Monday, June 14, 2010
*1/2 Marathon Results Update*
My official 1/2 marathon time was 1 hour 59 minutes and 26 seconds. I finished 243rd out of 1000+ people. I was 98th out of 592 girls. Yay me!!
Saturday, June 12, 2010
My First Half Marathon
When I was a teenager, my dad and I shared a love for running. It was so fun that we had that in common. We started training to run in a marathon at one point, but it wasn't meant to be. I was badly injured in a hiking accident that had me on crutches for several weeks and my dad had what would become the first of many "scary"skin cancer spots removed from the side of his face. We both recovered, but for whatever reason were unable to ever motivate ourselves to resume training for a different marathon...now one of the biggest regrets of my life. Fast forward to present day and my dad is now battling two types of cancer and chronic back pain which prevent him from doing his most favorite things. My whole life my dad has sacrificed for our family...sacrificed beyond what I can even comprehend. He went to great lengths to make sure that we always had enough...more than enough, and that we could always stay together as a family. He truly is my hero. I've been so caught up in my own woes lately that I have forgotten to just live my life and be happy. Life is so short, SO SHORT!
About a month and a half ago, I decided to stop worrying so much about what I don't have and start making the most out of what I do have...my health! I don't know what it is, but I have decided I need to do things I've always wanted to. Two friends of mine at work were signed up for the Utah Valley Half Marathon and I thought it would be a great way to start getting in shape for a full marathon. In the last month and a half I have accomplished things I never thought I could and pushed my limits further than I thought I ever would. Today, I ran my first half marathon faster than I had planned. I couldn't help but think of my dad and wish he were there with me. THIS ONE'S FOR YOU DAD!!! Maybe I can convince him to be there at the finish for my first marathon. :)
Me, Jessica and Kristen at Brick Oven the night before the race "carb loading" Don't know if that was the greatest idea, but it sure was yummy!
Our morning started at 3:00 am. I woke up and contemplated staying in my warm bed, as I could hear the rain pounding on the roof. We met up at Provo Towne Center mall at 4:00 am where the buses took us up to the starting line, just above Vivian Park in Provo canyon. It was dark, cold and drizzly but our nerves and adrenaline kept us going until the race started at 5:45 am.
What a beautiful and amazing run! The canyon was extra green and lush due to all the rain we have had lately. It seemed like all the smells and scenery were exponentially increased, but maybe it was just my high from running my first 1/2 marathon. I couldn't help but smile most the way due in part to the fabulous music mix I put together, the wonderful people both running and volunteering, and the great pace I had set for myself. I shed my jacket at about mile 2 and the cool weather couldn't have been more perfect for running 13.1 miles. When I made it out of the canyon (about half way through the course) I even started to get a little emotional at all the people there cheering us on. Perfect strangers (who were there for their friends and family) made a point of cheering and clapping for the rest of us too. I was more overwhelmed then I thought I would be at just how fast the whole thing seemed to be going. At mile 12 I had where we would be finishing in sight and I almost felt sad...almost. What a thrill. I rounded the corner nearing the end and for just that one moment, everyone was cheering for me, all was right with the world and my life was perfect. Then I crossed the finish line. I did it! I was hoping to finish in 2 hours and 10 minutes, but crossed at almost exactly 2 hours flat. Jessica, who is 11 weeks pregnant, finished just behind me at 2 hours 9 minutes and Kristen, who has stress fractures caused by all the training, finished not too far off at 2 hours 41 minutes. Way to go girls!!!
Jessica at the finish line
Me and Jess sporting our medals.
My number and medal
About a month and a half ago, I decided to stop worrying so much about what I don't have and start making the most out of what I do have...my health! I don't know what it is, but I have decided I need to do things I've always wanted to. Two friends of mine at work were signed up for the Utah Valley Half Marathon and I thought it would be a great way to start getting in shape for a full marathon. In the last month and a half I have accomplished things I never thought I could and pushed my limits further than I thought I ever would. Today, I ran my first half marathon faster than I had planned. I couldn't help but think of my dad and wish he were there with me. THIS ONE'S FOR YOU DAD!!! Maybe I can convince him to be there at the finish for my first marathon. :)
Me, Jessica and Kristen at Brick Oven the night before the race "carb loading" Don't know if that was the greatest idea, but it sure was yummy!
