St. George Marathon 2012

Howdy, Yes is has now been a month, it is all over, and I feel a great relief.  It was really special and a very spiritual thing for me.  Here are some exerpts from my journal:

Well it's over- I accomplished my goals- 1: to finish!!! and 2: to finish under 5 hrs!  :)  My time was 4:46.  So that's a great blessing! My right IT band on my knee hurt and the bottom of my foot hurt, but no blisters, so I  feel so grateful.  We got up at 3AM and boarded a bus at 3:30 AM to St. George (we had a friend driving so we caught a ride).  Hopped on another bus and headed to Central, Utah.  I feel extremely grateful and blessed that I was able to be with my Handsome Husband on the bus and at the starting line!  Yes he ran it too!  After many obstacles with his back and knee, he was a rockstar!

When we arrived we went straight to the porta potties...

                                         

While we were waiting we tried to stay warm at the fire pits, and met new people!  Here is me, Mr. L and my brother, we are all to the right of the fire:

        

                                           

It was time to run so I stripped off one of my DI sweaters, and pants, and started moving, it probably took 5 mins to get to the starting line.  I ran with Mr. L and my brother for about 5 miles.  Okay WARNING TMI ahead:  skip to the next paragraph if you can't take it.... :)  So I was trying to hold my pee in, but it was cold and I was really hydrated, so I leaked umm a lot :) .  I didn't want to go because I wanted to be with my husband and brother for as long as possible.  So after they headed on their way, I headed to the bushes and quickly realized  that I had all out leaked myself to a full blown peeing pants, it was pretty obvious.  So to my chagrin I got back on the course, thinking, "oh well, these people probably won't see me again."  I was pretty wet.  So I started running and saw a pacer person holding balloons, I'm thinking it may be the  4:45  or the 5 hr pacer... it was the 4:30, pretty cool-  I felt good, so I just kept going, and passed them up, having visions of going fast, but reality hit me reminding me about the pain you feel at the end.  I thought "Shoot, while I feel good  I'm just going to go." 

 I went up Veyo Hill, ugh, there I met a man who was pretty heavy. He had a big belly, and I was impressed that he could move so well, and better than me.  He told me that he used to be 300 lbs and made a goal to do an Ironman, which he did, and he just did the Top of Utah marathon, 3 wks prior, then an Ironman after that, now the STG Marathon, quite an inspiration.  In the meantime, the Veyo Hill, that I was going to walk, I ran with him talking.  I just got up the hill and that's when I couldn't get my legs back and run as strong of a pace,  the 4:30  pacer caught up with me. I tried to keep up with them, and there I met another mom from my hometown and ran with her for awhile, which I'm so grateful for.  My right foot felt like it was on fire... luckily I was able to get through it.  Then she started having knee problems and told me to go.  It was during this time, I saw a great friend at an aid station, Rennie it was great to see you!  I heard her voice and there she was, that was a fun reunion.  She's a rockstar!  

So there I was running alone, but I didn't feel alone, I had great comfort and peace the whole time.  Prayer was the key!!   My IT band was starting to give me problems... then I came to a funny sight... A lady was wearing a tank top that said "I'm running from the cops!"  and along side her was a Highway Patrolman guy running...

Pretty fun distraction!

So I get to mile 20 and I hear "Andrea!"  I turn  and there is my cute little running partner, Kim, that I have trained all summer with, just running her little heart out to catch up to me.  It was a most welcome surprise.  She is a pretty strong runner, just what I needed right then.  My legs didn't really want to go and my knee was hurting really bad.  Then something funny, I found some glassless glasses on the side of the road and I wore them,  it provided a great comic relief.  We got to a downhill and we were able go fast, my legs were doing so much better and my spirits were good.  We passed quite a few people at this point.  

We got to Snow Canyon Drive  feeling strong, then we arrived into town, and people lined the streets to cheer us on!  All the high 5s and cheering does a lot for a weary runner.  Then we turned down Diagonal...2 more looong miles to go.  We turned down Mainstreet and there was a wonderful surprise... my brother and my 3 boys, and my brother-in-law all were there like the paparazzi taking all kinds of pictures, I was a superstar!  It provided great energy.  They were running along side us until they couldn't anymore.  We couldn't see the finishline....just when Kim was hurting so bad she needed to stop, there it was,  So she got her gumption and we started to book it,there were my parents and 3 girls cheering us on, it was so awesome!

We crossed the finishline!  Hurray!!  We went through the mister and there were the guys that give us our medals, an old guy just handed me mine, so I gave to another guy to place in on my neck,  I just needed that ok.  And there was my handsome husband waiting for me, such a wonderful sight.

If you look closely on top of my head you can see the glasses I found!

Here is me and Kim!

