, but after 4 days they had me try to run. Well, I'm a believer and it was worth the pain. It was slightly sore but nothing like before. When I had injured my IT band last year, it was a couple of weeks before I could run on the treadmill and going down a set of stairs was so painful that I would take the elevator for everything.

I knew that if I ran the entire Ragnar that I wouldn't be able to finish. So I never ran more than 3 miles each time during those three weeks leading up to the race for fear of regressing back to where I was. Their (Cor Performance) logic was save it all for the race! I tried to tell my friends that they could replace me. There were other people who wanted to run. But my team was so supportive and encouraging and told me that if I had to slow down then so be it, regardless of what it did to our times. They did this knowing full well that if I could no longer run during the race that one of the them would have to run my legs. You could not bring in another runner.

Van 1-Me, Amy Beesely, Karee Nicholson, Bryan Nicholson, Brook Sessions, Nick Beesely, and

Emily Rose-heading to the starting line at Merle Olsen Park in Logan

I was runner #2 and my first leg was 7.6 miles, my longest and most difficult. The last two legs, Leg # 14 and Leg #26, were much shorter with less difficulty.

I think this was a blessing in disguise. That way if I ran into "problems" after my first leg, my last 2 legs would be easier to run in case someone had to run for me, which I was real reluctant to even think about but was always a worry for me.

Amy, Emily, Karee, Helen, and me waiting for our start time.

I ran the first leg with little problems, however, I did take a goo (carbs in a slimy gel like form) for the first time. Apparently, it's common knowledge in the "running world" that you NEVER try goo for the first time during a race, duh.

Well, I do not belong to this world, hence my slurping a goo at mile 5. I literally had to gag it down. I kept retching trying to get the dang stuff INTO my body. It was horrible. Even talking about it right now is making me sick (no one was allowed to say the word "goo" for the rest of the relay).

This was my "little" hill that was noted on leg#2 in the course map. It showed that it had minimal incline.

It felt like a lot more incline than was presented. I did not have time to train hills.

This killed me. I am the line under the tree at the bottom of the hill.

This is when the Exchange site# 3 finally came into view. I was so happy.

that I was still on my feet and not lying on a stretcher.

I gave everything I had left for those last hundred yards.

Finished with the hardest leg! It felt SO good.

There wasn't alot of time for me to stretch. Runner #3 was faster and had a shorter leg so we had to be at the next exchange quickly. I iced it as best I could before we had to leave. Most people know I get car sick very easily. I sometimes get car sick while driving myself. The combination of goo (blech!) and motion made me so ill. I was miserable. My knee was tight and I could hardly straighten it all the way out. I tried to drive most of the time to lessen the ralphies. My poor vanmates. I kept pulling off the road trying to get whatever had "hijacked" my stomach OUT of my body. When I finally did start throwing up I never did feel much better. I got to know the "HoneyBuckets" really well. When our van was waiting at the Snowbasin exchange something just didn't feel right. My face was tingling and my fingertips were numb. Karee brought over one of the medical volunteers (much to my mortification!).

The volunteer was a fellow in the PICU at PCMC. She was just so nice and I was so sleep deprived, dehydrated, nauseated, etc., that I started to cry and hugged her because she felt like "home" ya know?! (Ya I think everyone had a good laugh after the relay when recalling those events- but I felt so drawn to her- she was SOO nice and didn't make me feel like the loser I was). EVERYONE was exhausted and sore-not just me. I did not want anyone to have to run my last 2 legs except for me. But my van mates didn't hesistate to tell me they'd finish my legs if needed. The volunteer offered IV fluids to make me feel better. But an IV means your OUT no exceptions. I just rested for a while and decided not to get the IV. Just sitting in the shade drinking water and resting made me feel a little better. Meanwhile, some bumbling EMT (well meaning I'm sure) came over to check my blood sugar. He told Karee and I, with a straight face, that my blood sugar was 355. We told him that couldn't be right, so he did it again. This time he dropped the lancet in the dirt picked it up, brushed it off and poked me. This time it was 62. Oddly, he was more concerned about the 62 rather than the 350. Hmmm.

