But the hike was totally worth it.
Showing posts with label Utah. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Utah. Show all posts
09 February 2017
Check Your Equipment Regularly
There are times that my equipment just doesn't want to work for me. My body usually pays the price. It must be time for a new pair of socks...
But the hike was totally worth it.
But the hike was totally worth it.
14 December 2016
Hiking: Stewart Falls, Utah
Stewart Falls is probably the hike I have frequented the most in Utah. It's not too long, but not too short either. When I'm alone or with other adults, I can do this hike in under 2 hours. If I'm with my kids, it takes closer to 4.
Here is the Trailhead.
This is such a beautiful lookout. I usually spend a few minutes here just to be. There are a couple of places along this hike where you could sit down and take a breather.
Here are the falls. This is a perfect place to sit and have lunch or a little snack, and let the kids play in the stream.
Stewart Falls Hike Details
Distance – 3.6 miles roundtrip
Approximate hiking time – 1.5 hours to 3 hours
Difficulty – Easy, the first mile is shaded; partial shade for the second mile
Trail – This is a well maintained trail of dirt, gravel, and rock. Watch out for tree roots as well.
Bathrooms – At the trailhead
Permits – $6 fee paid at ranger booth, unless you have a National Parks Pass, then it’s free.
Pets – Yes
Kids - Yes, but keep in mind their hiking level and how much whining they will emit and how much you are willing to put up with. I'd recommend small children in a pack and little ones hiking on their own starting at age 5 or 6.
How to get there:
Take I-15 to the Orem 8oo North off ramp (Exit 272) and then turn east onto 800 North. Follow it to the mouth of Provo Canyon. As the road splits, take the left curve to go up the canyon. Stay on this road (US 189) for appox. 7 miles. You will go through a short tunnel. After the tunnel, you will make a left turn up the road toward Sundance Ski Resort. You will follow this narrow road PAST the Sundance Ski Resort and PAST Aspen Grove. You will come to a ranger fee station where you will need to pay to use the park. There is parking on the left just past the ranger station. Park here. The trailhead is to the right of the toilets.
Here is the Trailhead.
This is such a beautiful lookout. I usually spend a few minutes here just to be. There are a couple of places along this hike where you could sit down and take a breather.
Here are the falls. This is a perfect place to sit and have lunch or a little snack, and let the kids play in the stream.
Stewart Falls Hike Details
Distance – 3.6 miles roundtrip
Approximate hiking time – 1.5 hours to 3 hours
Difficulty – Easy, the first mile is shaded; partial shade for the second mile
Trail – This is a well maintained trail of dirt, gravel, and rock. Watch out for tree roots as well.
Bathrooms – At the trailhead
Permits – $6 fee paid at ranger booth, unless you have a National Parks Pass, then it’s free.
Pets – Yes
Kids - Yes, but keep in mind their hiking level and how much whining they will emit and how much you are willing to put up with. I'd recommend small children in a pack and little ones hiking on their own starting at age 5 or 6.
How to get there:
Take I-15 to the Orem 8oo North off ramp (Exit 272) and then turn east onto 800 North. Follow it to the mouth of Provo Canyon. As the road splits, take the left curve to go up the canyon. Stay on this road (US 189) for appox. 7 miles. You will go through a short tunnel. After the tunnel, you will make a left turn up the road toward Sundance Ski Resort. You will follow this narrow road PAST the Sundance Ski Resort and PAST Aspen Grove. You will come to a ranger fee station where you will need to pay to use the park. There is parking on the left just past the ranger station. Park here. The trailhead is to the right of the toilets.
24 August 2016
Hiking: Bridal Veil Falls
Hiking Bridal Veil is super easy if you're only going to the bottom. This trail is paved all the way from the parking lot to the base of the falls. So, it's accessible for anyone. Keep this in mind when you head up there: there are lots of longboarders, bikers, walkers/runners, and hikers.
I'm not really sure where the hiking distance is measured. Just know that you will probably hike somewhere around 1 mile. If you continue up the paved walkway, past the crowd of people at the bottom of the falls, the beginning of the trail to the top of Bridal Veil will be on your right. It's directly across from the bridge. (sorry for no picture)
The trail to the top is pretty easy. There are a couple of places along the trail where there is a lot of loose rock. So, if you choose to go to the top, be careful.
Bridal Veil Hike Details:
Distance – less than 1.0 mile roundtrip
Approximate hiking time – 10 minutes to one hour
Difficulty – Easy.
