APX alarm protects more than just your home

So many exciting things have happened lately. Where to begin...

First, I want to tell about our run a couple of weeks ago- the biggest run yet- 16 miles!! Can you believe it? I'm amazed at myself! And the strangest thing is, it wasn't even hard- it felt good. Weird!!

The weather that morning. Rain!

Danna, Suzy, and I arrived at our new trail after much driving around in circles in the rain. We finally found the spot where we could park on the Legacy Parkway trail in Davis County- my favorite location yet! Oh yeah, it was pouring! It was pre-crack of dawn. It was freezing. Who'dve thought to check the weather in the middle of August? We've never really run in heavy rain before. If the girls had said, "Let's bag it," I was game. We wimpily sat in the car for a WHILE, reapplying bodyglide, staring at the trail, leaning on the head rests.

My hood was scant protection against the downpour. I rage against nature.

When we finally stepped out, we were immediately frozen and drenched. None of us wanted to get our only hoodies soaked and render them useless before we even started, so we took them off and huddled together under a covering.

Then I had a genius idea! Matt used to sell security systems for a company called APX and all his old work shirts were in the trunk waiting to go to the D.I. We each put on a sweet blue APX shirt (I put on 2) and it totally did the trick! It was so funny though because the shirts were so manly and big, and all matchy-matchy too! People must've thought it was our team outfit! Ha ha! Plus we ran with our arms inside the shirts for at least a couple miles. And our water belts were inside too! We probably looked like a bunch of crazies. Out in the rain, armless, lumpy, matching. Go team APX!! Well of course these shirts are now a permanent car trunk item. You just never know when they'll come in handy again! Plus they have major sentimental value now.




As we warmed up, the weather actually felt really good, and the new scenery was great, the conversation was stellar, and the run was awesome!!

Then last Saturday, Danna and I ran in SLC- from Memory Grove up City Creek Canyon to the top and back. It was our designated "hill training week." Danna knew I was dreading hill training big time and am very freaked about the elevation changes on the actual St. George Marathon course. I have been whining and scared about it for weeks. I read all the St. George forums about it too, and freak myself out even more. We ran uphill for about 7 miles- torture for me! Then down for 5-6. Danna had to pull out all the big guns for me to be able to continue. She even provided me with motivational and distracting gifts throughout so that I would make it to the top. Like Jelly Belly energy beans, mango creme savers (PS: Adam, I know the Jelly Bellys were from you. You're the best!) which are surprisingly helpful. I even brought her a gift of my own! I put my hand on my bum at one point (no idea why now that you ask) and felt something strange. I said, "There's something on my bum!!" and after a short struggle, I pulled out:
A dish scrubbie pad! Yes, it had adhered its sneaky little self to my shorts' inner lining while in the dryer. Plus I wear the little Under Armor shorts under those. Wow. If anyone on that mountain had needed a pot scrubbed, I was their girl!

Danna also found a cute little cave. I was unable to join her in spelunking as: a.) it would have required that I climbed down and up a bunch of stairs, and my legs were already uber-stiff (and it was only about mile 7) so I'm pretty sure I never would have made it back up the stairs and b.) I was charitably trying to help her learn to use the timer button on her camera. :) Danna was way too spunky during hill training. She ran down and up those stairs twice! And at the end of our torturous run, she asked if we could run up the hill to the Avenues, and then down the steps to the car again. Um, no Danna. That's enough!! I told her she was more than welcome to do so, as long as she didn't mind walking home alone.

Here we are icing and stuff:

No, but seriously, the hill training wasn't as bad as I had feared. I really think Danna picked out a sick run this time and we got to see so many cool and beautiful (and blissfully distracting) things. Like Memory Grove when it's still dark! We also saw homeless people getting up in the morning, and druggies dealing, and dogs running around, and fellow St. George Marathon-ers. We ran for several miles near these 2 other guys training for St. George, and they were so funny. Might I add that they were veteran marathoners, and we passed them!! I hope they didn't see our high fives. They told us about other marathons they'd run, including one they ran next to none other than JEFF himself!! And we (D and I) talked together about every topic under the sun- from the gospel, to the differences between men and women, to life working in the hospital, to bristle pads of all things!!

Girl's camp

A couple weeks ago I was at girls' camp which was super fun- I love all the girls so much!! They are fabulous. Here's the only shot I took. What a lame camerawoman, right? Luckily, one of the YW -Bailey- helped me out and took 16 interesting shots of her own face. I have shared some real gems below from that sample.

Last week Matt and I spent the week with my fam and a few friends in Lake Powell. I did a lot of water running as X-training. Mikelle and I even got up at 6 one morning and went running on some hiking trails. It was fun. We got to drive the wave runner up a cool swampy river, saw baby frogs, ancient pictographs, we nearly sprained our ankles, and we rocked out with out ipods!On our way to the run!