I don't remember this picture being taken but this was right after the snowbasin "incident" I wasn't feeling very good. I kept thinking "I'll be running past Jen's subdivision (Mt. Green). Maybe she'll pass me in her car and yell "What the h*ll are you doing, Heidi!!!" because that's what Jen would say to me and DID say to me after the relay. The snappy vest and headlight were required after 8pm.

I tried to tape Karee's knee for her. Ya, we really didn't know what we were doing. She's actually holding the pamphlet for me to read as I do it.

Karee finishing her last leg and passing off to me for my last leg. I was still ralphy, but my knee felt surprisingly better.....

Well, for a minute it did anyway!

Sweet Emily giving me a hug. She was so encouraging and the girl is always smiling and happy. I don't know how she does it. I'm a "heart on my sleeve" kind of girl.

Karee is smiling because she is done running and can now have her coffee. I'm smiling just because I'M DONE!

This stupid sign was the biggest morale killer! haha! You'd think you were done and then this sign would show up. But I swear it was more like 1.5 miles. Grrrrr.

I finished my last 2 legs, barely. All the pics from the beginning I'm smiling. All the pics after the first leg... I'm either crying or scowling. (In my defense, lots of people were crying. I was kind of emotional. You really bond with your teammates and have empathy when they begin each leg and then elation when they finish each leg. Each one a seperate victory to celebrate. I recieved many text messages along the course from friends and family checking on me and wishing me luck. The nice folks at Cor Performance even checked in with me periodically to see how I was doing. During my 2nd and 3rd legs when I had to slow down and walk (limp) random people, who I didn't even know, would come up from behind me and give me encouraging pats on the back, or say "You can do it! Look how far you've come!" One guy even stopped and walked with me for a few minutes to give me a pep talk, sacrificing his own precious minutes to make sure that ME, some random runner, was okay. He was so selfless and altruistic and I didn't even know his name.

Our teammates would stop along the course to cheer each other on (other random team vans would cheer you on as well) and provide water and squirt water at you with squirt guns. I know that it made things a lot easier with the encouragement of others.

Growth comes from getting outside your comfort zone. The Ragnar Relay took me so far outside my comfort zone in so many ways, that it was really impossible not to feel or be different once you stumbled, crawled or hobbled across that finish line to the welcoming arms of friends, family and strangers cheering you on!

Karee Nicholson & Dani Ramstack

The whole NTU team at the finish line in Park City.

Post Note: It turned out I had a urinary tract infection the whole time (I have only had a UTI 2 other times, the last being over 5 years ago). That might explain the nausea, but I still blame the goo (blech!!)

&

It gets even better...

I was at work a few weeks following the race. I was charging and went over to the PICU to see some of our patients that were to be transferred. I saw the PICU fellow who "treated" me (even if it was only with love haha!). She said "You look so familiar but I don't know why". OH! I knew alright but I didn't relish reminding her! When I did tell her that I was the crazy Ragnar runner who practically assaulted her in a hug, she gave me the biggest hug and then said "Oh! I didn't recognize you with color in your cheeks!! You were so cute! I just felt so bad for you".

Oh, Well, now I don't have to be worried everytime a resident or fellow passes, for fear that they were the ONE I embarressed myself all over.

Dancey-Dance Time!

The night before wearing her "Pink Curlies". I had to keep her up till she was so tired she fell asleep so she would keep them in.
This is at the rehearsal. She's so tired and that's her friend Oakley in the background rubbing her eyes.
Ava & Oakley getting ready to 'Paint the Roses Red"

I love how she is on her tippy toes in this picture. She just looks so cute.

All of the 'Children's Dance' classes practicing the medley.