Trail – Paved to the bottom of the falls. Rocky trail to the top.
Bathrooms – none
Permits - none needed
Kids - Yes. I'd pack anyone under 5 years old.
Pets allowed – Yes, leashed.
How to Get There:
From I-15, take the 800 North off ramp (Exit 272) in Orem, and head east (toward the mountain) on 800 North. Follow it all the way to the mouth of Provo Canyon. The road splits right at the mouth of the canyon. Make sure you take the left lane into the Canyon.
Stay on this road (US 189) until you see a sign for Bridal Veil Falls. Take the exit off the Highway. After you turn off the highway, you’ll see a parking lot on your right. If you want to walk on a paved trail to reach the falls, park here.
If you prefer to park closer to the falls, continue straight on this road, passing the first parking lot on your right. Follow the road for about 0.5 miles and you’ll find another parking area. The falls will be across the bridge from this parking lot.
There are lots of picnic tables along the paved trail up to the falls. It's a great place for lunch before heading up to the falls.
Make sure you bring your water shoes because at the bottom of the falls, you can play in the water and rocks.
I'm not really sure where the hiking distance is measured. Just know that you will probably hike somewhere around 1 mile. If you continue up the paved walkway, past the crowd of people at the bottom of the falls, the beginning of the trail to the top of Bridal Veil will be on your right. It's directly across from the bridge. (sorry for no picture)
The trail to the top is pretty easy. There are a couple of places along the trail where there is a lot of loose rock. So, if you choose to go to the top, be careful.
At the top of Bridal Veil
Bridal Veil Hike Details:
Distance – less than 1.0 mile roundtrip
Approximate hiking time – 10 minutes to one hour
Difficulty – Easy.
Trail – Paved to the bottom of the falls. Rocky trail to the top.
Bathrooms – none
Permits - none needed
Kids - Yes. I'd pack anyone under 5 years old.
Pets allowed – Yes, leashed.
How to Get There:
From I-15, take the 800 North off ramp (Exit 272) in Orem, and head east (toward the mountain) on 800 North. Follow it all the way to the mouth of Provo Canyon. The road splits right at the mouth of the canyon. Make sure you take the left lane into the Canyon.
Stay on this road (US 189) until you see a sign for Bridal Veil Falls. Take the exit off the Highway. After you turn off the highway, you’ll see a parking lot on your right. If you want to walk on a paved trail to reach the falls, park here.
If you prefer to park closer to the falls, continue straight on this road, passing the first parking lot on your right. Follow the road for about 0.5 miles and you’ll find another parking area. The falls will be across the bridge from this parking lot.
04 August 2016
Hiking: Lisa Falls
This summer, I really wanted to get my kids out and enjoying our beautiful mountains. And what better way to get out of the Utah Smog than to head to higher ground? So, I set up a weekly schedule. Most of the weeks I kept to it, but sometimes there just needed to be adjustments.
Our first week was Lisa Falls. Because of our sedentary lives throughout the winter, I wanted to make sure to start slowly for my kids. This hike was perfect. It's super short and sends you to a fun little waterfall.
Lisa Falls is located about 3 miles up Little Cottonwood Canyon. There is parking right next to the trail head and across the street. We didn't have any trouble finding a place to park. I don't really remember this hike being very well marked. I don't remember seeing a sign, but there might be.
I read differing distances for this trail. Everything from .3 miles round trip to 1.1 miles round trip. I didn't happen to GPS it that day, so we'll just go with it's short. Only a hop skip and a jump from the road. My kids and I got out of our car and headed up the trail. There were a lot of rocks and protruding tree roots along the trail, but nothing little kids can't climb and jump off of.
There is a little stream to cross right before you reach the falls. Once at the falls, there are many rocks to sit on and have lunch or a little snack. There is lots of bouldering to be done. My kids loved climbing all over the rocks.
This is definitely a great hike for little kids, or anyone carrying kids. I was relieved to find that it was so short. I thought I would spend the day with whining kids. No whining = success.
Things I learned from this hike:
1. Shoes: I learned that real hiking shoes are an absolute must. My kids were just in their runners and spent most of the hike slipping and sliding around. It made them quite nervous.
2. Water: I know how important it is to stay hydrated, but carrying water bottles is such a hassle. And having two little kids trying to get in and out of their bags to get it, while spilling it's contents all over is a time consumer and very frustrating. So, I learned that having a water bladder in each of their packs is also a must. Not to mention fun. They think the straw is so cool to drink out of.
