Bryce Canyon Half Marathon

One of the nicest things about this years Bryce Canyon Half Marathon was the weather. It was AWESOME. highs in the 70's and lows in the 40"s. It was Freezing cold to start the race, but as we all know, RUNNERS ARE INSANE, and We LOVED the weather. Here is the start of the race with Micah and Michelle Peterson. We had a hard time finding all of our friends.

The start of the race leaving Ruby's Inn. It is fun to see all the runners.

I think that Cory Reese is one the funniest and coolest people I know. I have had so much fun running with him and his wife Melanie. Reading his blog is a highlight of my day. I urge you to check him out and see not only how awesome he is as a runner, blogger, photographer but also how entertaining he is. Check him out at http://www.fastcory.blogspot.com/ . I have used some of his pics from the race. This one is one the coolest shots of this run.

One thing you just have to know about Cory, is his love for a running JUMP shot. Here is Melanie and I attempting a running jump. YUP I'm a little late on this one. Not surprised considering how I was feeling during this run.

I should say this was a failed jumping pic, but Instead here we are goofing off on the run. I think that it is a pretty sweet pic.

Bryce Canyon Half Marathon made for my 15Th half marathon. I have to say it was also my HARDEST.... Over the summer, ever since Ogden Half Marathon in May, I have been fighting a nagging Left IT Band injury. I have been fighting it ever since. I do my daily dose of stretching, foam rolling, massage, cycling etc.... to help alleviate it as much as possible. On race day, I use KT tape, wear a brace and use leg compression sleeve to help out in any way possible. I knew going into Bryce that I was IN FOR SOME PAIN. having IT Band pain and adding 2400 feet net elevation loss in 13.1 miles =NIGHTMARE.... Believe it or not I felt really good till about mile 7, then my legs just started to tighten up. Of course my IT Band was acting up, but it was my Quads and Calf's that wrenched right on down. I Never cramped, but I was tighter than I have ever been. My Right Knee by Mile 9 started to kill. The last 3.8 miles was my hardest ever.

Thankfully for me, I had Cory and Melanie Reese by my side. Cory was a CHAMP and stayed by my side for the remainder 3.8 miles. I had to fight through so much pain and tightness in my legs to keep placing one foot in front of another. Cory was so gracious, when I ran, he ran, and when I couldn't he was giving me motivation to work myself to the end and hopefully a PR( personal record). Here is a pic of Melanie and I coming over the top of the finial hill before we reach the end. If it wasn't for Cory, I would have really struggled through this race.

Of course I had to finish with a good time. It is so hard sometimes to push yourself when you have nothing left in the tank, but I gave it my all. I rounded the corner to the finish and was welcomed by Melanie, who had finished just one minute ahead of me, with Cory at my side,
and all my kids. Kyler tried to give me a Hug and I had no control and ran him right over. Sorry Bud.... I just wanted to finish. I crossed the line at 2:41:01 I had a NEW PR...... It wasn't pretty, but I did it. Thank you Cory for pushing me. You are the man.... Thanks....

I have to say that I have some of the coolest friends. Here we are at the end of the race. Good times had by all. ROCK ON Bryce Canyon, You almost killed me, BUT I DID NOT GIVE UP.... See ya next year, and I will conquer.

Ogden Half Marathon

Hey so SORRY it has taken me so long to post. My laptop fried and I havent been able to post. SO much has happened lately. I just completed my 13th half marathon in Ogden and am patientely awaiting Utah valley half marathon and Ragnar wasatch back in the next few weeks. Cant wait. Now i just need to get over this nagging IT band. Oh well gonna run no matter what. I will try to post more later. This is a pic from the Ogden Marathon.... We did it!!!!

