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.