Mother Racer

Tuesday: I met up with Rachelle and Amber and we went out for a 12 mile run. We ran it in 1:30.08. My legs were a little tired but it happens. Hopefully they will be better tomorrow. 🙂 I did the normal every day school routine… They went to school, I ran a few errands, cleaned and organized some more… Good, productive day. Spent a lot on our van… That’s for sure. I took it in and it didn’t pass safety. Yeah, just our luck. Anyway… I went to our cross country meet. The HS kids ran ok today. It was really hot for them!

Then I hurried and picked up my girls (thank goodness for my babysitter for feeding my girls, helping them with their homework, etc.) for their soccer games. Tonight was the 3 younger girls 1st soccer game. I coach my 2 younger daughters team (they are on the same team). They had so much fun and played well. The treats at the end was their favorite part of playing!

The girls and I headed over to the church for the youth activity. We hiked the grotto (a half a mile trail up to a waterfall). We had a great time. I was freaked out a few times with my kids there… It was dark and with a few little cliffs we climbed… Yeah no good with me. 😉 But it was fun!

It was a late night… My girls were grumpy by the time we got home.

Monday: I ran with Mac for a little while. It was nice to run with someone again (I feel like it has been awhile). I did run for 1:10.03. My legs were really sore from Saturday’s pacing run. Corom, my youngest and I met up at the title company (after the girls went to school and Corom finished getting a freaking ticket for speeding, no license, no insurance for his motorcycle). We signed our house away. The new homeowners are letting us rent from them for a few weeks until our loan comes through. After cross country practice (which I accidentally erased all the pictures from this afternoon)… We helped the new homeowners move some stuff in (hung out for a little while) and then the girls, Corom and I went to a neighbors for volleyball and hanging out.

Sunday: We went to Stake/Regional conference for church today. I was able to listen to some of the speakers but majority of it was paying attention to the girls. 🙂 We had a couple of families over for some fresh salmon. 🙂

So good!!!

Friday: The girls went to school and my youngest and I went for a 20 minute run before we hooked up with a few elementary classes for their marathon challenge run. So I ran for another 20 minutes with them (with my 4 year old doing the same). We took care of a few PTO stuff and then at home I organized and packed some more. Later in the afternoon we went back to the school to run 20 minutes with the other classes (I ran about 10 minutes of it).

It has been a blast for me and for the students! The HS kids have been coming and encouraging them and a few other parents. The girls had movie night with a babysitter while I went to a night cross country meet. It was fun for the HS kids! They had flood lights out in the field, glow sticks to light up the tunnels and baseball field lights on. It was a different and unique experience for them. They loved it and ran well! The JV teams really shined…

While I was at the meet, I received a phone call from a pacing group for 1/2 to full marathons. In the morning is the popular Big Cottonwood 1/2 marathon-marathon. Well the pacer for the 3:05 hour in the marathon was unable to do it. I was asked if I could run the 1st 14 1/2 miles of it and then meet a “replacement” at the mile 14 marker… I said ok. After the meet… I went home and got into bed as soon as I could (about 10:30).

Saturday: My alarm went off at 3:35 a.m. ugh! I quickly got ready, my babysitter showed up (5 min to 4)- she is amazing to come that early, and then I was off. I was thinking the whole hour and 15 minute drive to the buses on why did I say I would help pace! The bus drive up, I thought the same thing. When I was given my pacer stick and my pace band… And The minute we all lined up and I saw the excitement around me and being in that atmosphere, it changed the way I felt.

I, too, became excited and I knew this was going to be a blast… And it truly was. I met so many great people. 90% of them were all trying to qualify for Boston marathon. (For one of the men’s age group… They have to break 3:05.) So for 14 1/2 miles, I heard many stories, jokes, struggles, learned about families, and about all the different goals everyone around me had. It was an amazing experience.