I'm Going off the deep end

My Finish Line photo from the spectrum 10K. I have a good friend of mine who loves to see what cool thing he can do along the course in front of a camera. Ok Cory...... Here is my attempt before I crossed the finish line. SO I think that I have Totally LOST MY MIND!!!!!!! On friday I am gonna sign up to run my First Ever Marathon. I have decided to run the St. George Marathon on Oct 1st. I am scared to death but think it is about time to take a leap of Faith. I will be getting my Will done, complete my estate planning, Plan my furneral, and write my own talk, before I put a toe up to the start line just in case that I DIE!!!!!! LOL :) jk either way I hope that the adventure will be one of a lifetime.

Spectrum 10K

Some of my Friends Kellie Oliver in the pink, and Kim Phillips in the blue. Just before the race, as we were all huddles up to keep warm. I also ran with several other friends of whom I guess I forgot to pull the camera out. Sorry Mendy and Bryon.

A look down to the start line.

What a Killer course it is to run through snow canyon. I love it. It was an amazing run. I felt great knowing that I was able to keep up with the pack. This is a first for me. Usually I feel that I am more towards the back of the pack. It was awesome.

My Cheer Section. I love their SIGNS and COW BELLS, and support along the course. It so such a sweet feeling to cross the finish line with this kind of attention. Even the race photographer caught a super sweet pic of the kids and their sign. I just didn't want to pay $12 to buy it. Thanks guys.....

I crossed the finish in 72 min, a new 10K Personal Record (PR) for me. I was so stoked to see the progressing I am making. I had a great time running the spectrum 10k.

Lake to Lake 50 Miler Relay

Team Crippled Sprinters at Gunlock Reservoir from Left to right, Myself, Melanie Reese, Michelle Peterson, Dan Earle and Lorri Economy and don't to forget our team driver/cheerleader Janie Earle.

Goofing around before the race with some of our friends from Team Bazinga, and team the fast, the slow and the pretty. Great seeing yall out there. I love running into Alex and Cherie Santiago as well as Shane Nielson by the white van. You guys ROCK!!!!!

Here is Team Bazinga Van. Talk about pimping their ride.

Lorri and Janie, Janie couldn't get her picture taken without taking one of me.

Melanie and Michelle posing for their pre-race photo.

2 of the most photogenic runners I know are Cherie Santiago and Cory Reese ( Mel's Husband). Here is Cherie sporting her stuff as we get ready to leave Gunlock State park to start the race. OH the nerves started to build up for me. This was my First ever team relay. We picked our team name to be the Crippled Sprinters. Each of us in our own way has been battling some form of injury. I Have to say that we had a Killer team.

I have never been More excited for a race but also Nervous. As we drove up to Gunlock, I was watching my course route for leg #2, and noticed that I had some pretty good sized hills to climb. To this day, Hills are not really my favorite. So when Dan had started Leg #1, my attention went to my section of the race. Before I knew it, Dan had slapped my hand and I was off to conquer these hills. I was pleasantly surprised. I felt good for most of the run. I found a groove and rode it most of the way. One of the hills reminded me of running the mesquite half marathon, basically a huge canyon hill straight up. I was able to over come that hill with ease, then came many rolling hills, followed by a long up hill climb before the turn off of hwy 91 heading towards union park. On that long descent up, I really had to battle myself to keep it going. I think the funnest part of running a relay is being with your fellow runners. Both as a team, and those running against ya. I have found over the past year, that I have made so many friends on these runs. A little, you can do it can go a long way, beside I had the BEST team, in my opinion, who cheered each of us on to the finish. Just when I didn't think I could give it some more, I get another piece of encouragement. Man that totally makes all the difference. As I rounded the bend heading to union park in Ivins, Down the road comes Tige Hazelton on his bike. I love that guy.... Thanks bro for the extra boost. Once I reached Union park, I slapped Lorri's hand and she was off. I looked down at my watch and had ran 6 miles in 1:02:12 for a 10.1 mile/min pace..... My best ever. I know that I may not be the fastest runner out there, but Not for one second does anyone make ya feel like your not. I laid it out there on this first run and posted my new PR for 6 miles. I loved running leg 2, and cant wait to run that leg again. Good times.