Ava & Dad after the recital

Ava had her first dance recital this last week. Boy, I'll tell ya, my initial impression of a dance recital was not very accurate. As this recital got closer, I began to understand that this was going to be a little bigger than I had anticipated. It probably clicked when I received a notice in the mail from the academy that TICKETS for the recital would go on sale on May 6. Tickets? To my own child's dance recital? The recital was to be held at Weber State in the Browning Arts building. This is where my RN graduation was held!

Her class was dancing to Painting the Roses Red and dressing like Alice. Her costume was so cute and Ava was so excited she wanted to put it on and wear it to the store. She relented when I told her that if it got "dirty" they might not let us dance (haha) and that she could have it for dress up after the recital. We had to attend a dress rehearsal the morning of and I got to see some of the other classes dance (there were almost 300 kids combined in the program) Ava did also, which was not a good thing. The theme of the recital was Let's Go to the Movies with some of the other kids in costumes from Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, Snow White, and Peter Pan (Tinkerbell). Ava immediately decided that Alice just wasn't going to cut it. She told me that she was going to dance as Aurora and proceeded to undress on the stage. It took much bribing and a lot of convincing to keep her clothed. It was a long day filled with dancing, practicing getting on and off the stage, class pictures, and more dancing. Ava was so tired. I was worried she wouldn't dance later that night. I was also worried because I had to drop her off to the class moms before the recital and they were all supposed to sit together as a class in the balcony. The recital was 2 hours and I pitied all the class moms who had to sit with twelve 3 and 4 year old-Alice's for the entire recital. But she did good and didn't panic when I left her. Her friend Oakley's mom was one of the class moms and I think that was what did it. The auditorium was packed and full and the recital was SO good! They had the kids that did tumbling in the recital as well. (They wouldn't allow cameras or video during the performance or else I would have taken pictures of them, but of course you could buy their video!) One of the younger boys tumbling classes tumbled to Batman music and were dressed as Batmans and another class was dressed as Jedi's. It was so cute! After the younger girls dance classes finished their dances, they came back out for a Medley of Following the Leader from Peter Pan where they all had sticks with bandanna flags on them and they paraded around the stage (Belles, Auroras, Cinderellas, Snow Whites, etc). Well, one of the Tinkerbells encroached on Ava's space and she stopped and turned around to look at this Tink and give her the "stink eye". This stopped the whole parade of girls behind Ava! She just kept staring at this other girl until one of the teachers on the side of the stage finally got her attention to keep moving. I was laughing so hard! I can't wait to see it on the video. There was no way they could have missed that! I could get used to this dance thing, especially if Ava keeps providing me with such innocent laughs!

T-Ball Time!

He is getting so big. This picture makes him look so old.

Z-man slugging it out of the park!

Running home!

T-Ball time has started! Zach was so excited to start T-Ball - this is by far his favorite sport and probably the one that he is most natural at. Gage's dad, a friend of Gages dad, and Chris all helped coach the team. The team he is playing on this year is the Royals. Zach LOVES to play so much that when he was sick with the stomach flu he had us almost convinced he was better and wanted to go to the game. He threw up about ten minutes before we left. Nice try bud! Ava gets into the action as well. She looks forward to the playground at the ball games and also her buddy Landen. We love T-Ball and wish it lasted longer! Zach is already talking about machine pitch next year.

Princess Festival!

Ava Kate & Grandma

Ava in her Princess gown

Ava was in love with the little girl dressed as Mulan.

The Fairy Guide

Ava showing off her new wand!

Learning how to be a princess

Snow Whites Cottage

Mesmerized

Rapunzel lets her hair down for the prince.

Heading inside the castle. It was really kind of cool.

