The Ragnar was grueling. A total of 17-ish miles, no sleep, port-a-potties (not a fan, but grateful nonetheless), stinky people in a van for 30 or so hours. But the worst part? Food. Trying to figure out what to eat and when and worrying about when and how it will come out.
We packed bagels, Pringles, homemade chewy granola bars, grapes, bananas, oranges, fruit leather, Starbursts, Dum-Dums, Cliff Bars, cherries, yogurt, granola, and water (of course). Now I have a kitchenful of bagels, Pringles, homemade chewy granola bars, grapes, bananas, oranges, fruit leather, Starbursts, Dum-Dums, Cliff Bars, yogurt, and granola.
There was a high school that sold a spaghetti dinner, complete with whole wheat roll, salad (Don't eat the salad! It will come out too quickly!), corn, and fruit cup. It was a good refueler, but who knew that the timing had to be so perfect? I, thankfully, timed it alright (stop eating 5 hours before the next run), but others weren't so lucky. We saw a guy running off the road into the bushes to take care of some business. So glad that wasn't me.
After the race was all over, I was finally able to eat whatever I wanted. Did I? No. I was too tired. J and I ordered Outback Carry-Out and made it through half of our meals before we decided to just hit the sack. Even today, two days out, I don't feel like anything, but I'm eating anyway. (Whole 'nother story to that one. The Emotional Eating post is yet to come, and I'm warning you -- it'll be a doozy) So now I ask myself: how healthy is running anyway?
Monday, June 22, 2009
It's Rainin' Men
Happy Father's Day! (a day late, I know)
Here's to the wonderful dads in our life!
This one tops the list as my all-time favorite:
Sweet, gentle, patient J (pictured here with all the monkeys). I won't extoll his virtues excessively, seeing as he is out of town again, I miss him, and I may not stop until you puke. Suffice it to say -- he is the best. The end.
J and H (who wants to see the picture, not be in it!)
J and his little buddy, O. They are two peas in a pod.
J and S, the one who made him a father for the first time.
This is one awesome grandpa! J's step-dad Rob is so good with our kids. The monkeys love taking care of the horses with him and going on pony rides.
Grandpa-Great. There are no words to describe what this man has done in our lives. He has always been there as a father figure for J, an adopted grandpa for me, and provider of ice cream cones and sour cream 'n' onion chips for our kids. His belief in and support of us has never flagged. We definitely would not be where we are in our lives if it weren't for him.
Great-Grandpa Squire (pictured here with the heart of the family, our grandma whom we miss so much...)
Here's to the wonderful dads in our life!
This one tops the list as my all-time favorite:
Sweet, gentle, patient J (pictured here with all the monkeys). I won't extoll his virtues excessively, seeing as he is out of town again, I miss him, and I may not stop until you puke. Suffice it to say -- he is the best. The end.
J and H (who wants to see the picture, not be in it!)
J and his little buddy, O. They are two peas in a pod.
J and S, the one who made him a father for the first time.
Here's my dad. He is a compassionate, gentle soul. Hopefully I've learned some of that from him. He passed on to me his love of books and learning. I loved going to the bookstore with him because he never put a cap on how many books I could get or how much time we spent there. He needs to take some credit for the size of my library now!
Me and my daddy
This is one awesome grandpa! J's step-dad Rob is so good with our kids. The monkeys love taking care of the horses with him and going on pony rides.
H and Grandpa Lundgren
Grandpa-Great. There are no words to describe what this man has done in our lives. He has always been there as a father figure for J, an adopted grandpa for me, and provider of ice cream cones and sour cream 'n' onion chips for our kids. His belief in and support of us has never flagged. We definitely would not be where we are in our lives if it weren't for him.
Great-Grandpa Squire (pictured here with the heart of the family, our grandma whom we miss so much...)
Sprint to the Finish
This is Van #1. They got a little more sleep than we did. Softies...
Here are some pictures of the awesome runners in Van #2. Yeah, we all look pretty chipper -- that's because we hadn't started running yet!
Sara (with husband and baby waiting with her)
Sarah and Charisse
Tom and J
Me and my love.
Our first legs were HOT! Bless the man standing by the side of the road with a sprayer! What saints were our teammates who stopped along the way to shout out encouragement and hand out water! Our second legs, in the middle of the night after zero sleep, were cool, peaceful, and loooong. By then we weren't so chipper! Although, I think I miffed my van by popping in after my 9.6 mile, 1:30 AM run and being too peppy. Bless Rocky for driving so we could sleep! Our last legs were rainy! J and I shared the dreaded "Ragnar Hill." Can you say steep? I ran the first mile or so then power-walked until I saw the exchange. Then I sprinted to the finish. Bless the lady who told me that the end was just around the bend! Coming across the finish line as a team in the rain was so fun! It was an incredible experience and I'm ready to sign up for the next one! Who's with me?