We began to catch up with the 1/2 marathoners… The sight was amazing! Thousands of runners all along the road. I think the reason why I really enjoyed pacing this was because I enjoyed the beauty around me! I was able to meet many different people and we are all going for the same goal (in a round about way). I handed off to my partner, Clark, at mile 14… Ran for a little while with him until I reached my car. I was sad to stop but I did get about 15 1/2 miles in for the day. I ran the 14 1/2 miles in 1:38. A good run. I headed home and was welcomed by my 4 girls (it was a little after 10). I knew it was going to be a long day. 🙂 The girls and I got a lot done today (before dad got home). My 2nd child (7 year old) mowed the front lawn all on her own! It was great!!!

Corom finally came home after his week in Alaska. He brought home a lot of Salmon. I do feel bad because I put him to work (mainly in the garage) right away. We are probably moving in 3 weeks but we are signing our house over on Monday. Scary yet exciting! There is lots to do! We did have a church meeting to go to (Stake Conference) for all the youth and adults. We went with the Barney’s… He brought these monster MM’s. It is always nice to snack on candy. 🙂 It was very nice to listen to the speakers and their testimonies. So many good people all around us! The 4 of us went back to our house and the Fullmer’s met up with us. We had every intention of eating nachos, playing games or watching a movie…

It turned into a waxing party. Us ladies were a little disgusted but the guys were very entertained.

It was very entertaining I might say. We couldn’t stop laughing… There were a few times Amy, Megan and I would get a little nauseated.

Always something! It’s late and I am way tired.

Wednesday: The kids were sent off to school and my friend Stephanie watched my youngest so I can go for my run. It was a good, solid pace. 8.1 miles in 55:32. I am so grateful that she has been willing to watch them all week!!! I was able to take her little girl for her so she could go workout.

It is a good day of packing and organizing. We have too much stuff!!! Towards the end of the school day, the cross country kids and I met up with the elementary school kids. We all ran together for 20 minutes to complete their mile and a half goal for the week. It was so amazing to see the little kids light up when the HS kids came! I cannot put into words how proud I am of the CC team and their willingness to do these things!

After my 2 older girls went to piano… My 2 younger girls and I met up with the CC team for practice. I sent them off on the same 8.1 mile route that I went on this morning. They did well.

My oldest had her 1st soccer practice (of the season). She really enjoyed it.

Corom on the other hand has been having a lousy time fishing in Alaska with his brothers, mom, uncle and cousin…

The fishing has been so good this year for them! Good times for him! I did have a dear friend, Mary & Siri drop off some cookies for me!!! They made my day and it couldn’t have been at a better time! Love those 2!!! I had a meeting for YW’s tonight at my house. I work with great women… We are all working together trying to put differences aside and making it the girls feel loved! We had a good discussion. 😉

Thursday: Another morning of getting the girls ready and off to school. They were a little cranky this morning but they got to school on time. I was childless for a couple of hours. So I went for a 1:15.07 run. I don’t know how far I ran but I was a little tired today. It was the usual when I picked up my preschooler and kindergartener… Hanging out, playing with friends, etc. The girls had fun at CC practice (and they fought really well too).

The CC kids went on a easy 4 1/2 mile run with 3-5 strides to finish it off. They were happy to have an easy/short run! Once again, I had some of the cross country runners who are also soccer players, help coach the kindergartener team I “volunteered” to coach. My 2 younger daughters are on this team… But I really don’t know too much about soccer. I do love these CC kids!

I know they enjoy doing this type of stuff but I am still very honored to be coaching a group of kids (and it is not only this year/season) who are willing to be unselfish! Anyway… At home we did the usual thing… Dinner, homework, showers, and sleep… They all were asleep by 7:30. 🙂 Tasha came over and we were able to hang out and talk with no interruptions. It was a nice evening.