Inside the boat

My dad has been feeling worried that the world may think I only ever wear a sweaty bun in my hair, to match my sweaty outfit and make-up-less face. (My parents have always been vehemently anti-bun.) Well, just for you, Daddio, I have included a few photos below, proving that I am not just Sweaty Bun Girl. And I do have an outfit other than that dang black and white one I think we are all a little sick of seeing on the blog by now.

I can't- I'm icing.

Hey friends- I thought I'd share some pics of all the many, busy things I have been doing this past week:
I went to see my sister Carrie Lyn.

Becky cut my hair, and Elaine's and Vicky's.

I worked.

I watched some TV.

I read my book club book.

Notice a common thread?!?!? ALL I DO IS SIT AND ICE! Let me tell you, trying to find time to ice 2-3 times per day makes you be creative. What kind of marathon taining is that you ask? It's NOT training, thats what! I am trying any kooky, hokey, or even slightly reasonable thing I can think of to help my traitor shins heal. Heal dang it, heal! This has been the hardest week of trainng so far. I did not run last week, which makes me about as happy as a girl who hasn't been shoe shopping. I think Adam went on a business trip OUT OF THE COUNTRY to get far enough away from me!

There is no food allowed in the freezer, it's too full of ice-packs. Sorry-I'm not making dinner- I'm icing. Can you get me a water? No -I'm icing. Get up to bear my testimony at church? Nope, I'm covertly icing my shin under my dress.

I may never be allowed back into the City Park Center. I am swearing under my breath, scoffing at the local news anchors on the giant TVs, and hogging the elliptical machines for HOURS. People will literally get off of their treadmill and move to another one further away from the crazy person. I swear to you- I NEVER want to be on another Elliptical machine in my lifetime. (I'm sure the park center shares the sentiment.) So to sum it all up- yes- I've been incredibly pleasant.

I acutally have been amazed at how difficult this training week has been. Not running has thrown off everything in my week. I've eaten like I might fall off the planet next week. I literally gained 2 pounds. It's discouragment eating. Kristin makes me sound like the devil, but really I will admit I do not make a good patient. I'm too bossy to BE a patient patient. You should see my house- it's the only house on the block to have had an interior earthquake. Too bad I can't be bothered to clean anything up. I no longer have the will to MAKE dinner, unless you count the chocolate chip cookie dough that I made a double batch of and then ate a freshly baked-batch every night instead of something healthy. I did this for 3 days until I was so sick of myself that I drove the rest of the dough over to Kristin's husband Matt to get it away from me. Thats one of the 12 steps to recovery right? Spread the problem to your friends? I'm sure its in there somewhere.

I've watched more TV this week then I have EVER. Not even kidding, I sat and watched a 2 hour tv show "with" my friend Elaine. I was too lazy to actually go the 3 blocks to her house to watch it together. Instead I sat and iced and texted her about every 3 minutes with random comments. This is an actual text conversation between us:

Me: That was awesome.

Elaine: Yeah- loved it.

Me: Cool.

Elaine: Super cool.

I need HELP!!! I Seriously need my running therapy! My house, friendships, and marraige may not survive my shin's revolt.

Luckily- I have the best running partners, friends, family, and cheerleaders in the world! K showed up this week with a cross-training basket- full of stuff I need to withstand the horrors of the park center- hand sanitizer, I-tunes gift card, fresh fruit ( I think the chocolate chip cookie overdose scared her) shape magazine etc. It was so great! But the best of all was a binder of letters from my friends that had funny letters that I only get to read WHILE I am cross training. She is FABULOUS! Thanks K- you are the best!

Vicky came and cross trained WITH me at the park center- I think she thought the other patrons might be happier if I talked to someone I actually knew. It was so much better with Vic- I was beginning to feel like myself again. (maybe that is scarier)


I was "allowed" by my over-cautious, yelling friends and doctor to run the weekend mileage- which was 15. To be honest, by Saturday I was a mess. I was crying before we got through the first mile just because of the pressure I was feeling. Poor Suzy and Kristin had to put their couseling skills into overdrive. I had determined that if I couldn't get through the 15 miler- I may have to give up the race. Yes- with Adam- THE MOST SUPPORTIVE HUSBAND EVER out of the country, and not even reachable, my week long pity party and eating extravaganza, and the general depression, I was totally ready to give up. I think I cried over the stupidest stuff for about 9 miles, and then realized- hey- I'm doing this! I'm actually getting the mileage in and the shin pain was completely tolerable! We finished the run and I felt good! I again spent the next 2 days doing nothing but icing- and I have been feeling really good since. Adam came home and I am so much happier. So my friends- I think I can work through this! After being the poster child for depression world-wide, I am now back to my regular crazy self. Thanks for all of your prayers and thoughfulness- I love you all! And- feel free to stop by anytime to visit- let yourself in- I can't get up- I'm icing.