Sunday, May 18, 2008

The Big Race!

Yesterday was the day of my first official race. It was a 5K for Running With Angels. It was held at Thanksgiving Point. The gardens there are BEAUTIFUL! Definitely hilly, but beautiful. I was wearing a tshirt for Heidi for her website that had names of angel babies on the back. I put a few angel babies names who meant a lot to me: Hayley Thomas, and Dallin Bybee. Here is a photo of the back of the tshirt.

We got a ton of comments about Heidi's tshirts, wanting information, so it was definitely worth it to wear them! As for the actual race part...UGGGHHHHHH! I really DON'T enjoy running. I enjoy saying I did it, and I was glad I did it (after about 30 minutes of being finished) but it is SO hard for me still. I have to say, I have come such a long way, and I still have a long way to go if I'm able to do my half marathon in August (only 12 weeks away...AGHHHH!). Cherice saved me. She stayed with me, and chatted away, which worked and distracted me. I only walked a very little bit, and stopped only because I had HORRIBLE cramps in my shins, that I stretched out, but other than that, I ran. Well, jogging in the mind of a runner, probably. I finished the race in less than 37 minutes. Not fantastic - but I still finished.

Here's a photo of Cherice and I. As we rounded the last corner, and had a straightaway to the finish line, Cherice said, "I'm going to be Jillian (from the Biggest Loser) pretend you're on the treadmill and she's making you run 12 mph for 10 seconds." So, we took off as fast as we could (which I'm sure wasn't very fast, considering it was at the end of the race, but it was fast for us. I'm really glad I did that. It also showed me that even though I was exhausted, I could do just a little bit more. Heidi was waiting at the finish line, and snapped this photo. Oh, and the thing around my waist held my cell phone, keys, and my ipod. It's called an amphipod for runners, and in no way is a fanny pack! ;) Here we are at the end of the race! WAHOO! We look beautfiul, I know! Here's the group of us that wore Heidi's shirt. (Memory and Jenn, I have one for you, email me your address!) Heidi is in the yellow, and you can read her take on the race here. Our stake is having a 5K this weekend, and I have a feeling I'm gonna get roped into running it (good prediction, right Heidi?). I know it will be a good experience for me, but I'm still worried about it! It's in our neighborhood which means there are bound to be MANY hills. Cherice actually taught me a lot during the race, and I'm excited to put it into use! Thanks Cherice, for sticking with me, even though your time wasn't what it should be, or what you wanted. I couldn't have done it without you! Also, if you know anyone who is doing a race, go cheer them on! There were lots of people cheering for other people, it would have been nice for people to be cheering for me - in person - not just in spirit! ;) Troy WILL be at the end of the half marathon. Oh, if you want to enlarge the photos, you can do it from Heidi's blog (The Vawdrey Family on the sidebar and link above). I stole all the photos from her. I left my camera at home. Don't laugh too hard at how beautiful I look!

10 comments:

Erin Fonnesbeck said...

I am very proud of you for making a goal and sticking to it, even though it sucks at times. Good job Jenny!

Memory said...

Okay, I'm a puddle of tears right now. Jen, thank you so much for doing this. For caring about babies who weren't even your own. For caring about the moms of those babies. It is therapeutic for people just to say our babies names because it proves to everyone else out there that they are human beings who lived, who were loved by their families, and who are still loved. You are amazing for working so hard to run this race. You have inspired me. PLUS!!! You look amazing. That doesn't hurt, does it?!?! :-)

Unknown said...

You are seriously amazing!! Not only did you run and finish a big race, but what a great feeling that you were doing it to help remember those little angel babies! Hmmm....let's see, Jen the mom, scrabooker, photographer, business woman, runner, wife, scout leader....and the list goes on forever! Amazing, I tell you!

Nurse Heidi said...

I loved your sprint down to the finish line. I thought I didn't have anything left in me, either, but when I turned the corner and saw the time clock, I knew I had to get there in the next 30 seconds. It's amazing what you can push your body to do. And yes, I suspect you're prediction for this Saturday is right... : ). See you there!

Kassey said...

Jen I am so proud of you!! I have decided that I hate running but I keep doing it becasue it is good for me. I am training for a half marathon also. You keep me inspired!!

Unknown said...

Jen, you are so awesome! I bet it felt so good to get to the end. I'm sure the feeling of accomplishment was amazing. I admire you for having such a great enthusiasm to run and to keep it up. You look amazing! Keep up the amazing work. :)

Kristin said...

I still say it's a fanny pack...but I am proud of you!

The Thomas Family said...

Wow! You are amazing. I'm just so touched by you Jen. Thanks for thinking and honoring our little Hayley. I really means a lot.
Once again I don't know where you get all your energy and drive. You are one incredible women. I sure love and respect you tonz!

Cherice said...

Hey, don't kid yourself about me sticking with you. It helps to run with someone and I'm not nearly as consistent with my training program as you are. I wouldn't have even been running a race on saturday if it wasn't for you. You are my inspiration! Yeah, us!. Hey, and I would cheer more for us when we were running, if I didn't need to keep breathing.

Beau said...

Jen, nice job!!! Where is that 10K on the 4th of July?? I'd love to join you on that one!