Runnin' runnin' runnin'

The idea of running has been a part of my life for a long time. My mom has been a runner as long as I've known her. I've been at the finish line more times than I remember watching for her and then cheering as loudly as I could when she came by. Most of the races I went to of hers were the St. George marathon. She ran several on her own and then ran a whole bunch of them with my sister, Stephanie. They both inspired me. There's something magical about the chute leading to the finish line of a long race like that. With the crowd yelling and the athletes pushing it with their last ounce of effort to finish, the moment of it all brings out your emotions! At one of those races, I made the decision that one day I would be a participant instead of a spectator.

That goal sat in my mind for a few years. A marathon is a big deal. It takes a lot of effort, training, and drive. I started running on my own in high school. I worked my way up to 3 miles and was proud of myself. I moved to college and met other friends who liked to run, so we'd go on jogs together around campus occassionally. At the end of my sophomore year of college, I decided I would run the St. George marathon. I signed up for it with my mom and sister, got in, and began running. But my training fizzled quickly. It was too hard. And so, the thought sat in my mind for another few years. I ran a lot of 5k's, 10k's, and half marathons and really enjoyed it.

Finally came the time where my desire and my actions coincided. I began training for a marathon in February 2010 and maintained a strict, consistent running schedule. Each day was monumental because each day I ran further than I ever had!

After months of training, THE day came. And it was a perfect day. The weather, the experience, how I felt, how I ran, everything was perfect. I ran the Top of Utah Marathon (by myself after training by myself) on Sept 18, 2010. I was so nervous that morning that I thought, I'm not doing this. And then I thought of my mom (diagnosed with a brain tumor 3 days before race day), and realized that I had to do it. And so I did, with major support and encouragement of my husband/coach, who had supported, encouraged and pushed me through all my training. It was one of the best experiences of my life. And so I've kept running.

Top of Utah Marathon Sept 2010

Salt Lake City Marathon April 2011

My sister, Alicia, ran the last 4 miles with me!