Moab 1/2 Marathon

I loved running the moab 1/2 marathon this weekend. Look how many people were there! I guess there is a big raffle to even get in the race(I took someone's spot that got injured). There were like 4,000 people running the 1/2 and another 1,000 running the 5 mile race. They bused us up the canyon then we got to run down 13.1 miles and enjoy the scenery. It was beautiful!

Stretching before the race. We had to wait over an hour to start the race after we were bused up. Everyone was peeing all over the canyons cause you get this nervous/pre-race bladder right before. Good times.

So here's the worst part of the whole thing. On the way up I was telling everyone how I ALWAYS run with music. I love it and it totally keeps me going and gets me all pumped up when I'm way tired. Well, of course I made a whole new playlist which included 'power of love' (you know, from back to the future) and 99 red balloons clear to 'just dance' and 'Don't cha'. Anyways, it's crazy what songs get people going :)
I tested it and charged it the night before and OF COURSE when I went to start it at the beginning of the race IT WAS FROZEN! It wouldn't work! I was panicking! I was NOT running 13 miles in silence!
Well, then I started praying! and praying and praying! (oh the things we pray about..some silly ipod..but I'm sure you can all relate to some degree). I thought that if I had enough faith, He would for sure fix the ipod for me! About mile 4 I was bargaining with the Lord I think.
"Hey! This will make a great lesson or talk on faith! I could tell about the time that I prayed and then finally my ipod worked."
Well people, no such luck. It didn't work the WHOLE TIME. Blasted. It was ok though and actually pretty entertaining listening to other runners blab about nonsence while they run like how many calories they have eaten or how they could run so much faster when they were younger, etc etc.


But I FINISHED! And was very happy to get this glass of water. Notice that my big headphones are still on. Yep, I had to carry them or keep them on my ears the entire race.
Headphones - no music = no bueno
I'm still trying to figure out the lesson needed to be learned about the ipod not working. Have a back up plan? Don't put all your eggs in one basket? Learn to think and do things in silence? hhmm...anymore ideas anyone?

I ran into alot of people up there. John Burgoin and I. Shout out to Stacy and Scott! He is proposing to me in klingon....Blahr!! Nerds! Kels "Do I LOOK like I watch Star Trek?"
Josh Thorn and Lisa Larson. Her and her sister Emily Larson (below with me) were in my stake growing up. I taught Emily in our stake mission prep class right when I got home and she thinking about a mission. She was already 25 so she was a little hesitant on going. She told me at the end of this race that she always remembers me saying "Emily, a year and a half is not that long." And it's not! She had a great mission in Guatemala and has now been home at least a year and a half.


This is one of my mom's best friends husband and son. It was fun to see them there!

Some of the guys I went down with. Karl with the hat on is some pro and ran it in 1 hour 27 min. That is crazy fast. Let's just say that I am not close to that fast but I did ok with no injuries so I'm happy about that. Since I was running in silence I decided to analyze my thoughts throughout the race. For any of you that run or do strenuous work outs, you might be able to relate.
MILE 1-3 : Why do I do this? Oh man.

MILE 4-5: I love life! I love running! Look how pretty it is!

MILE 6: Thank goodness for gel packs and Gatorade.

MILE 7-8: Ok, more than half way through. I can do this. Keep pushing. Push through the pain.

MILE 9-10: Almost there! I can run 3-4 miles it my sleep!

MIle 11-13: Keep up the pace, so close so close, you gotta beat 2 hours, come on!

and DONE!!! Complete bliss.

Until the next one....April 18th!

Skiing with the Family...really the greatest snow on earth!

We spent all of our ski/snowboard days up at Snow Basin. I fell in love with this resort because Angela's dad (from Ogden) skis up there everyday. Literally. I have gone with them every year since my mission and it is the best kept secret in Utah for skiing. It was redone for the winter Olympics and the lodge is just plush. Ang and I had to skip our favorite roast beef meal this year however that we usually get from the gourmet chef. We thought it would be best to stick with the sack lunches along side the kids :) Next year Ang!!Look at this powder! I was SO impressed with Chase (11) and Noah (8). They are amazing snowboarders! We hit the powder together and loved going through the trees. It felt like surfing with all the fresh snow. Thanks guys for hangin' with me!
Nice form!!! Brian and Angela Skiing the Olympic downhill.So I thought my brother Brian would be all excited that I was following the kids off the jumps and doing the rails. (They made me do the rails..I couldn't let them down!) Instead of praise I got the lecture of "You need to take it easy Heidi. If you break your wrist your career is over!" Ha! This is coming from the guy who used to film himself doing all the jumps and crazy things on skis and really could have been an olympic skier himself. Oh Brian..you’re all grown up. Ang started calling him 'DJ' for Dennis Junior. Ha ha!
Before I went on this jump I said "oh Brian it's fine, I do it every time I go" He replied with "Well Heidi, make your own choices." I think this came directly from him being in the orthopedic surgery room on a daily basis:)




Me and cute Chase.  He is such an athlete!
Little Elizabeth (5) has no fear.  She just goes right down the mountain and she even came up on the big Gondola.  She is such a fun time.

I took them over to my comps house (thanks Trace) to play guitar hero on tour. The were LOVING it!


Icecream for everyone!

Sunday brunch with the family. Emily, Brian, me, Nate.

All the boys with grandpa Bill. We were so happy he could come up because he has had total hip replacements but is getting around great now!

The Jazz game. Yahoo!

Hannah and Elizabeth were such loud cheerleaders. Go Jazz!

Another day at Snow Basin. This is me taking Liz to her ski lesson. She was like "Bye, I'm going to ski school!" and just goes up to the desk herself. She doesn't even have any inhibitions and is so independent...at 5!

Go Chase!

Good job guys..after 17 years and still in love!

On the way up to the Olympic down hill. My boyfriend in this picture is Gary Nate. We are privileged to ski with him a few times a year. He is Angela's dad's best friend and the film maker of all of the famous Warren Miller ski movies. He, Angela and her dad Kent all came down to Chile to experience skiing the Andes and then they came to Santiago and visited me in my area and helped teach a final discussion to Genaro who was getting baptized that week. It was amazing. We love Gary!



Little Elizabeth and her Pooh bear. This is how we felt every night. So tired! I can see so much of me in her when I was her age. Just look at her facial expression above...I think I still make that one :) It was funny, she has so much energy and it was always her and I that were the last to go to bed. One night Brian said "Oh good this will be funny. I'm just going to leave you two alone and we'll see who wears out the fastest!" Ha ha! Looks like I won!

Well, my family left friday, but wait..saturday was a perfect ski day as well! So I went again. This time to Park City. I was a little tired of snowboarding so I decided to ski. It was a BEAUTIFUL DAY! Skiing is much more physically challenging that snowboarding. My legs were burning a the end of the day!

I went with my friend Steve and some buddies from his ward. Steve's company did some work at the Canyons condo's so we got to go to a free condo that night at relax and eat. It was sweet.

My friend from high school Adam hooked us up with some passes cause he's been ski patrolling there for 10 years or so. Thanks!


My favorite run.

The last few weeks have been such a blast! I'm loving it.