3. Sunscreen: Yes, sunscreen is super important. Always needed. But what I learned was, make sure your hands are wiped off and clean before touching your phone/camera. Otherwise you get pictures like mine. Clearly showing the smeared sunscreen across the lens. (And I couldn't see the foggy pictures in the crazy sun. So sad.)
Lisa Falls Hike Details:
Distance – short. Between .3 and 1.1 miles round trip
Approximate hiking time – 30 minutes to 1 hour
Difficulty – Easy
Trail – Dirt, rock, and tree roots
Bathrooms – None
Permits – None needed
Pets – Not permitted
How to get there:
From Salt Lake City or from Provo, take I-15 to the 9000 South exit (Exit 295). Turn east onto 9000 South (UT-209) and follow it for 7.2 miles to the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon. Even though you stay on the same road, 9000 South changes to 9400 South and then to 9600 South as it heads east and goes into Little Cottonwood Canyon. Arriving at the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon, you come to a junction with Wasatch Blvd from the north. Continue up Little Cottonwood Canyon Road for 2.7 miles, which is between mileposts 6 and 7. You’ll see a small parking area on the right side of the road, followed by a small parking area on the left side of the road. Park on the left side of the road if possible, as the trail to Lisa Falls starts there.
Our first week was Lisa Falls. Because of our sedentary lives throughout the winter, I wanted to make sure to start slowly for my kids. This hike was perfect. It's super short and sends you to a fun little waterfall.
Lisa Falls is located about 3 miles up Little Cottonwood Canyon. There is parking right next to the trail head and across the street. We didn't have any trouble finding a place to park. I don't really remember this hike being very well marked. I don't remember seeing a sign, but there might be.
I read differing distances for this trail. Everything from .3 miles round trip to 1.1 miles round trip. I didn't happen to GPS it that day, so we'll just go with it's short. Only a hop skip and a jump from the road. My kids and I got out of our car and headed up the trail. There were a lot of rocks and protruding tree roots along the trail, but nothing little kids can't climb and jump off of.
There is a little stream to cross right before you reach the falls. Once at the falls, there are many rocks to sit on and have lunch or a little snack. There is lots of bouldering to be done. My kids loved climbing all over the rocks.
This is definitely a great hike for little kids, or anyone carrying kids. I was relieved to find that it was so short. I thought I would spend the day with whining kids. No whining = success.
Things I learned from this hike:
1. Shoes: I learned that real hiking shoes are an absolute must. My kids were just in their runners and spent most of the hike slipping and sliding around. It made them quite nervous.
2. Water: I know how important it is to stay hydrated, but carrying water bottles is such a hassle. And having two little kids trying to get in and out of their bags to get it, while spilling it's contents all over is a time consumer and very frustrating. So, I learned that having a water bladder in each of their packs is also a must. Not to mention fun. They think the straw is so cool to drink out of.
3. Sunscreen: Yes, sunscreen is super important. Always needed. But what I learned was, make sure your hands are wiped off and clean before touching your phone/camera. Otherwise you get pictures like mine. Clearly showing the smeared sunscreen across the lens. (And I couldn't see the foggy pictures in the crazy sun. So sad.)
Lisa Falls Hike Details:
Distance – short. Between .3 and 1.1 miles round trip
Approximate hiking time – 30 minutes to 1 hour
Difficulty – Easy
Trail – Dirt, rock, and tree roots
Bathrooms – None
Permits – None needed
Pets – Not permitted
How to get there:
From Salt Lake City or from Provo, take I-15 to the 9000 South exit (Exit 295). Turn east onto 9000 South (UT-209) and follow it for 7.2 miles to the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon. Even though you stay on the same road, 9000 South changes to 9400 South and then to 9600 South as it heads east and goes into Little Cottonwood Canyon. Arriving at the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon, you come to a junction with Wasatch Blvd from the north. Continue up Little Cottonwood Canyon Road for 2.7 miles, which is between mileposts 6 and 7. You’ll see a small parking area on the right side of the road, followed by a small parking area on the left side of the road. Park on the left side of the road if possible, as the trail to Lisa Falls starts there.
01 August 2016
2016 Utah Valley Half Marathon
As you know, I went back and forth about whether or not I would participate in the Utah Valley Half Marathon this year. When I'm struggling with injury and lack of motivation because of excess weight, racing just doesn't have the same appeal it usually does. It's even a bit scary to show up feeling unprepared for something others have spent months training for. But I did it. I showed up.