I am so grateful for my parents for making this possible, they had my kids overnight and got them fed and ready and wrangled them while we were running.  I am so blessed...I run for you.   I love you!

What did I learn form a marathon?  It's hard...I can do hard things, I will draw strength from it for the rest of my life.  When it got hard, someone was always there to help me through it.  When Mr. L left a cute gal from Morgan, UT was so fun to talk to and run with, inspiring determination.  That guy on Veyo Hill, and that gal from my hometown was there.  Then lots of different distractions after that.  But I knew I was coming to some hard parts, that's when prayer helped me and then Kim found me.  I am forever grateful that she had the health and strength to be with me.  What a blessing to run the rest of the race with her.  And just knowing that my family was at the end.  The tender mercies of the Lord.  A couple of my fears didn't happen... I was supposed to start my period and I didn't until later, and I didn't have the horrible urge to have any bowel movements, like I normally do while running.  I know TMI :)  It was a very spiritual experience, and I was on a spiritual high the whole week after.

Cross Training at Martin's Cove

"Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever."
-Lance Armstrong

         

I just came across that quote, I thought it was fitting and inspiring!  So it has been 2 weeks since we were at Martin's Cove, WOW!!  I can't believe how fast time has passed.  Mr. L and I were asked to be a Ma and Pa for the trek, we have been going to meetings for it since last December.  So needless to say we were very excited about this.  Me especially because this is the first real trip I've had without my kids.  

I am truly grateful for my parents who watched my kids and made it possible for us to go.  It was such a great experience to spend that time with my Sweetheart and go to a place I have only heard about.  Yes, it is a real place, the spirit there will overcome you to tears if you let it.  It was special and when President Hinckley dedicated that land he said it was Hallowed ground.  I didn't know the difference between Hallowed and Sacred, Hallowed ground is where the Savior walked.  It was really unbelievable, the feeling that you can only feel if you're physically there.  It is real!!!

I have literally been dreaming about pushing a handcart, or the kids we were Ma and Pa to, or the stories of the pioneers ever since I got home.  The hardest part was getting to know and love these kids, spending nonstop time with them for 4 days straight, and then not see them.  Makes me sad.  I miss them terribly. 

Okay, it is now after the marathon and here I am still not done writing this.  Ugh, what is wrong with me.  

Things I thought I should include in this post, for those who plan on going on the trek...

Really bring at least 2 long sleeved shirts and 2 long skirts, and 2 long bloomers... YOU GET REALLY DIRTY... the long sleeves and bloomers help keep you a bit cleaner.

Bring good running/walking shoes...if you have good walking, hiking type boots, that's probably a good option, so the sand doesn't seep through the mesh type material that's on the top of running shoes, I kept emptying mine out.  

Bring WET WIPES, they were heavenly at the end of the day, wiped myself from top to toe.

Something I didn't miss was adding the cushion to my bucket, I don't think it's necessary at all, so don't waste your time.

There you have it.  It was a special time, and I'm so grateful for the opportunity.

Here is my cute Trek Family, and I miss them dearly...

Time to Train for the Marathon

I'm back...yes it took a while to get to where I wanted to write again.  It's not that life has been bad, it's just been different.  I'm different, I'm older, and so are my kids.  My point of view is different, I can actually start thinking about a career now.  I have felt very lost when it came to thinking about that, my mind was always changing like the second hand of a clock.  It was very frustrating and it was hard not to feel down.  I think I have found something that I can get passionate about, which I will share sometime soon.

I just got back from a run, and for some reason I feel the need to write about it.  I caved and signed up for the marathon on the last day of sign ups.  I had a few reservations,  1. Training is H A R D.  2.  What if my I. T. Band gives me problems like 2 yrs ago and I can't train?  3.  What if my feet gives me problems like one year ago and I can't train?  4.  I feel like I'm not a really a runner, it seem harder for me :(  5.  Training is H A R D.   6.  I didn't have a running partner (I have one now :)

I didn't sleep well the first night, a bit nervous thinking about my long road of commitment and training, but once a few friends were willing to train with me, that really helped.  And, last night a gal asked me if I signed up for the marathon and told me she did too.  So now I have an answer to prayer....a running partner.  The tender mercies of a loving Heavenly Father.  I am so grateful.

I just got back from a run, and for some reason I feel the need to write about it. We went running this morning about 4 miles, my running partner, Kim is 41 and a Rock Star!!!!  I am 36 and not a rock star, and feel very incapable.  It's so hard not to compare myself, I hate it, it's automatic.  I want running to be easy for me, I don't know if it ever will be, therefore it's really hard to love it.  I know weird.  I like that it keeps me in shape, and hopefully ward off the extra pounds, but yes it is very hard.  So there you have it.  I will keep a running log of my training.  Hopefully, I can find joy in this, I am trying to have a good attitude.

