Tri Training

Who's on board for a Triathlon?

It's time to get planning and sign up for the Pleasant Grove Swim Team Triathlon.

There are a few of us doing this Triathlon in memory of Kim Turner Shaw. I am having t-shirts designed for those who are either participating as an athlete or as a volunteer. I'll let you know when they are ready, and how much they'll be. (Email me if you're going to be interested in a shirt)

PG Triathlon

Saturday, June 13, 2009

7:00AM @ PG Pool

Cost $30 for adults w/ mandatory USAT membership (additional $20)

Race can be done in as a relay team ($30 per relay member)

Register online: Active.com

PLEASE PASS THE WORD ALONG!

It's A New Crafty!

HFPE Presents a Craft Night:

Tuesday, April 7th

$8 / 7pm at the church house

Let me know if you are coming.

Thanks to Kathy Molen for the design and the bunny on the left!

Tah-Dah!

One thing off my Bucket List!

Race Day

It's HERE!

(Well, almost)

I apologize for yet another 'running' post. But I wanted to tell you one of my methods for making it through this race on Saturday.

It definitely plays off of the Mental aspect of running, and I'm frankly excited about it.

As each mile ticks away I have chosen to spend each mile thinking of a certain person / or person(s) who means a lot to me and has been a source of encouragement.

Instead of thinking of my aching feet or weak muscles I'm going to mentally leave and enjoy some time thinking of my friends and family. (Warning - this may be more sentimental that you thought I was capable of. . . )

I have hesitated in posting this as I don't want to hurt any feelings but I wanted those whom I will list to know how much they've meant to me.

My Mental Marathon List

Mile 1 - Lisa Harris & Wendy Sheffield.

To my running buddies I dedicate this first mile. Without either of you I would never have had the thought to do this or the necessary support. Thank you for the crazy stuff you've talked me into and the counseling sessions while we've run. You both are amazing women!

Mile 2 - Leslie Clark.

You are my 1st running buddy and I love to think back to those laps around the gym. I may not have walked away from those runs with the strength I have now, but I walked away with a GREAT friendship! BTW - thanks for my AWESOME hat!

Mile 3 - Josh.

Mile 3 is usually where I finally get my breath back and start to settle in. It's the same kind of feeling I had when you finally came into my life. Here's to my 13 year old son!

Mile 4 - Kim Shaw.

I hope to dedicate my whole triathlon experience to Kim coming up in June. But on the off chance that doesn't happen I want to make sure that she is part of this experience. I think of her often and find that her influence continues with me even though she is gone. Kim - I will think a bazillion sarcastic remarks that I would want to share with you while running this mile!

Mile 5 - Friends In the Ninth Ward

Now, this is NOT an attempt to lump everyone into a mile! But it is for quite a few specific people in my neighborhood that make my days worthwhile. This mile is for the women I go to breakfast, lunch, dessert and movies with. The witty friend who makes me laugh, the friend who confides in me, neighborhood coalition friends, DVR sharing friends and stand-in-the-hall and chat friends. By Mile 5 my caffeinated energy gel will be kicking in and I'll be able to think of all of you before the mile ends!! Thanks for your support.

Mile 6 - Ethan.

Ethan, I stuck your mile here in the middle for a reason. As I cross the mid point of my run I want to honor that you are my middle child. Sometimes being in the middle stinks, I know. But for me the middle is a signal that I'm on the home stretch. It means I'm getting closer to where you are waiting for me - the same way I waited for you the day you were born!

Mile 7 - Jacquie, Joy & Jenny

I will pass this mile quickly thinking of all the kindness you have all shown me over the years. You are three of the most thoughtful women I know and I'm luckier than I deserve to be your friend!

Mile 8 - My PTA Friends (Shauna & Sherry).

Really, I just want to spend a desperate mile thinking how the two of you have already loaded up your cups with ice and Diet Coke. I'm loaded up on half an apple and some Gu. But I'm looking towards the finish line now thinking how I want to join you at the Gas N' Sip - I want to kidnap a man from the car wash - I want to sing "Love At Home" - I want a burger from the barn!

Mile 9 - Melanie.

To date, this has been my most challenging mile. I have to turn off the music and start verbalizing, out loud, that I can make it. I will probably be saying the words to myself yet again -- " I can do it, I can make it, keep going." But I'll also be hearing you say them because you have been great at giving me constant encouraging words. I appreciate it, and hope that in your life's mile 9 you can hear me encouraging you.