The inside of the castle

Cinderella cleaning the floors

Ava getting out of her carriage

Waking up Sleeping Beauty

Ava & Snow White

At the Ball

Ava Dancing with Prince Phillip

The Kenyan Princesses

My mom called me a couple of months ago and asked if Ava would want to go to the Princess Festival. I had no idea what it was but because my mom was so excited to take her so I said sure. I was pleasantly surprised when we arrived. I was worried because it was pouring rain the whole drive down there. But when we arrived the rain stopped and did not start back up until we were driving back home. They went all out for these girls. It was down in Lindon Utah and the name of the place was "Hatfieldadelphia". The festival benefited girls from Kenya. They even had little girls from Kenya there who they called the "Princesses of Kenya". It was very touching. When we arrived they gave Ava a sticker that said "Princess Ava" on it so that the host princesses would know who she was. They had craft tables for the girls to make crowns, wands, and necklaces. Ava had a blast making her wand because they gave her sparkle paint. When we finished making our crafts, a fairy came and gathered all the girls to help her rescue the princesses. They went to various places around "Hatfieldadelphia" and rescued Rapunzel, Snow White, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Belle. When they were finished they had a Ball with all the princesses and their princes. The princes danced with the little girls. It was adorable. I had my doubts when I first heard about it because she has been to Disneyland 3 times and that's what I thought she would compare it to. But I know that we will definitely be signing up for this next year!

Kindergarten Graduation

Graduation Day

Zach and Miss Washburn

Zach & his buddy Benson (Yes, he is the same age as Zach. He's is so tall, I know, but such a cutie)

Ava was so excited for Zach

This is why our video of the graduation is a motion sickness nightmare! She just had to sit on my lap and periodically look at the LCD.

Zach graduated kindergarten on June 3rd. I was so sad but happy for him. I don't know what I'm going to do next year when he is in school all day. I would look forward to seeing his little blond head in the window of the bus as it passed in front of our house. I love it when he spots me on the corner and his face lights up and he yells "MOM!", as if he thought for a moment that I might not be there. I love that the first thing he asks me is "What's for lunch, mom?". I love it when he tells me about his day and how much he loves his teacher. I love it when he asks "What day is it tommorow?" and when I reply, "Saturday, why?", and he says, "I don't know. I just wanted to go to school. Thats all." I will even admit that I cried myself to sleep that night and my throat still gets tight when I talk about it. I love him so much and I want him to excel in everything he does. It is bittersweet to be a parent. I worry about him and Ava so much these days with everything that kids are exposed to. I often worry if I'm a good Mom and what he will be like when he is older. I often have to remind myselft that this is MY "test" and that if I follow His plan I can not go wrong. I love you Zach! You make me so proud to be your mom!

Where the heck have you been?

Oh Yeah! I have a blog!

I must say that this has been the hardest 4 months that I can remember! My poor family has suffered while I suffered through school. I think everyone knows I went back to school to obtain my nurse practitioner and boy has it kicked my trash! I always thought I could do anything I wanted to do. I just had to put my mind to it. Well.... My mind is mush right now - AND I know it is not possible to have it all and keep everything balanced. You can have a "little bit" of everything, but no, you can not have it ALL. I couldn't be there for my family when they needed me while I was cramming for a stats test or a cardiac test. It was so difficult, that nothing is phasing me right now. Everything just seems so easy now that school is done. Haha! I feel invincible. I wonder how long this will last? But... perseverance paid off. I got a 4.0 and was the highest grade in my stats class. My stats teacher emailed to tell me and congratulate me on earning the highest grade. (I printed it off and keep it in my wallet to remind me of all my hard work). This is the class I cried over... Lost sleep over... Cried over some more... I think one of the hardest parts was that this class was once a week from 4:10pm-7:00pm. She never kept us in class past 5:30pm. Which is good and bad. I think alot of us really needed the extra time but there were a couple of "know-it-all" engineers in the class that made it kind of intimidating for the rest of us to say anything. They seemed so bored and always finished their tests in like 10 minutes! So the most satisfying part is that I BEAT them! But I certainly put the time in. Ask Chris, I'm sure he'll vouch for that!

(Yes!! I am totally tooting my own horn - and I felt like I deserved it after this hellish semester! TOOT TOOT!)

So I had a little catching up to do... hence that multiple posts below.