Slow and Steady Wins the Race!

Last year I got this running bug and did five 5K's. So this year, I set a goal to run a 1/2 marathon. One might be tempted to ask why? And to this I would respond "I don't know, but it sounded like a good idea in my attempts to be more goal-oriented this year".

After over-loading my brain with hours of internet searching as to the best way to go about training for such an event, I took a long nap. Luckily I recovered quickly, and began my hard core training. Boy, that lap around the block was a DOOZY!

A few weeks later, I thought I would try again. And slowly I began building up my mileage. Around the middle of June, people began to notice my efforts. I know this because drivers would swerve to miss me and yell at me to get out of the road. I don't understand why they didn't realize that I was PURPOSELY lying in the middle of the street so that someone would run OVER me just to put me out of my misery, but people in Utah CAN be kind of slow.

Anyway, I guess one day someone saw me actually running and figured I would be a good last-minute replacement for this thing called the Ragnar. Of course the legendary Norse hero from the Viking age is the first thing that comes to mind, right? Yeah, me too. That's cuz we're smart. But what a Viking hero that wore hairy breeches has to do with a 187 mile relay through the back country between Logan and Park City, I still have no idea. The only comparison I can come up with is that by the end of the 24 hours of non-stop running, each of the 12 participants on a team stink probably about as bad as this conqueror did back in the day!

Apparently I had 3 of the easiest legs of the whole race. This factor, combined with the fun of that weekend adventure, convinced me that I just might be able to complete my goal. I was thinking that if I could run 12 and 1/2 miles in 24 hours, surely I could run about that much straight through, right? Throw in some heavy-handed peer pressure from "friends" (aka, people who missed their chance to run me over and thought it would be funny to see me puking my guts out after 13.1 miles) and before you knew it I had an actual bib number for the Provo River Trail 1/2 Marathon.

Slowly, but surely, I added in more miles each week. These long runs produced some undesirable side-effects, leaving me nervous that my "friends" just might get the show they were looking for.

But I kept pushing along and finally yesterday was the BIG day...and this is when I began to feel like I made a huge mistake. Let's begin with the time the race started...7 am. So far, so good...until I realized that meant that I had to get out of bed at 3:45 AM...ON PURPOSE! Sometimes I mistakenly open my eyes at this time, but then I realize that it's like the middle of the night and I go back to sleep! Ok, I know you're wondering why one would have to get up so early for a race that still 3 hours away. Well, it's because you need a lot of time to stumble around in the dark to figure out why you're awake at that time in the first place! We had to leave by 4:30- to get on the bus by 5:00- to get up to the start by 6:00. One WHOLE hour before the race started!!! This graciously allows you plenty of quality time with the port-o-potties should "race nerves" give you trouble. A good idea considering there were like 2000 other runners. Unfortunately, Utah was experiencing some sort of freak winter weather and we were stranded out in an open field in 45 degree weather...FREEZING! Wait...I thought this was going to be fun???

The gun went off and about 3 miles into the race my teeth stopped chattering and I finally began to get the feeling back in my toes and fingers. This is a good thing because chatter plus numb hands plus gatorade could have a tendency to equal orange mess at the aid stations along the way! But, I thawed out and I just kept running, and running, and running. I looked around and beheld the beauty of Provo Canyon and the river. And then I ran some more. And when I got to like mile 11, BAM! I hit the proverbial wall. That wall may be invisible, but let me tell you, when you run into it, it hurts! Everything was hurting. Neck, back, legs, knees, feet, all of it. Wait...I thought this was going to be fun???

Lucky for me, I have a wonderful family that is super supportive. By "supportive" I mean two people that were at least willing to get out of bed before 9 on a Saturday morning- Jeff and Kirsten. Kirsten made me a "GO MOM!" sign and there they were at mile 12, cheering me on! That was great because I was thinking about "falling" into the river at this point, or asking one of the grandma's that kept passing me to just push me in. Seeing Jeff and Kirsten was just the little nudge that I needed to push me through that last mile, and before I knew it I was at the finish line!

13.1 miles in 2 hours and 14 minutes!