Here is Lorri Economy. Holy cow she is fast. She totally tore up leg 3...

Here comes Michelle down Leg 4. she is a little speed demon as well. Go Michelle...

All of us trying to keep stretched out during the race.

Here is our ride. Thanks Dan and Janie for the sweet ride and support. It was awesome.

Here is Melanie climbing her hill to make it to her finish on leg #5. She is loving it right about now.

By this point in the day, it was starting to get really warm. We had the temp at a sunny 71 degrees. During the run we just ate up the water. It was HOT..... I ran leg #6 from bloomington golf course to river rd along bike trails. It was just an OK run. Being that is was on trails, I hardly saw anyone, one of the few routes where u cant really see your team or others teams. I was really thirsty and started to get a side ache. I didn't have my best time but I pushed it all the way to the end until I hit the corner at river rd and summit. AT this point I had completed by section of the race. I was so relieved but knew that we had our worst section of legs ahead of us. leg 8, 9, 10... Holy cow. I think i went into a daze because I forgot to take any pics of anything along these routes. ALL I have to say is Michelle, Lorri and Melanie you guys ROCK!!!!! running on dirt roads with Nasty Hills. AMAZING.

WE DID IT!!!!! we crossed the finished line in 8:30 with an average 9:56 mile/min pace. We totally rocked it and had a complete blast doing it. We totally meet so many cool people and we wanted to beat the TuTu's all day long.... Good times, Great People, and Memories to last a Life team..... Way to rock it Team Crippled Sprinters

Post race pic.... Dan and Janie Earle, Melanie Reese, Michelle Peterson and myself at Sand Hollow Reservoir in Hurricane.

I have to say, that was some of the funniest times I have had running in a long time. From Stolen jerky by team Bazinga, to chasing down "girls just wanna have run" ( Tu Tu's), to those peeps wearing them short shorts, from the costumes, meeting new friends, and building on old ones. This was a Blast. I cant wait for June when I get to run Ragnar Wasatch Back. Gonna be rocking times, That's for sure.

Dogtown Half Marathon

I was supper excited to run Dogtown Half Marathon. The weeks leading up to the race, I was feeling really well. I had be cleared to run by my Doc, been spinning and running well, and had even ran the race course and was feeling really good about the race. I even had thoughts that I just might set a PR on this course. About a week before the race, the course changed due to portions of the trail being washed out from the flood hadn't been repaired in time. I was able to get a run in on that course. A few days before the race, the weather predicted that it was going to be Cold, Rainy, and Wet.... The course was once again changed 2 days before the race, making what was an all downhill course into a much harder course, including the hill climb of Washington Dam Rd.

Before the race. Michelle Peterson, Kellie Whittekiend, and Scott Monson. It was SO cold. Even though the temp said 40, it felt more like 32. With the wind and light rain, it was a cold start. Even though we was soaking wet by the finish, it was still a pretty sweet race.

I really struggled to get it going for some reason. The first couple miles I felt really tight in my calf's. I just couldn't get them loose. I have had several runs where I have run without my compression soaks, and several with, I am finding that I feel not as tight without them. This sat I'm runnning lake to lake relay so I will find out exactly how I feel running a race without them. Here is a pic at the corner of Washington Fields rd and Washington Dam rd. I loved this pole that I had to have a pic.