Mile 10 - Emma.

This is the farthest I have run prior to this race. It's the point at which I start to have a second wind, but my legs are aching and tired. Emma, you came along a little later than I'd hoped. I'm more tired and aching than with the boys. You gave me a second wind when I thought there was none.

Mile 11 - Jeff.

No, I didn't forget you honey. But I saved you to think about during this mile for a reason. They tell me it's the hardest -it's towards the end of the race and is pretty much up-hill. I'll need your help and thoughts now more than ever. You always come through for me when it's the hardest and we've kept plodding along together through many struggles. Thinking of you will get me through this mile and many more to come - I love you!

Mile 12 - Mom & Dad.

I think it's about here that I will really start to see and hear whoever may be left around the finish line. Perhaps people will honk as they drive out of town, having finished the race quite a bit before me. But it's here that I will think of my greatest cheering section -- my mom and dad. Mom always cheered the LOUDEST at my games and it's only recently that I have listened and heard my dad's QUITE praise as well.

Mile 13 -

Will you think me overly mushy and religious if I tell you whom I run this mile for? Can I just not say, because it's too personal - too deeply felt? But please know that I will thank Him for all that I have and all that I can be. I will cry, I will rejoice in this mile and the journey will have been worth it!

SEE YOU AT THE FINISH LINE!

Allegory of the Half Marathon

A few weeks ago in church a man stood and compared this life experience to his job.

Luckily he is a builder and I understood MOST of what he referenced.

In the past few weeks, as I run, I have been left with nothing but the thoughts in my head for miles at a time. These thoughts have always turned to how this life experience is actually like running.

For example:

Running is hard work. At this point in the game, I could not participate in the race if I hadn't put in the hard miles the last few months. It has been hard - there has been chaffing (don't ask where!), blisters and freezing fingers. But it was all necessary to get to where I'll be on Saturday

Running is not about winning. This has been one of the more significant things I've learned. I want to just FINISH the race. I don't have to cross the finish line ahead of anyone to be successful. I see people who run faster - who practice less - who weigh 1/2 my weight but I'm as happy for them to cross the finish line as they are for me. It's more about doing whatever crawling, running, walking, crying it takes to get me over that finish line.

Running succes relies on visualization. A huge emotional draw for me to keep at the running is to visualize my family waiting for me at the finish line. I know that they will cheer, take photos and let me drop, tired into their arms. They will think I'm AWESOME for doing this at all - no matter where I place. That keeps me going and I will rely on them come Saturday.

Running is a mental exercise. For me, the hardest part of running has been the mental work. The ability to overcome the demands of my physical body by focusing inside has been excruciating and exhilarating. I am more than just the physical being that you see -- I am stronger on the inside than I am on the outside.

I may never run another 1/2 marathon, 5K or mile after Saturday - I don't know what the future has in store in that regards.

But I do know that I am still training and running another race -- it's hard work, it's not about coming in first, I need to visual success and it's definitely a mental exercise. Perhaps I should put as much effort into that race as I have into Saturday's.

Not Me, Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama.

You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

I did NOT just post my "Not Me, Monday" entry on Tuesday!!

This weekend was a blur of emotions and activities which may have contributed to my 'late' blog this morning.

Saturday I started my day off with a little 4 mile run. During which, I did not met the most amazing women who were in the middle of training for the 1/2 marathon next weekend. I did not suck in my belly and speed up my pace to get them to think I was going to be a real contender on Saturday either.

Also on Saturday I did not hunker down in front of my computer, completely oblivious to EVERYTHING, to finally complete the Guild Wars Prophecies campaign with Josh. And at no point was there fist pumping in the air because Josh and I are cool!

Sunday . . . . I did not consider going back into hiding (or leave church crying). For crying out loud it's just church - why would someone get so worked up over that? Really, why would I?

Monday. I did not rub my hands in glee at any point during the past few days relishing the funeral EVENT of Jeff's grandmother.

I also didn't re-plan and dictate my own funeral desires to my husband and children leaving little Emma begging me not to die.

And I didn't try to rush through the family dinner afterwards so I could get back in the car to finish reading a really GREAT book: The Hunger Games!