Here are some pictures of the awesome runners in Van #2. Yeah, we all look pretty chipper -- that's because we hadn't started running yet!
Sara (with husband and baby waiting with her)
Sarah and Charisse
Tom and J
Me and my love.
Our first legs were HOT! Bless the man standing by the side of the road with a sprayer! What saints were our teammates who stopped along the way to shout out encouragement and hand out water! Our second legs, in the middle of the night after zero sleep, were cool, peaceful, and loooong. By then we weren't so chipper! Although, I think I miffed my van by popping in after my 9.6 mile, 1:30 AM run and being too peppy. Bless Rocky for driving so we could sleep! Our last legs were rainy! J and I shared the dreaded "Ragnar Hill." Can you say steep? I ran the first mile or so then power-walked until I saw the exchange. Then I sprinted to the finish. Bless the lady who told me that the end was just around the bend! Coming across the finish line as a team in the rain was so fun! It was an incredible experience and I'm ready to sign up for the next one! Who's with me?
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Wasatch Back 2009 Eve
Breathe. Sleep. Make sure there are no toys on the floor en route to the bathroom. Had pasta for dinner. Will run out in the morning and grab a bag of bagels. I'm ready. Am I ready?
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Surprise!
Today I had a positive test. There was much rejoicing. Even J, who at first didn't understand my happiness, has been talked around. Yes, I tested positive...for strep throat.
When the nurse read the results, I threw my hands up in the air and yelled,"Yea!!!" I gleefully announced it to my doctor as we passed in the hallway of his office,"Dr. Carn! I have strep!!"
Why am I so happy about it? Well, in 3 (count 'em, three) days my team and I depart for Logan to run the Wasatch Back. The sore throat, headache, runny nose, and all-around misery that I've been experiencing could've made for a miserable running experience. If it were a virus, I'd just have to let it run its course, most likely ruining my running of the course. Because it's strep, I was able to get a shot of penicillin in my hip (ouch, by the way) and leave the office with the firm assurance that I will feel in top form by Friday. That's the guarantee I was looking for!
When the nurse read the results, I threw my hands up in the air and yelled,"Yea!!!" I gleefully announced it to my doctor as we passed in the hallway of his office,"Dr. Carn! I have strep!!"
Why am I so happy about it? Well, in 3 (count 'em, three) days my team and I depart for Logan to run the Wasatch Back. The sore throat, headache, runny nose, and all-around misery that I've been experiencing could've made for a miserable running experience. If it were a virus, I'd just have to let it run its course, most likely ruining my running of the course. Because it's strep, I was able to get a shot of penicillin in my hip (ouch, by the way) and leave the office with the firm assurance that I will feel in top form by Friday. That's the guarantee I was looking for!
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Happy Birthday, Big Sister!
To my beautiful big sister,
Happy Birthday!!!
I hope this year of your life brings joy, joy, and more joy! You are due for it!
Love you!
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Binge
I am a comfort/binge/escapist reader. I love to read. A whole long wall in our house is bookshelves, and all of those shelves are full. I'm not saying it's necessarily a good thing. When I read, especially when I read something interesting, something that grabs my attention, I succumb to it and let it take all of my attention. Laundry piles up, the dishes do too. Dinner, if made at all is made one-handed. If anyone wants to talk to me, they get the half-glazed look from me because my eyes are unfocused from reading.
My latest reading binge has come in the form of "The Little House Books." Girls, you know which ones I'm talking about. "Little House in the Big Woods" to "By the Shores of Silver Lake" to "These Happy Golden Years" and beyond. When my sister and I were young we read those books to pieces. She has since bought her own collection, and I need to do the same. I love all of the books in that series, but my favorite are "Farmer Boy," "Little Town on the Prairie" (who cannot love it when Almanzo Wilder first touches Laura's elbow and asks,"May I see you home?"), and "These Happy Golden Years." It's gotten me thinking about so many things:
My latest reading binge has come in the form of "The Little House Books." Girls, you know which ones I'm talking about. "Little House in the Big Woods" to "By the Shores of Silver Lake" to "These Happy Golden Years" and beyond. When my sister and I were young we read those books to pieces. She has since bought her own collection, and I need to do the same. I love all of the books in that series, but my favorite are "Farmer Boy," "Little Town on the Prairie" (who cannot love it when Almanzo Wilder first touches Laura's elbow and asks,"May I see you home?"), and "These Happy Golden Years." It's gotten me thinking about so many things:
- They worked so hard from dawn to dusk. I make my kids do chores in the morning and then they're done. Do I need to plant a bigger garden and throw bins of toys away to build character in my sons?