My goal was 2:30 and I was hoping to be under 2:15, so I completed my goal within my goal time. Sure some people complete a whole marathon in this same amount of time, but I like to call those people CRAZY! This was about a 10 minute mile...slow and steady. Unfortunately no one thought to bring a camera to record this momentous occasion, hence the generic picture, so you'll just have to take my word for it. I'm happy to report that there was no puking, or any other unpleasant side effects...just a whole lotta soreness both yesterday and today.

I'm already thinking about next time and I think I can do it under 2 hours...it's gonna be so much fun!

God Be With You 'til We Meet Again

On this day, two weeks ago, I woke up to discover that my good friend Crystal Messina had lost her 15 year-old daughter Taylor to cancer. My friend Wendy, who's husband is the Bishop of their ward in Agoura wrote this to me in an email the day after:

"The very sad news about Taylor has rocked our ward, and our community as well as Warren & Crystal's family. Such a heartbreaking thing to see such a sweet, healthy, beautiful, innocent young woman go in four months to skin, bones, pain, suffering and death."

Crystal's strength has been amazing as she has cared for Taylor and their family throughout all of this. I reflected on all of the times that I thought about sending a note, or email, or even calling, but never followed through...and all of the things that I wished I would have said. I loved Taylor when she was little! She had the brightest smile and she was so sweet! She and her little sister Payton were so cute together! I love her mom...Crystal is one of those friends that make you feel like you are the best friend that they ever had. I instantly knew that I would do everything that I could to be there for Crystal and to say goodbye to sweet, beautiful Taylor!


And so I set out to California on Friday, with my cute little Zoe as my traveling companion. Grandma & Grandpa Boyce in Newbury Park welcomed us in, even though Grandma had recently fallen and was experiencing some soreness from a cracked rib. They made a big fuss over Zoe and once Grandpa got her talking, she filled him in on all of the big news in a 7 year old's life. She kept herself busy with coloring and never wanted to leave their house!

The funeral on Saturday was a beautiful celebration of Taylor's life. Everyone was given a butterfly sticker as they entered the church, in reference to the analogy that Crystal made about Taylor (with her hair falling out) being a fuzzy caterpillar that would some day become a beautiful butterfly. Her dad, a LAFD helicopter pilot, gave a humorous and touching eulogy and the turnout was amazing. The Stake Center was filled to capacity and firefighters lined the back of the room. I saw so many friends from years gone by, including an awesome teacher that I had in 10th grade, Mr. Ty Delong. It turns out that he also taught Taylor this past year- 10th grade for her, too. It's amazing what a small world it is sometimes!


In honor of Taylor, live butterflies were released as part of the graveside service and several helicopters flew over in support of Warren. I don't know about everyone else, but I left feeling uplifted, knowing Taylor was in a better place- free from suffering and pain. I was so glad that I could be there for Crystal and her sweet family!

Being in California gave me the opportunity to attend Megan's (daughter to my friend Wendy) bridal shower. With everything going on, they weren't sure if they were still going to have it. But in the end, they had the shower on Saturday evening and Marti and I were able to go. This is me and Wendy, right about the time we started tearing up about our babies growing up so fast! She has always been a great friend, full of wonderful advice...Oh how I love her!

This is Megan and her sister Amber. Megan has a mouth FULL of gum...one piece for every answer that she got wrong about her future husband. It was pretty funny! They served a delicious Chinese Chicken Salad and a fresh peach trifle for dessert. YUMMY!

Behold the Great Grandpa! He insisted that we take a photo before we left on Sunday morning and that Zoe climb up on his walker. He tried to get Grandma Lou in, but she was still in her robe and her sense of propriety wouldn't allow such a thing...and I don't blame her...I wouldn't want to take a picture in my robe either! They are so dear to us and I appreciate their willingness to be of any help that they can. They are genuinely concerned for each and every one of their grandchildren and great grandchildren. They are wonderful grandparents!

Although the circumstances were sad, and the trip was so fast, I was so grateful to be able to go to California. It was so wonderful to see the love and support of the community as they rallied around Taylor and it was an honor to witness the strength and the unity of the Messina family. It was a blessing to be able to visit with the grandparents and see so many wonderful friends! I am also so grateful for my testimony...I know that Taylor lives on and is waiting to greet her family on the other side and that through Heavenly Father's plan families CAN be together forever!