Warning: this is one of those “I haven’t blogged in months” posts that we all write occasionally. Since a picture is worth a thousand words, I’ll post 9 pictures and let those serve as 9,000 words for the reader.
Mid-June, I decided to run a half marathon. The race was scheduled for the end of June. I allowed myself two weeks of training. Brutal may be a bit exaggerated to describe the training, but it wasn’t easy.
The race started 7 miles or so up American Fork canyon. I was on a bus at 4:30am to get up to the starting line, where I sat for an hour. It was dark, and chilly – cold air floating from the reservoir and over the starting line.
I ran well downhill for those 7 miles. My pace was rocking (compared to my normal pace). Jeana and the kids were cheering for me at the mouth of the canyon. The feeling of support in a race is so motivating. Then, they’re gone, and the downhill is now flat. And your leg muscles are used to compensating on the downhill, and fatigue sets in.
Sure, all you marathoners are thinking, “Quit your whining!” Go ahead think that. For all you who don’t run half-marathons, I’ll accept your admiration of my perseverance. I finished the race in an acceptable time. I don’t remember what it was now, something like 1 hour 47 minutes.
My parents spent some time in Utah this summer, baby-sitting our oldest niece (who is now 22 years old). While they were in town, Jeana and the kids joined them at the zoo. They got a good laugh when a fountain sprayed Kate in the face.
We spent the 4th of July at Sundance resort. Our original plan to walk around the grounds and shops turned into a ride up the ski lifts, and then turned into an impromptu hike. How can you resist when it’s so beautiful up there?
While riding up the lift, we could see a fantastic waterfall off in the distance. Later we learned that this is Stewart Falls (and Jeana would hike it 37 weeks pregnant). Of course, we were not prepared with water, food, or even proper hiking footwear, but we decided to hike until we could get a good prospect of the falls.