It was a beautiful morning with a wondrous sunrise, and I was determined to walk this race, no matter how long it took me to finish. Especially since I forgot to charge my Ipod Shuffle and would be tackling the 13.1 miles with my own meandering thoughts. I figured I would survive. What I underestimated was the amount of stress that walking actually puts on our bodies. It hurt to walk. Not at first, of course. But by mile 2, all my body wanted to do was run. And listening to my body has been the theme of my past year so, I ran.
Until my lungs needed a break, then I walked. I went back and forth between running and walking the whole distance. When walking I had the chance to talk to other walkers. It was fun. Everyone participating in a gorgeous morning together. The birds singing, the water rushing by, the honking cars, and cheering sections along the route were great motivators. I thoroughly enjoyed unplugging and experiencing the world around me while I moved along the course.
I finished the course way faster than I thought I would. I finished in 2 hours 55 minutes and 58 seconds. Under 3 Hours!! My goal was under 4. I feel good about this. Walking didn't even slow my pace all that much. I was only 20 minutes slower than the last time I ran the Half. I'm glad that I had to slow down and walk. It helped me to relax about my time. It's okay if I have to walk during a race. It's okay to listen to my body. Just BE at that moment.
Be what my body needs
Be me
Be present in the experience
Be happy
Maybe my new race mantra? Just Be.
It was super cold
It was a beautiful morning with a wondrous sunrise, and I was determined to walk this race, no matter how long it took me to finish. Especially since I forgot to charge my Ipod Shuffle and would be tackling the 13.1 miles with my own meandering thoughts. I figured I would survive. What I underestimated was the amount of stress that walking actually puts on our bodies. It hurt to walk. Not at first, of course. But by mile 2, all my body wanted to do was run. And listening to my body has been the theme of my past year so, I ran.
Until my lungs needed a break, then I walked. I went back and forth between running and walking the whole distance. When walking I had the chance to talk to other walkers. It was fun. Everyone participating in a gorgeous morning together. The birds singing, the water rushing by, the honking cars, and cheering sections along the route were great motivators. I thoroughly enjoyed unplugging and experiencing the world around me while I moved along the course.
I finished the course way faster than I thought I would. I finished in 2 hours 55 minutes and 58 seconds. Under 3 Hours!! My goal was under 4. I feel good about this. Walking didn't even slow my pace all that much. I was only 20 minutes slower than the last time I ran the Half. I'm glad that I had to slow down and walk. It helped me to relax about my time. It's okay if I have to walk during a race. It's okay to listen to my body. Just BE at that moment.
Be what my body needs
Be me
Be present in the experience
Be happy
Maybe my new race mantra? Just Be.
30 December 2015
Race #13: December - US Road Running Reindeer Racer 10K
The last race of the year.
Because of stress and injury, I ended up gaining 45 pounds over the past year. I stress eat. I thought that all the racing and training would have stopped that. It didn't. The stress I've been dealing with made it difficult to train properly. Motivation is hard when you're just not feeling it. So, when December came around and I had one more race to do, I was less than excited.
Who is going to be pumped up and rearing to go when they have extra weight to carry through each mile, less energy, and diminished endurance? No one. But I wanted to run one race per month this year. Not just 12 races. I decided that it was important for me to suck in my gut and just do it.
December is crazy busy and I needed the flexibility to run whenever it was convenient for me so, I registered for another virtual race. The race I chose was the US Road Running Reindeer Racer 10K. At the beginning of the month, I figured that signing up for a 10K would get me running again. I was wrong. I haven't run since the last virtual race I did.
It's the end of the month. End of the year. And it's time to accomplish my goal. So, I went over to the Orem Recreation Center, hopped on a treadmill, and started walking. Because of the lack of training, I was definitely taking full advantage of the run/walk options with this race. I warmed up better than I ever have before and then turned up the speed.
The first mile and a half felt like I was teaching my body what running is. The next mile and a half were really pretty rough. I was tired and worrying about how my feet were going to handle this. (My injury was neuroma's in each of my feet.) It was around mile 3 that I slowed down to a walk again. I needed to catch my breath and give myself a little pep-talk. A really good song came on and I sped up again.