- So many times Laura talked about biting back words, breathing and thinking before she spoke. I know I could benefit from practicing that!
- They ate the same simple meals over and over and over again. I feel so spoiled and feel like I am spoiling my kids with all the choices we have for meals.
- It just feels like we have too much.
I've talked over this last one with J quite often. Sometimes it feels like I must be crazy because I don't know that other people feel the same way I do. I think that we have too much. Too many clothes, too many books and toys, too many choices, too many conveniences to help ease our way. Now, I know that I could go live in a yurt in the middle of nowhere. I'm nutty like that. I could be Amish if they let me. But I don't think that's the answer. We're counseled to "be in the world, not of the world," but where's the balance? I don't want to shelter my kids so much that they can't handle all that is out there once they're thrust into the world, but I don't want it to influence them too much growing up. Always fighting, fighting for balance. Any insight?
15 Years
Today marks the 15 year anniversary of the day I first set eyes on the man who would become my husband. I remember the date because it is the day before my sister's birthday and I was to play violin in a talent show at my high school that night. I even remember what I was wearing when I said good-bye to those two missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints because I had changed into my talent show dress -- a nice sleeveless khaki-colored buttoned-up princess style dress from American Eagle. I still have that dress, but I don't wear it sleeveless anymore -- too bad since I have awesome upper arms.
Anyway, as many of you know, I was not attracted to J at all for the longest time. My first impression of him was that he was one of the funniest looking kids I'd ever seen. Why did the Church keep sending those impossibly tall blond Utahns out to NJ? Did he ever stop smiling? Why was every facial feature of his so round? His nose, his nostrils, his huge green eyes, his glasses -- all round except for his wide, curving smile that seemed to have an extra bend or two to it. He talked so slowly that I thought maybe he wasn't quite all there. What struck me was the Spirit he carried with him. The Spirit that was responsible for the constant smile, the strength, peace, and quiet humility I felt flowed from him.
J was not attracted to me at first, which is good and proper, since he was serving a mission at the time. He told me later that when he first saw me he thought I looked like a preying mantis. Of course, he hastily adds,"But they were my favorite insect when I was growing up!"
We kept in contact through letters for the duration of his mission and after. I admired his neat handwriting, and the sketches that always worked their way into the margins of the letters -- mostly of the mountains he loved. Somehow I found my best friend in my pen pal. It seemed only natural that when I came out to Utah for school we would hang out. By then I had his heart snagged and he was incurably in love with me, but it took a little more time for me to come around.
I remember distinctly a time he came to pick me up from the airport after a winter break in NJ. I had spent that time showing my friends a picture of him and telling them,"This is the guy I'm kind of dating. He's funny-looking, I know." To which they would reply,"Oh my gosh, no way! He is so hot!" I broke through the crowd of people waiting in the terminal and there he was -- hat on his head, white Cisco Systems T-shirt on under a lined blue plaid shirt. My heart gave an almighty leap, turned a somersault, and fell fathoms deep in love with him. My friends were right -- he was hot! I know they say love is blind, but for me, it seemed the other way around. Love gave me sight. I knew I couldn't do without him.
He's out of town this week, so I texted him,"Hey. Happy Meeting Day Anniversary. It's been an interesting 15 years" to which he replied,"It has been a good 15 years with you. Thank you for your patience with me." Well, you're welcome, J. No, just kidding. I don't know what he means. If anyone's had to be patient with anyone, it's he with me. I miss him a lot this week and can feel that I'm on the verge of a whole smarmy, sappy, love post, so I'll quit while I'm ahead. That'll be the post for November when we celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary!
Anyway, as many of you know, I was not attracted to J at all for the longest time. My first impression of him was that he was one of the funniest looking kids I'd ever seen. Why did the Church keep sending those impossibly tall blond Utahns out to NJ? Did he ever stop smiling? Why was every facial feature of his so round? His nose, his nostrils, his huge green eyes, his glasses -- all round except for his wide, curving smile that seemed to have an extra bend or two to it. He talked so slowly that I thought maybe he wasn't quite all there. What struck me was the Spirit he carried with him. The Spirit that was responsible for the constant smile, the strength, peace, and quiet humility I felt flowed from him.
