I DID IT!!!

I DID IT!! I RAN A HALF MARATHON!!

Ive enjoyed a light run 3-4 miles for a while now. On and off I run. Generally to loose weight but I do ENJOY a run. I like clearing my mind and I do feel the endorphins afterwards. However, longer distance runs weren't ever my thing. I had never ran more than 4 miles before this.

Josh, one of our friends, posted on facebook like 5 months ago that he had just signed up for the Zion Half Marathon.

I seriously didn't think twice. I wrote.. I want in on this.

And soo.. moments later I was signed up too!

I thought, Ive never pushed my body to its limits and what better place

to run the ZION!!

At the time I had bronchitis and then moments after signing up people started commenting that Zion is a HARD run. Lots of up hills. One girl wrote she runs halfs all the time and WONT run Zion. What did I get myself into.

Anyways once I felt well enough I started training full force.

I was getting super excited.

Then my knee started bottering me. I toughened up and pushed through. I got to 10 miles.

Then my knee hurt BAD. I could walk right for a week. I felt like something was really off.. I even got a x ray.

I stopped running COMPLETELY a month before the race.   :/

I didn't want to permantely do damage.

Josh had 2 bad knees and had stopped running to.

For a month I walked funny and my knee hasn't felt 100%

About 2 weeks before the run I decided it was crunch time. I better train. I could make it through 3 miles   :(

I hurt for 4 days.

Tuesday before the race I decided 100% not running the race.

The next day Pete told Josh.

Josh said he may need to be picked up at mile 3 but hes was going to TRY!!

and THIS is why you sign up with someone!!

I couldn't give up either. I had wanted this SOO bad and was really looking forward to it. I NEEDED to TRY!!

I told Pete if I could run 5 miles on wed. I would try. (I said 5 because the week  before your not suppose to run more than 4 miles intervals)

I made it! Although ..now because I hadn't trained for a month.. I wasn't sure my lungs would last. Was I in shape enough for this?  and uphill?

Shoot!

Either way Friday we were off.

I stole a anti inflammatory pill from my brother and law and a pain killer in case I really was killing afterwards.

Friday Josh was sick...like REALLY sick. Throwing up and not eating or drinking anything. Like when you suppose to pile in carbs and hydrate. :(

The next morning .. .still sick but going to run.

We went with a friend of theirs also ...kellan

We didn't run together!

IT WAS HARD!!

We split at the beginning and the first mile in I wasn't sure what I had gotten myself into.

By mile 8 It was kicking my butt... but I was going strong (ok I was going, not giving up)

Were doing LOTS uphill.

By mile 10, I thought I was at mile 11 because I volunteer teeneager said " Your doing good, only 2 miles left"

There are mile markers but I missed one before.

Then I actually got to mile 11 ( Iwas at 10 when he said that) ... I almost wanted to go back and punch the kid...hahah.. punk!!

I had never been so happy to see and ending.

Pete, josh, steph, ash, jed and baby jace were waiting at the finish line!!!

IT WAS SOO HAPPY!!

I was spent and soo excited I HAD DONE IT!!

I DIDNT GIVE UP ..even though I have a bad knee and wasn't in shape.

I honestly thought I would be walking across the finish line walking... and I was running. (Although of course I did walk but everyone did at parts)

I ran my first half marathon in Zion

I FELT SOOO ACCOMPLISHED AND PROUD OF MYSELF!!

After the run we ate lunch and lounged by the pool. The Jacuzzi was amazing.

We hit the Jacuzzi again Sunday morning because we were all stiff and sore.

We got lucky and stayed at the hotel for free because Steph works there and we were in a space that was 90% done so they cant put anyone else in then yet!

We did a tiny .5 mile hike in zion because that's all out bodies would allow haha.. going back down hill was killer on Josh and I's knee. I could stop laughing at him looking like and old man. Pete and Steph turned and around and laughed at me because I was walking the same.

WE had a GREAT get away. We are SOOO very thankful for mu amazing mother in law who stayed at our house to watch the kids and the dogs!

I  would LOVE To run another race but not sure if my knees can handle it. Today is now 5 days after and im at my worst. My knees are super stiff and mad at me :) haha

Tank

This is the newest member of our family. TANK

We weren't really looking for another dog but our friend Jed has a friend who was moving and unable to take him and a female dog. The female dog had a home and not yet Tank.

Tank is a German Short Hair (Bird hunting dog) so Petes obviously happy. Solid black is pretty uncommon.  Luke had paid $800 for him and we got him for free.
Hes 10 months old and has energy. Its a slight adjustment from one dog and I wasn't super keen on the idea at first but  when your married you gotta compromise. Haha.  We are starting to fall in love with him and Kona loves him. Plus, I feel super safe with 2 dogs!!

So not we have 3 kids and 2 dogs. Were a little crazy haha

Welcome to the family TANK!

Rylans Project

Rylan had his first big project. He did it on the Loggerhead Turtle.

 

He had to research, write a report, make its habitat, and read his report in front of the class.

He got a A+

We had fun making it!

Sick Babes

Its been a while since our babes were too sick.

Jaiden caught a fever first and then it made its way to Kadence.  Jaiden normally will drop like a fly at night but not Kadence and Jaiden once woke up and got dressed and then passed out on the ground again. Poor sweet babes.

Thankfully fever and no appetites along with clingy sad kids was the worst of it.

 

Overload of sleepy cuties! My fav

Little Gem

We took the dogs for a walk in the desert by the house. Someone we haven't walked before.

We saw a big pine tree and a slab of concrete in the middle of the desert off the little dirt road we were a walking on.

 

This is the little gem we found...

 

Some left behind a box of sidewalk chalk to add to there masterpiece :)

So we did...

Obviously when it rains the chalk with wash away so we plan to paint something to bring back and add. Really cute, peaceful spot.  Everything there is uplifting and happy quotes. Not like anything graffiti!

Birthday Lanterns

Kaelyn turned 11 a couple of days after leaving. While the family was all together we headed to the park to let off the laterns.

LOVE this one!

Birthday Girl!

Cute Cousins

Spring Mountain Ranch

 

We needed updated family picture so the whole gang headed up to Spring Mountain Ranch. We made it before everyone so we wandered around to find the water.  Its so gorgeous up here. I always need to remind myself to get out and about and experience the views in Vegas because we REALLY do have them. You just have to find them!

These are not the family pictures... just ones I took while we were there!