This time, I was running a bit faster and did it for longer. It helped to have a handful of great songs right after another. I managed to keep this faster pace up for another mile and three quarters. Now, I'm pretty done. But I still have 1.7 miles to go. So, I brought the speed back down to a slow jog. It was when I slowed down that I could feel them. The evil heated bubbles on the bottom of my feet. URGH. Blisters are the worst. I pushed through the blisters as long as I could. And then power walked the rest of the way.
I thought I would be completely exhausted when I finished the 6.4 miles. But I wasn't. I felt really happy, proud, and satisfied that I accomplished what I set out 12 months ago to do. It was a great feeling.
This year has been a really good year of running. I'm glad I decided to do it.
Because of stress and injury, I ended up gaining 45 pounds over the past year. I stress eat. I thought that all the racing and training would have stopped that. It didn't. The stress I've been dealing with made it difficult to train properly. Motivation is hard when you're just not feeling it. So, when December came around and I had one more race to do, I was less than excited.
Who is going to be pumped up and rearing to go when they have extra weight to carry through each mile, less energy, and diminished endurance? No one. But I wanted to run one race per month this year. Not just 12 races. I decided that it was important for me to suck in my gut and just do it.
December is crazy busy and I needed the flexibility to run whenever it was convenient for me so, I registered for another virtual race. The race I chose was the US Road Running Reindeer Racer 10K. At the beginning of the month, I figured that signing up for a 10K would get me running again. I was wrong. I haven't run since the last virtual race I did.
It's the end of the month. End of the year. And it's time to accomplish my goal. So, I went over to the Orem Recreation Center, hopped on a treadmill, and started walking. Because of the lack of training, I was definitely taking full advantage of the run/walk options with this race. I warmed up better than I ever have before and then turned up the speed.
The first mile and a half felt like I was teaching my body what running is. The next mile and a half were really pretty rough. I was tired and worrying about how my feet were going to handle this. (My injury was neuroma's in each of my feet.) It was around mile 3 that I slowed down to a walk again. I needed to catch my breath and give myself a little pep-talk. A really good song came on and I sped up again.
This time, I was running a bit faster and did it for longer. It helped to have a handful of great songs right after another. I managed to keep this faster pace up for another mile and three quarters. Now, I'm pretty done. But I still have 1.7 miles to go. So, I brought the speed back down to a slow jog. It was when I slowed down that I could feel them. The evil heated bubbles on the bottom of my feet. URGH. Blisters are the worst. I pushed through the blisters as long as I could. And then power walked the rest of the way.
I thought I would be completely exhausted when I finished the 6.4 miles. But I wasn't. I felt really happy, proud, and satisfied that I accomplished what I set out 12 months ago to do. It was a great feeling.
My after shot of my race. (Sorry it's all fuzzy.)
This year has been a really good year of running. I'm glad I decided to do it.
07 December 2015
Race #12: November - U.S. Road Running Day of the Dead 5K
Since my foot wasn't getting better, at the end of October I went in to the physical therapist. He spent a couple of weeks having me really take care of my foot, he really dug at it with this cool little tool that looks kind of like a thick hook, and he shocked it. All these things really helped my foot to feel better.
I was supposed to finish running this 5K by the end of the first week in November, but between my injury and everyone in my family being sick, I just didn't get it done until later. When I finally did run it, my body was ready. I love the way I feel when I run. It's like life being improved with every step. Wonderful.
I ran it in 38 minutes.
I was supposed to finish running this 5K by the end of the first week in November, but between my injury and everyone in my family being sick, I just didn't get it done until later. When I finally did run it, my body was ready. I love the way I feel when I run. It's like life being improved with every step. Wonderful.
I ran it in 38 minutes.
Here is the awesome medal. So, far it's one of my favorites.
Race #11: October - U.S. Road Running Halloween 5K
October came around and I didn't really have another race scheduled. So, to save a bit of money, I registered for a virtual race on U.S. Road Running. The medals look really cool and I could run my race anytime I wanted. For these races, I can finish them by running or walking inside, outside, or on a treadmill.
This was a life saver since my right foot was really starting to act up. Running was beginning to be really painful. But I wanted to finish my one race a month goal. And I'm going to do it.
I ran this race on the treadmill at the Orem Recreation Center. I ran it at a slower pace than I have been running, but it was better for my foot. I finished in 40 minutes.
This was a life saver since my right foot was really starting to act up. Running was beginning to be really painful. But I wanted to finish my one race a month goal. And I'm going to do it.
I ran this race on the treadmill at the Orem Recreation Center. I ran it at a slower pace than I have been running, but it was better for my foot. I finished in 40 minutes.