J was not attracted to me at first, which is good and proper, since he was serving a mission at the time. He told me later that when he first saw me he thought I looked like a preying mantis. Of course, he hastily adds,"But they were my favorite insect when I was growing up!"
We kept in contact through letters for the duration of his mission and after. I admired his neat handwriting, and the sketches that always worked their way into the margins of the letters -- mostly of the mountains he loved. Somehow I found my best friend in my pen pal. It seemed only natural that when I came out to Utah for school we would hang out. By then I had his heart snagged and he was incurably in love with me, but it took a little more time for me to come around.
I remember distinctly a time he came to pick me up from the airport after a winter break in NJ. I had spent that time showing my friends a picture of him and telling them,"This is the guy I'm kind of dating. He's funny-looking, I know." To which they would reply,"Oh my gosh, no way! He is so hot!" I broke through the crowd of people waiting in the terminal and there he was -- hat on his head, white Cisco Systems T-shirt on under a lined blue plaid shirt. My heart gave an almighty leap, turned a somersault, and fell fathoms deep in love with him. My friends were right -- he was hot! I know they say love is blind, but for me, it seemed the other way around. Love gave me sight. I knew I couldn't do without him.
He's out of town this week, so I texted him,"Hey. Happy Meeting Day Anniversary. It's been an interesting 15 years" to which he replied,"It has been a good 15 years with you. Thank you for your patience with me." Well, you're welcome, J. No, just kidding. I don't know what he means. If anyone's had to be patient with anyone, it's he with me. I miss him a lot this week and can feel that I'm on the verge of a whole smarmy, sappy, love post, so I'll quit while I'm ahead. That'll be the post for November when we celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary!
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Isn't It About Time?
(And no, this is not a post plugging the LDS Church!)
I'm wondering when I will have more energy. I've been running regularly since the middle of March. I'm watching what I eat (for the most part!) and I've been getting to bed pretty early. When is the "I'm so healthy! I have tons of energy!" feeling going to kick in? Can the chocolate cinnamon bears in my cupboard really be slowing me down that much? Isn't it about time I start feeling fantastically fit and exuding energy?
I'm wondering when I will have more energy. I've been running regularly since the middle of March. I'm watching what I eat (for the most part!) and I've been getting to bed pretty early. When is the "I'm so healthy! I have tons of energy!" feeling going to kick in? Can the chocolate cinnamon bears in my cupboard really be slowing me down that much? Isn't it about time I start feeling fantastically fit and exuding energy?
Put Yourself in My Shoes
So J and I are sitting in the front room talking when we hear suspicious noises issuing forth from the kitchen. J investigates and returns with the camera he just wrested from O.
The world from O's point of view...
The world from O's point of view...
Nostalgia
On the last Sunday in May we went to the cemetary to have Family Home Evening (cookies included) and to feed the ducks. J and I sat by our favorite lady 
while the kids ran around.
What do you suppose H is thinking?
After the younger two were in bed, J, in a fit of nostalgia, brought up his scrapbook from his childhood. It was fun to watch them sharing J's memories.
while the kids ran around.
What do you suppose H is thinking?
After the younger two were in bed, J, in a fit of nostalgia, brought up his scrapbook from his childhood. It was fun to watch them sharing J's memories.
Another Pleasant Valley Saturday
Our last Saturday in May was spent
burning yet more old wood
When the kids saw this picture
burning yet more old wood
and planting corn.
When the kids saw this picture
they wanted to know how I could take the picture and be in it at the same time, so I showed them
Run Run Run
So you may have noticed that I changed the title of the previous post from "Run Run Run" to the more appropriate name it has now. I figured an 11.5 mile run deserved a title that dragged on just as much as the run itself did. Yesterday's running adventures seemed to earn the "Run Run Run" title better than last week's. I woke up to run 4 miles at 8AM. I ran 4 miles again at 1:30 PM and then ran 5 miles at 8:30 PM. Run. Run. Run. Feeling pretty good today and excited for the Wasatch Back in (count 'em) 2 weeks!!
For my mom's info, I did not call a podiatrist yet, but J and I bumped into two of them on our date on Thursday night. J's podiatrist growing up was at the Purple Turtle in Pleasant Grove, so we visited with him until his son, and one of J's best friends growing up, showed up. We made do some trade with him (computer networking for feet), but so far the new shoes are proving themselves well.
For my mom's info, I did not call a podiatrist yet, but J and I bumped into two of them on our date on Thursday night. J's podiatrist growing up was at the Purple Turtle in Pleasant Grove, so we visited with him until his son, and one of J's best friends growing up, showed up. We made do some trade with him (computer networking for feet), but so far the new shoes are proving themselves well.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)