Oh Mr L. and I did a 1/2 marathon about 2 weeks ago, again it was a killer, but yeah, I should have trained better ;).  Mr. L finished 1 hr. 58 mins.  I finished  2 hrs. 30 mins.

 Yay!!! The finishline :)

Life Without Limbs or Limits?

It's been a while.  Too Long.  I promise to get this thing up to speed, but first:  Here is a wonderful video about a man named Nick Vujicic, you are sure to be inspired.  Share it with your friends and family.

Half Marathon

Way to go guys!!!!  I am super Proud!

I decided to sign my 14 yr. old and I up for a Half Marathon.  We ran it together with Mr. L and my little brother.  Well it ended up more like my son running ahead with my brother,  me running with Mr. L.  It was a doosey, but not as bad as I thought it would be.  I thought we would just take it easy and walk some of the way and mosey our way, but nope we ran the whole way.  At that distance walking becomes harder than running.  Besides that you start getting a lot of other pains when you start walking and it's a lot harder to get started back to running.  

Here I am at mile 12

I had a greater emotional connection to this run than the Marathon that I did in '09.  I think it's because Mr. L stayed with me the WHOLE time, he kept me going.  I am sooooo grateful for him.  He could have ran ahead and got a better time, but he stayed with me.  We held hands across the finish line, it was really special.  It also made me wonder how did I ever run most of a whole Marathon without him.  I really relied on his "get there attitude".  


My brother got 1 hr. 50 min., my son got 2:07, and Mr. L and I got 2:23 which was pretty good for not training.  There has to be a balance in training...I overtrained for the Marathon and undertrained for this.


I want to keep up a fitness program and mix it up a bit without running every second so I am going to be doing the P90X program.  So I will try to keep up on blogging about my experience.

Look What I Made!

Ok, besides the cute little 2 year old!!  

I got on a kick and scrapped together material from old torn pants and sheets, and made the skirt and a flower for her headband.

The FUN in FUNdraising

This is the year of the fundraiser!!  We have been involved in a total of 5 (now 7) of them this year so far.  The Easter Car Show, the baseball fields, the 4th of July, and on the street corner: selling cotton candy, and a breakfast at the Ironman. Update: at Peach Days and Western Days too Luckily we were able to raise some money to send Mr. L and my 13 year old son to the Jamboree and History tour for 18 days, they just got back 5 days ago.  And what a sight for sore and lonely eyes were they.  They had some wonderful experiences.

We were just involved in another fundraiser, this time for Mr. L's parents, to send them to South Korea to pick up their 8th son who is serving and LDS Mission there.  With the economy and their line of work, the funds just were not there, so my husband, with all of his experience raising money had a great idea...."Hey, why not have a fundraiser?"...so 6 of the 8 boys and their little sister and her faithful best friend, plus some of the wives and, of course, mom and dad LeBaron, were able to sacrifice their time to be heavily involved in running a Navajo Taco booth at the Fair for 4 days.  Which was a very remarkable thing.  I was so touched to see how all of the brothers banded together for the love of their parents to pull off such a tremendous challenge.  They all worked together like peanut butter and chocolate, and made a very enjoyable day. 


Mr. L #2 (my man) frying scones, his bro. Mr. L #4 and #5 rolling and cutting scones, Mr. L #1 cutting up produce, Mr. L #7 making scone dough, Mr. L #6 and little sister and her best friend serving people, SIL at the front taking orders, me between here and there, mostly making meat mixture.  Dad LeBaron was running all kinds of errands and rescued us too many times to count, he came in the nick of time with cheese, sour cream lettuce, salsa, crushed tomatoes.  I am not exaggerating, we'd be almost out of something and here he'd come with the very thing we were almost out of.  Mama LeBaron worked her fingers to the bone doing all of the prep work:  cooking up meat and beans and shopping, plus being everywhere making things run smoothly.

I was impressed by the generous people who just told us to keep the change or gave an extra $20!  It is so wonderful to see that there is still a lot of good in the world.  People are kind and giving and not just self motivated.  


I am so grateful that I was able to help more than half the day yesterday.  I was sooo beat and sore by the time we got home, which was late.  I want to publicly thank my SIL A. for watching 3 of my kids yesterday, and a big thank you to my parents too, for taking my 2 youngest, and a close family friend, MaKayla for helping the other day, making it possible so I could help.  THANK YOU!!!!!   

So was it worth it? YES!!!  Getting these brothers together was special, seeing them interact is priceless, hearing them rock to the super stellar band that got us through some really tough last hrs of the night...UNFORGETABLE.  Dancing with Mr. L to a slow song in the middle of floor a bit SILLY but waaay FUN!!   So Yes, I would hafta say it was FUN!