I HATE THAT DAM ROAD..... with the course changing, instead of running down Dam rd, we got to climb it. It is a gradual but long uphill climb. I gotta tell ya, I was Dying. I battled myself this whole race. I really don't know why either. This area, besides dam road is where I like to do a lot of my Long run training. I have had several races where I felt that i had hurdles to climb but this run was by far the Most Challenging run I have ever done. Not only did I have to fight the elements, but I had to fight myself physically and well as mentally. I had to keep telling myself that I can DO IT!!!!!! I think the hardest part was that as a slower runner, this was a race that most was way ahead and I only really came across others as they passed me, being that it was an out and back course. It was a lot harder to stay focused when you don't have others by ya to keep ya going. I do have to say, that I have some of the COOLEST friends ever. Even though I wasn't running with the pack, All my friends would give me a high five, and give me words of support. What made things easier was that I could see how BAD they were all hurting as well. This race was for sure one that I learned a lot about myself and my will to not give up. I had to grind where I didn't think I could grind anymore. Then a car pulled over to the side of the road, and it was another one of my friends, who told me to find my balance to keep my elbows in and ride it to the finish. Thanks Renee, I really need that A LOT. A block from the finish, I was really struggling to keep my legs moving, I saw one of my friends running towards me, and gave the that last boost to get me across the line.

I didn't have My best time, I didn't set a PR, but I did FINISH my 7Th half marathon. I crossed at 2:54:45. I was super stoked to have been greeted by all my family, Michelle and Micah Peterson, Kellie Whittekiend, and most of the Washington Community rec staff, and to Colleen Rue for basically catching me and for the delicious chocolate milk. I have never been happier to have crossed a finish, well except for probably my first half of course. :) Next Week Lake to Lake relay. Oh yea....

Help Me Fight Cancer

"I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do." Author unknown

I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to be apart of such an amazing cause. I have seen the works of this horrendous disease and want to help take a stand against it. Everyday it seems we are face with another friend or family member who has been diagnoised with cancer. I am only ONE but I want to do something about it so here I go...

So as a member of the American Cancer Society DetermiNation endurance event program, I am dedicating my training and race participation to help the American Cancer save lives. The miles and months of my training will be tough, but being a part of the DetermiNation program will give me the support and strength I need to endure. And, every mile I conquer will be more meaningful because I’m doing this for something greater – for a cause I truly believe in. And I’m hoping you’ll support me in my efforts.

Most of us have been touched by cancer in some way. This is my way of fighting back against a disease that has taken too much. When I cross that finish line, I will be doing it for you and for all the people we know who’ve been touched by this disease. I am hoping that I can cross the finish line twice, once to finish the Ragnar relay and another for the fight of cancer. I have made a pledge to raise $400.00. I know that times are tight, but even the smallest amout will make a huge difference. Please help me in this fight. Please click the link below to donate. It is a Tax write off. :)

Once again Thanks.

http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/DetermiNation/DNFY10GreatWest?px=19069277&pg=personal&fr_id=34234

It's About Time Update

OK OK I know that I have slack off from my blog the past couple weeks and have a lot to update. But first OFF, Happy Valentines day tomorrow. I know that without all the LOVE and Support from my personal Cheerleader and Wife, I would not be where I am today. I love ya Sweetheart. Hope we all take the time to thank and cherish those closest to us.

Now to the running. For the past three weeks, while being limited on my running per doctors orders, I struggled with the fact that I couldn't run. I started to attend spin classes at the Washington Community Recreation Center. Never in a million years, did I think that I would find any Joy in sitting on a bike. LET ME TELL YA NOW, I'm a total believer and I love it. I have been going 3-4 times a week and doing limited running on the track following the spin workout. I know i wasn't supposed to do tons a running but i kept it to 2-3 miles at a time. Well last week, Dr Stewart cleared me for running following a second injection of cortisone to my foot. I have had to wear an air cast which has an air pocket that sits in the arch of the heel, taking pressure off the planter fascia. There is absolutely no fun in getting a shot to the foot, but so far it is working well. Now that I have been given the total green light from light workout, I have planned to run the Dogtown Half Marathon in 2 weeks followed by my first ever relay as I run lake to lake relay. So far things are looking really well. Yesterday, I took to the course of the upcoming half marathon and was able to knock out 11 miles without a lot of stress to my foot. I felt awesome. the first time in almost 5 months. I swear that spin has made a huge difference. from this point on, I am going to be a spin addict along with running. Oh yea..... Good times.