Monday: It was a smooth morning… The girls got up and got ready for school, they practiced their piano and violin, then did must if their homework. The 2 kids (a 5 year old and 2 month old) I watch came and then shortly after it was off to school. I had to hang around the school for a little while to take care if the 1/2 marathon-marathon challenge. Then my wonderful neighbor, Stephanie, offered to watch my youngest and the 2 month old for me so I could go on a run. 🙂 It was a wonderful run!!! I was able to get 8.9 miles in… In 58:17.16 minutes. The first 39 min was a good climb up (up Harry’s into Woodland Hills). I tempoed 2.9 miles of it down the hill. I ran that in 16:29 and recovered the last 1/2 a mile. I am so appreciative of Stephanie to watch the kids for me! I took all the kids and let them play on the playground. It was a nice afternoon.

I did pack more throughout the afternoon. Very embarrassing to show all the shoes I went through from our storage room. More than half the shoes I have never seen before…

… and then the girls and I headed off to cross country practice. It began to rain hard! But it was a blast!

The workout was a 5 mile workout… 1 mile warmup, 3 mile Fartlek-1 minute hard, 1 minute recovery, and a 1 mile cool down. They ran on our course at the HS. My girls ran a mile with them (well not my youngest). 🙂 As I was driving around today my windshield wipers flew off. Yeah… Not good… This is how I had to drive…

More organizing tonight. 🙂 Fun for me!

Tuesday: The girls were so good this morning… They were dressed, majority of the homework done, and their piano practice done before school started. I watched the 2 kids this morning/afternoon. It went well. I was able to go for a 7.3 mile run in 52:00.62. It was a nice recovery run. It rained all day again and I liked it. We had a cross country meet at our school today. It was with 2 other schools… A small meet. It was great… The rain, the mud and puddles, etc. Our kids ran well!!!

After dinner, I had young women’s. We went to a friend of mines house (Kristen). We were able to swim in her indoor pool. The yw and my girls had fun (ok and so did I)!

The girls went straight to bed when we got home. 🙂 Very nice! My friends came over and we watched Bachelor. Fun times!

Saturday: I woke up from a deep sleep to my alarm going off in my hotel room. It was weird not having a child in my bed! I went out for a 25:17 minute easy run. There was a lightening storm going on while I was out and it was beautiful.

I really enjoyed this shakeout run! Back at the hotel, the cross country team and I met up for breakfast. It was a good breakfast! And I didn’t eat too much knowing we were headed out for a run as a team. 🙂 On our way home we stopped off at Antelope Island and ran an amazing 7.5 mile loop. We saw buffalo and antelope and the view was amazing!

I did end up running 3 1/2 miles more after I finished the loop. I ran back to the last runner… It was a great way for me to get more mileage in. I ran about 8 1/2 miles in 1:01.? and 1:22.38 for the full 11. Total running time was 1:47.55 (about 14 miles…). It was a great run! We loaded the school bus and headed home!!! I could not wait to get home… It is my 2nd daughter’s 7th birthday! While I was out running… My daughter and the rest of the family went to our friend’s baptism (the Burks and Lyman’s), she had a few people stop by and brought a nice treat (thanks Mary and Siri… You don’t realize how much this means to the kids and us), and they helped our neighbors lay sod.

I pulled up right around lunch time, with the entire cross country team, on the bus and they all sang happy birthday (while the bus driver-Gary, honked the horn). She loved it! Good kids to help me make her day!

We then took off and had some fun at Hang Time (a trampoline place). We were given 4 passes… I have never been there before but My kids were so excited.

We were there for a couple of hours and it went by way too fast. It was a lot of fun!

We came home, opened presents…

… Had brownies (we like brownies over cake)…

And then it was movie night with the girls. I did a lot of organizing and de-junking… Oh the joys of packing!

Corom was packing for his Alaska trip and he also finished making a long board for a friend/neighbor of ours. It turned out really good.

Sunday: We woke up and got ready for church. The girls were good… A little restless at times but good. Corom left early this morning for the airport. He is going to Alaska with his brothers, mom and uncles. Our neighbors invited the girls and I over for dinner tonight. It was very nice not having to worry about cooking and we had a great time! They are good friends of ours and I appreciate their friendship. It was a good Sunday! The one thing that does worry me… When to get my running in this week. It is sad but it really is a worry of mine! 🙂