Kinda sounds like I spent my weekend NOT doing a lot, but my favorite thing I didn't do was spend time with Paul and Leslie! Good to see you guys ~

Scrapping Fun

I've been busy digital scrapbooking.

Mostly trying to make my pages from a few months ago look better after seeing my mother-in-law's great pages.

I have LOVED using Picasa to organize all my digital doo-dads and papers. (Carol: you should do this if you don't already). It makes this process so much easier.

Anyway, here's a look at some of my recent completed pages:

I'll be adding links on my sidebar soon of all my favorite digital scrapbooking sites - hope you like it!

Visiting Teaching

I get a real kick out of the first part of this movie (the end is good, just not necessarily funny).

I'm a Knock and Run kinda gal - how about you?

Try, Try Again

Today I received an email from a mass mailing group friend.

I was very inflamed and indignant over it.

I therefore passed it on to a small group of friends - who would surely be as inflamed and indignant over it as I.

I figured we would mass email these wretched foes, dent their pocket books, make a difference!!

(Kinda like some of these friends did with the PTA initiative a few weeks ago - that I didn't ever actually send an email about)

So this time, since I knew that the process really could make a difference, I thought I'd spur them all on to SUCCESS yet again!

Except that this time instead of action, thoughtfulness and cool headed-ness was needed more than angry letter writing.

Sometimes I feel like I get the scenarios for indignation and thoughtfulness all mixed up. Could someone please spell it out for me when I'm suppose to be outspoken or closed lipped?

Regardless, check this out if you're interested: The Publicity Dilemma

Just Plain CRAZY

How I spent my Saturday . . . .

(photo by K. Delaney)

6:00am

Wake up and put on my running clothes hoping that Lisa will call soon to say it's too cold to go running

6:30am

Lisa comes to pick me up - I shake my fist at the sky

7:00am

Drop a car at the end of our run (the base of Provo Canyon)

7:20am

Repress the scream in the bottom of my throat as we drive 4 miles past Vivian Park up the canyon . . . .Where we slide up and down the road we are suppose to run on. Trying not to notice the car overheating . . .

7:30am

Reluctantly step out of the van into snow to begin a 10 mile run back to the first car. I start crying on the inside.

7:45am

Watch wild turkeys fly overhead -- feel like a wild turkey running on the icy road.

9:00am

Reach Vivian Park and can't feel my legs anymore. I make a mental note to not run in short capri's when it's 27 degrees outside.

9:10am

Who knew I could run so fast up hill? When you are running on the road, against traffic with semi's and trucks FLYING by, you run fast just to get to the part where you're NOT on the road and facing certain death.

10:00am

Suppressing maniacal laughing as the snow starts to fall.

10:25am

Stumble over the 'finish' line into the parking lot. Wonder how I'm suppose to go 3 more miles than this in two weeks. Crying on the inside starts again. . .

10:50am - 6:00pm

Crash and Burn

7:00pm

Grateful for a good friend who pushes me to do new and CRAZY things! Everyone needs a friend like Lisa - thank you!

8:00pm (Back to crashing and burning . . . . )

Labels

Clearly, I'm having "Issues" lately.

either that or being a HERMIT is the new and acceptable "Norm"

However, in an attempt to re-engage with my life I'm taking advice from a recent study that shows you can create interest just by re-labeling it.

For example, the study evaluated kids who don't eat vegetables. You take a "carrot" and call them "X-Ray Vision Carrots" and suddenly there's a LOT more interest and eating going on.

Also, just take a normal, nasty canned pea and call it "Power Pea" and the kids will eat 50 percent MORE than what they normally would.

As I re-engage with my life I'm going to employ the power of labelling to generate some new excitement!

For example, I'm no longer just doing monotonous laundry. . . .

I'm Lovingly Laundering Loads of Lemon Freshness!

Also, I'm not just nagging kids to do homework . . .

I'm Piloting Young Minds to New Heights!

I'm not just providing endless amounts of conflict resolution for the PTA and Arts Commission . . .

I'm Providing Havens of Love and Kindness for the World!

And finally, I'm not just plodding through my daily life searching for personal meaning . . . .

I'm Treasure Hunting Amongst the Ruins of Civilization Seeking out Greater Light and Knowledge.

Do I seem more engaged now?