OK to the WAY AWESOME NEWS: I am going to be running the Wasatch Back Ragnar Relay in June from Logan to Park City. It is a relay that runs day, night and then day and cover 200 miles. It is made up of a 12 person team each covering 3 legs roughly 12-18 miles in total distance. I Cant wait. I have made some changes to my racing schedule. Take a look, the new additions are in Red. Should be a great running season. Thanks again for everyone support. It means a lot to me.

St George Half Marathon and 5K

Before the race, we meet up with the gang. Cory and Melanie Reese, Alex and Cherie Santiago, Shane and Kerri Nielson and Melissa and I. What a good looking group.

The rest of the gang before the start of the race.

I was a little disappointed with the weekend. Over the past four months, I have been running with and treating my planter fasciitis. On Mon, less than a week before the St George Half Marathon, I went out to complete my long run of 8 miles. I was sore like i have normally been sore following a long run, but nothing more. later that day I started to tighten up, still thought nothing of it. I had taken my sleeping pill that night and was off in LA LA LAND, when I was woken out of my sleep by a KILLER pain. I have never hurt that bad in my whole entire life. I was dying. My left foot was literally curled up in a ball, and i was thrashing in pain. I woke Melissa up and asked her if i could have a saw to cut my foot off.... She was worried, especially knowing that I had my Ambien on board, if I was really going to follow through. Needless to say I didn't sleep that much the remainder of the night, and nothing from ice, heat or Ibuprofen could help out. On Thursday, just days before the race, I went and saw the Podiatrist, who is an avid runner, to have my foot checked out. I told him how i have fought through my races and what the other Doc had told me to do, and that was to keep stretching it and to keep running. He skipped the Xray and went straight to the Ultrasound. Needless to say, my planter fascia was almost triple the size it should be. He wanted to inject it again with cortisone. I had a shot in late OCT, it hurt but it was nothing like this one. The Doc ultrasound guided the needle deep into my inflamed Fascia and injected several locations. I think that the shot hurt worse than my foot did on Monday night. I was literally coming off the bed. Following the shot, I was placed in an air cast wrap for my heel. I was told that I COULD NOT run the Half Marathon, but was given the green light to run the 5k if i felt up to it. OF course I wanted to run and Melissa was going to be running the5k, her second ever. Come Race day, I really had the urge to just run the half, but wasn't willing to put myself in a position to where I would injure myself any worse that I already was, so the 5k it was. After meeting up with some of the coolest people ever, we was off. Melissa and I had discuss that we didn't care about our time but that we just wanted to go out and keep it nice and easy for me and my foot. We had a pretty sweet run with no pain, or issues. At this point I was loving the shot. The first time my foot didn't hurt during a run in month. It was awesome. In keeping to a nice and easy pace, we crossed the finish line just under 39 minutes. I felt awesome. The hardest part is by feeling so good and seeing all the half marathoners out on the course really made me crave to be out there with them. I'm sure 10 more miles would have probably done me in. So overall great races with my own disappointments.

I go back to see the doc again on Feb 1st to see how my foot has responded to the injection. He gave me a good chance that I will end up in a walking boot after needle decopression of the fascia. I am hoping for the easy route to keep running. All I want to do is run. Well, I guess I am limbo till Tuesday. Untill then. :}

ONE YEAR BABY!!!!!!

One year ago, I had my very own Forrest Gump Moment, where I woke up early in the morning and decided I wanted to go for a run..... A year later, here I stand. Looking back, I NEVER thought in a million years that I would have come so far and accomplish so much. Ever since that cold early morning last Jan, I have pounded out 528 miles and run 19 races. The grand total for 2010 was 6 5K's, 1 9K, 6 10K's, and 6 Half Marathons. Even though I have faught through some injuries, I feel 2011 is gonna be a rockin year. I have many awesome races in store. I just cant wait for the challenges that await me this upcoming year. THANKS to all who have given me support and love. It truely keeps me going. Bring on the open road. I will restart training this week following three complete weeks off to help me recover. Next up the St George Half Marathon. Can't wait.