Here is the cool medal.
Race #10: September - Addict II Athlete 10K
Addict II Athlete 10K. Addict II Athlete's mission is to "establish and maintain sobriety by promoting lifestyle changes through erasing addiction and replacing it with something of greater value." They are a support group for anyone who has been affected by addiction. We have a lot of substance abuse problems in Utah and I think what they are doing is wonderful for those fighting their own addiction and for their families.
I have a cousin that I lost to a drug overdose. This race is for him. I run it not for speed, and not for the exercise, but for the memory. I get 1 whole hour to remember the things we did together, the laughs we had, and the love we shared.
This year, my Hubby ran with me. It's always great to have the support during an emotional run.
Every year, before the race, we let go of white balloons in remembrance of those we have lost.
There is an auction every year to help raise money for the organization to be able to function throughout the year. It helps out a lot.
I love this race and I can't wait until next year.
I have a cousin that I lost to a drug overdose. This race is for him. I run it not for speed, and not for the exercise, but for the memory. I get 1 whole hour to remember the things we did together, the laughs we had, and the love we shared.
This year, my Hubby ran with me. It's always great to have the support during an emotional run.
This morning was freezing. Here we are shaking at the start line.
Every year, before the race, we let go of white balloons in remembrance of those we have lost.
There is an auction every year to help raise money for the organization to be able to function throughout the year. It helps out a lot.
I love this race and I can't wait until next year.
Race #9: August - Rivalry Relay
I was so excited for the Rivalry Relay. This was my second year running it and I got to do it with some great girls. The Rivalry Relay starts up at Rice-Eccles Stadium and runs down to Provo. The scenery is beautiful, but still hot at the end of August. I ran leg 3 for the team.
That morning I got up, had some of the girls meet at my house and then we headed out to pick up the rest on our way up to the start line. We met the second three girls up in Salt Lake. I think it was off 123000 South. We all got into my car and realized that one of the girls had forgotten her shoes. It was a really good thing that she lived close. We all headed to her house, got her shoes, and drove back towards the freeway. We were almost to the on-ramp when someone in the back seat yelled, "They're towing our cars!!" At first I was thinking, "No, they're not. We're in it." But then my sleepy brain caught up to what she was saying and I made the turn into the parking lot. We got there just in time. Now we needed to find a new place to park the cars. So, we headed to 114000 South to the Wal-Mart there. Good thing Wal-Mart lets people park overnight. Saved our bacon.
Finally, we were off to our race. We made it on time. Got through the safety lesson and check-in. And were feeling good about our day ahead.
The Start:
My first leg was beautiful. I did need to change my shorts shortly after heading out because they were falling off as I ran (don't wear anything too big while running), but it was remedied quickly and I got to enjoy the run. The sun was just coming up. The world was waking and I was feeling great. I ran quickly and comfortably. It got me psyched for Suncrest.
My second leg was up Suncrest. This stretch is 3.3 miles UP HILL. And basically it's straight up. I thought that I had trained well for it, but by the end of mile 1, I was definitely questioning my training. I ended up power walking most of the way. I hit this leg in the middle of the day in the middle of 90 degree heat. So hot. So hard. Kicked my Ass! But I finished it. I finished in 54 minutes and 58 seconds. I made it before the cut off and I'm glad that I did it.
My last leg I was done. I walked so much of it. I'm not sure if I didn't eat enough, or if I was really dehydrated, or just dead tired, but my body just refused to work the way I wanted it to. Apparently I had trained for one maybe two runs in a day, but not three. The over training in my year of races hit me hard in this leg. I have since learned and will not do that again.
We did it. Finished a whole day soaking in the sun while doing something we love. Our team came in 43rd. We finished in 11 hours 19 minutes and 38 seconds. So proud of us.
A closer look at the Rivalry Relay medal for this year. I love this race. It beats me down and builds me up at the same time. Everyone needs to know they can do hard things, but still be reminded that there are legs that kill no matter how hard we train. I'm going to continue to do this race every year I can get a team together.
That morning I got up, had some of the girls meet at my house and then we headed out to pick up the rest on our way up to the start line. We met the second three girls up in Salt Lake. I think it was off 123000 South. We all got into my car and realized that one of the girls had forgotten her shoes. It was a really good thing that she lived close. We all headed to her house, got her shoes, and drove back towards the freeway. We were almost to the on-ramp when someone in the back seat yelled, "They're towing our cars!!" At first I was thinking, "No, they're not. We're in it." But then my sleepy brain caught up to what she was saying and I made the turn into the parking lot. We got there just in time. Now we needed to find a new place to park the cars. So, we headed to 114000 South to the Wal-Mart there. Good thing Wal-Mart lets people park overnight. Saved our bacon.