Our morning started at 3:00 am. I woke up and contemplated staying in my warm bed, as I could hear the rain pounding on the roof. We met up at Provo Towne Center mall at 4:00 am where the buses took us up to the starting line, just above Vivian Park in Provo canyon. It was dark, cold and drizzly but our nerves and adrenaline kept us going until the race started at 5:45 am.What a beautiful and amazing run! The canyon was extra green and lush due to all the rain we have had lately. It seemed like all the smells and scenery were exponentially increased, but maybe it was just my high from running my first 1/2 marathon. I couldn't help but smile most the way due in part to the fabulous music mix I put together, the wonderful people both running and volunteering, and the great pace I had set for myself. I shed my jacket at about mile 2 and the cool weather couldn't have been more perfect for running 13.1 miles. When I made it out of the canyon (about half way through the course) I even started to get a little emotional at all the people there cheering us on. Perfect strangers (who were there for their friends and family) made a point of cheering and clapping for the rest of us too. I was more overwhelmed then I thought I would be at just how fast the whole thing seemed to be going. At mile 12 I had where we would be finishing in sight and I almost felt sad...almost. What a thrill. I rounded the corner nearing the end and for just that one moment, everyone was cheering for me, all was right with the world and my life was perfect. Then I crossed the finish line. I did it! I was hoping to finish in 2 hours and 10 minutes, but crossed at almost exactly 2 hours flat. Jessica, who is 11 weeks pregnant, finished just behind me at 2 hours 9 minutes and Kristen, who has stress fractures caused by all the training, finished not too far off at 2 hours 41 minutes. Way to go girls!!!
Jessica at the finish line
Me and Jess sporting our medals.
My number and medalSunday, June 6, 2010
Memorial Day Weekend 2010
So, here's typically how things work at the Lux household...
*two weeks before Memorial Day*
Me: "Austin, I took 4 days off for Memorial Day. Sara and Tony are going to Sand Hollow and I think it would be really fun to go too."
Austin: "We'll see. Let's sit down in a couple of days and plan it out."
Me: "Okay."
*1 week before Memorial Day*
Me: "Hey Austin, I really want to plan something for Memorial Day weekend. Remember I took 4 days off and I would love to get out of town. Let's call Tony and Sara and see what the plan is for Sand Hollow. I think that would be perfect."
Austin: "Okay, we'll see. I'll try to talk to Tony and see what the plan is."
*5 days before Memorial Day weekend*
Me: "So, are we going to do something for Memorial Day weekend? Or just stay around here. Because I might as well work if we're sticking around."
Austin: *no reply, working on computer.*
Me: *throwing my hands up in exasperration*
*2 days till Memorial Day Weekend*
Austin: "Hey Rachel, Tony and Sara are going to Sand Hollow this weekend, I think we should go."
Me: "What a great idea." *rolling my eyes*
Even though I seem to be invisible, (Austin calls it "selective hearing") Austin came through and planned out a really fun weekend. We ended up driving down with our friends Ross, Trish and baby Cole. We stopped at Zion's Natl. Park on the way down and hiked around until it got dark. Then, we stayed in St George and went to Sand Hollow with Tony Sara on Saturday. We had so much fun and soaked up plenty of sun. We headed down to Las Vegas for Sunday where we went to the aquarium at Mandalay Bay and hit the Criss Angel show that night. P.S. Don't bother with Criss Angel's show, it was disappointing to say the least. All in all it was a fabulous weekend!
*two weeks before Memorial Day*
Me: "Austin, I took 4 days off for Memorial Day. Sara and Tony are going to Sand Hollow and I think it would be really fun to go too."
Austin: "We'll see. Let's sit down in a couple of days and plan it out."
Me: "Okay."
*1 week before Memorial Day*
Me: "Hey Austin, I really want to plan something for Memorial Day weekend. Remember I took 4 days off and I would love to get out of town. Let's call Tony and Sara and see what the plan is for Sand Hollow. I think that would be perfect."
Austin: "Okay, we'll see. I'll try to talk to Tony and see what the plan is."
*5 days before Memorial Day weekend*
Me: "So, are we going to do something for Memorial Day weekend? Or just stay around here. Because I might as well work if we're sticking around."
Austin: *no reply, working on computer.*
Me: *throwing my hands up in exasperration*
*2 days till Memorial Day Weekend*
Austin: "Hey Rachel, Tony and Sara are going to Sand Hollow this weekend, I think we should go."
Me: "What a great idea." *rolling my eyes*
Even though I seem to be invisible, (Austin calls it "selective hearing") Austin came through and planned out a really fun weekend. We ended up driving down with our friends Ross, Trish and baby Cole. We stopped at Zion's Natl. Park on the way down and hiked around until it got dark. Then, we stayed in St George and went to Sand Hollow with Tony Sara on Saturday. We had so much fun and soaked up plenty of sun. We headed down to Las Vegas for Sunday where we went to the aquarium at Mandalay Bay and hit the Criss Angel show that night. P.S. Don't bother with Criss Angel's show, it was disappointing to say the least. All in all it was a fabulous weekend!
one of those moments
I have never seen the movie "My Sister's Keeper." I've kind of always wanted to, but it looks like such a sad movie, it's just never really been one of those movies that i'm like..."oh I think I'll rent that tonight". Anyway, it was on HBO the other day and I was just flipping aimlessly through channels (one of those 500-channels-to-watch-and-nothing-on kind of moments) and there it was. So, i stopped flipping channels and decided to watch for a minute. Holy smokes, from the first minute I was not only hooked, but crying the whole way through. All the actors were so good and convincing. I couldn't help but think about all the CHILDREN who this is actually a reality for. I can't believe what some people go through. It definitely puts things in perspective for me. I have a great life, and now I feel like making someone else's life great. I am determined to do more and be more.
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