Finally, we were off to our race. We made it on time. Got through the safety lesson and check-in. And were feeling good about our day ahead.
The Start:
Our team up early and excited.
And we're off. Headlamps and reflector vests, very important.
My first leg was beautiful. I did need to change my shorts shortly after heading out because they were falling off as I ran (don't wear anything too big while running), but it was remedied quickly and I got to enjoy the run. The sun was just coming up. The world was waking and I was feeling great. I ran quickly and comfortably. It got me psyched for Suncrest.
My second leg was up Suncrest. This stretch is 3.3 miles UP HILL. And basically it's straight up. I thought that I had trained well for it, but by the end of mile 1, I was definitely questioning my training. I ended up power walking most of the way. I hit this leg in the middle of the day in the middle of 90 degree heat. So hot. So hard. Kicked my Ass! But I finished it. I finished in 54 minutes and 58 seconds. I made it before the cut off and I'm glad that I did it.
Each person who runs the Suncrest leg gets a medal at the top.
My last leg I was done. I walked so much of it. I'm not sure if I didn't eat enough, or if I was really dehydrated, or just dead tired, but my body just refused to work the way I wanted it to. Apparently I had trained for one maybe two runs in a day, but not three. The over training in my year of races hit me hard in this leg. I have since learned and will not do that again.
This is our team running to the finish line together.
We did it. Finished a whole day soaking in the sun while doing something we love. Our team came in 43rd. We finished in 11 hours 19 minutes and 38 seconds. So proud of us.
My medals proudly hung in my car for the rest of the evening.
A closer look at the Rivalry Relay medal for this year. I love this race. It beats me down and builds me up at the same time. Everyone needs to know they can do hard things, but still be reminded that there are legs that kill no matter how hard we train. I'm going to continue to do this race every year I can get a team together.
Race #8: August - TriathaMOM
I was not confident about this next race. I hadn't trained like I wanted to or felt I needed to. It's month 8 of the year and I'm feeling a bit tired of training. Especially for a race that I'm not really excited to participate in. I almost didn't go. The morning of the race, I rolled over, snuggled up to my hubby, and said, "I could just stay here and sleep all morning." He promised me I would be glad that I went to the race. So, I got out of bed and headed to Riverton.
The TriathaMOM transition area opened at 5:30am and I had never participated in a triathlon before, so I was there by 5:30am. SO early. But I had time to set all my stuff up, eat a banana, and visit the honey bucket multiple times.
The wonderful woman and friend to convinced me to register after we both got our stuff set up.
Getting ready for the swim.
This is everyone gathered before the swim to receive last minute instructions from the organizers. There were a more women here to race than I thought there would be.
Just before I got into the pool.
Running to my first exchange.
My first exchange was a long one. I took a long time to dry off. I took a long time to get my tank top, my shoes, and everything else on. Next time I do a tri, I will spend less time in this transition.
There I go. Off on the bike ride. I used a mountain bike because that was what I had and it worked out just fine. I would, however, recommend riding your bike before the day of the race. I spent all my training time in the gym and none out on the road with my bike. So, one mile in, I realized that my seat was a bit too low. I dealt with it and finished just fine.
Transition #2! This time I was ready. I only spent seconds in the transition area this time.
Heading out for the run. And I'm still smiling. It truly amazing what seeing your cheerleaders will do for you when racing.
I made it! I got to the magical flying balloons and I really am glad that I got up that morning and came to the race.
This is a family friendly race. So, there were bounce houses,
and face painting for the kids.
We did it. We made it to the end. Our tired selves after accomplishing this fun triathaMOM.
My kids made a sign for me and wanted to pose on the little podium. This was a great race. If you want to get into triathalons and are a little nervous. This one is a great way to do that. There is absolutely no pressure and everyone is cheering everyone else on. I would definitely do this one again.
Oh, and the "medal" was a necklace.
The TriathaMOM transition area opened at 5:30am and I had never participated in a triathlon before, so I was there by 5:30am. SO early. But I had time to set all my stuff up, eat a banana, and visit the honey bucket multiple times.
The wonderful woman and friend to convinced me to register after we both got our stuff set up.
Getting ready for the swim.
This is everyone gathered before the swim to receive last minute instructions from the organizers. There were a more women here to race than I thought there would be.
Just before I got into the pool.
Running to my first exchange.
My first exchange was a long one. I took a long time to dry off. I took a long time to get my tank top, my shoes, and everything else on. Next time I do a tri, I will spend less time in this transition.
There I go. Off on the bike ride. I used a mountain bike because that was what I had and it worked out just fine. I would, however, recommend riding your bike before the day of the race. I spent all my training time in the gym and none out on the road with my bike. So, one mile in, I realized that my seat was a bit too low. I dealt with it and finished just fine.
Transition #2! This time I was ready. I only spent seconds in the transition area this time.
Heading out for the run. And I'm still smiling. It truly amazing what seeing your cheerleaders will do for you when racing.
I made it! I got to the magical flying balloons and I really am glad that I got up that morning and came to the race.
This is a family friendly race. So, there were bounce houses,
and face painting for the kids.
We did it. We made it to the end. Our tired selves after accomplishing this fun triathaMOM.
My kids made a sign for me and wanted to pose on the little podium. This was a great race. If you want to get into triathalons and are a little nervous. This one is a great way to do that. There is absolutely no pressure and everyone is cheering everyone else on. I would definitely do this one again.
Oh, and the "medal" was a necklace.
17 July 2015
Race #7: July - FroYo 10k
My goal this year has been, as you know, to run a race every month. But July came and I had not registered for any race. Signing up for a race this late in the game is pretty expensive. And just not what I am able to do right now. So, I had to accept that there would be no race for me this month. But then, on Friday, my Hubby called home from work. He had a co-worker who had an extra entry to the FroYo 10k race in Salt Lake City, and he wanted to know if I wanted to run it. For Free!! I jumped at the chance.
The FroYo Run was held at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City. This is a beautiful park. The run is 4 loops around the park. I parked in the regular parking area. I got there later than I had planned and usually like because I forgot to set my alarm, but it looked as though this race also had Zumba as their pre-race warm-up.
I met up with my Hubby's co-worker and her friends. We all lined up in our respective areas. I have never seen a timed race go out in waves, but I liked it. This gave all the faster/want-to-win people the opportunity to run their race without having to dodge all the slower runners. Especially at the beginning. I am not one of those faster runners, so I was comfortably back near the 10 min/mile people.
The Start:
We headed out and I was feeling pretty good. The first 5k was awesome, but I haven't actually run a 10k distance in 4 months. This means, I started out way too fast and spent the second 5k dying. We walked a couple of times. I didn't think that running a loop would be so hard, but looking at the same thing over and over again didn't help with my dying lungs.
I finished this race in 1 hr, 6 min, and 35 sec. This placed me 81st overall. I'm feeling good about that. Especially since I didn't train for this one.
After the race we were given water and our very own FroYo from Yogurtland. The tartness from this dessert was PERFECT after a race.
Our packet was also filled with great goodies:
AND we got a medal:
I'm thinking this race is one I will have to run again. It was a low key race, no pressure, organized, and lots of swag. Totally worth it.
The FroYo Run was held at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City. This is a beautiful park. The run is 4 loops around the park. I parked in the regular parking area. I got there later than I had planned and usually like because I forgot to set my alarm, but it looked as though this race also had Zumba as their pre-race warm-up.
I met up with my Hubby's co-worker and her friends. We all lined up in our respective areas. I have never seen a timed race go out in waves, but I liked it. This gave all the faster/want-to-win people the opportunity to run their race without having to dodge all the slower runners. Especially at the beginning. I am not one of those faster runners, so I was comfortably back near the 10 min/mile people.
The Start:
We headed out and I was feeling pretty good. The first 5k was awesome, but I haven't actually run a 10k distance in 4 months. This means, I started out way too fast and spent the second 5k dying. We walked a couple of times. I didn't think that running a loop would be so hard, but looking at the same thing over and over again didn't help with my dying lungs.
I finished this race in 1 hr, 6 min, and 35 sec. This placed me 81st overall. I'm feeling good about that. Especially since I didn't train for this one.
After the race we were given water and our very own FroYo from Yogurtland. The tartness from this dessert was PERFECT after a race.
Our packet was also filled with great goodies:
AND we got a medal:
I'm thinking this race is one I will have to run again. It was a low key race, no pressure, organized, and lots of swag. Totally worth it.
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