Swag giveaway!!

It's Kristin!

Danna and I have been talking about something fun we could do for a giveaway for a while now.  Saturday, I went to Salt Lake Running Co. with my mom and sister Karin, and found some fun new stuff!

First of all, I eat gels on long runs and typically have to literally gag them down.  I don't know why I never noticed them before, but GU makes their product in "gummy/chewy" form called GU Chomps.  Genius!  I am a gummy maniac- I love fruit snacks and I love gummy candy.  I also dislike gagging while trying to run.  Shocker.  I have a hard time finsihing my GU quickly and figuring out how to dispose of it or keep it from getting my belt pouch sticky.  Problem solved!

I've wanted to try this Sport Wash for a while now.  According to their site it:

• Removes trapped odors from fabrics
• Restores factory applied waterproofing (DWR)
• Keeps high-tech fabrics looking & working like new
• Restores wicking properties and eliminates odor to Dri-Fit, Under Armour, Coolmax and engineered polyester fibers
• Restores the loft & effectiveness to down & synthetic insulation
• Prevents color fading
• Removes stains like blood and grass
• Biodegradable!

I need these LaceTraps.  Danna can attest to the fact that I have to re-tie my shoes about once a run...maybe twice.  I just hate tying in a double knot!

We love this stuff for very long runs!  Your foot and toes stay completely dry and rub-free.  It's amazing!  I think it's made of teflon or something (right D?).  Suzy put some BlisterShield in her sock for her marathon and afterward we all sat with our feet in a stream and every time her foot came out of the water it was still dry!!

Giveaway Rules:

In order to win, you...

1.  Become a follower of our blog and say you did so in a comment (or if you are already a follower, say so in a comment to enter).
2.  Additional entry if you post this giveaway on Facebook or Twitter and put a separate comment about it. 
3.  Yet an additional entry if you post this in your own blog and say you did so in a comment.
4.  And one more if you put us on your blogroll and leave a comment about it.

Remember to do a separate comment about each of those things.  We'll select a random entry via random.org and that person will be the winner.  (MissZippy, I found it through you!)  The contest ends 4/10/10.

Good luck!!  Even you non-runners can use this stuff so don't be afraid to enter.  Well, maybe you can give the Chomps away as a gift?

XOXO

~K

What BFF's are for

~It's Kristin~ 

I'm working on a little art project tonight.  My sister gave me this great idea.  She has super cute pieces of paper or thank you notes or something framed all in a row above her bed and it looks fabulous.  I asked her to do some for me and she did the 2 pictured above as part of my Christmas present last year.  So now I'm making 7 new big ones for my entry hallway.

Here's my favorite print (above).

I was having a hard time picking the paper I liked best.... 

I called for reinforcements...

What are BFF's for anyway?  I mean, last night I went and looked at the shoes she was deciding on at Nordy's.  It's so nice to know you have a third opinion (after the husband's opinion, of course) available when you need it.  Incidentally, Matt also has excellent taste and helped me arrange and sort through most of the project!

I'll post a shot of the finalized display soon.  I'm excited!

And she went with me yesterday to pick out new running shoes!!  Yes, a trip to SLRC where we are regulars.  There was a new sales guy there- Dave.  At first we were not enjoying Dave.  He was the first to offer us help and we didn't know how to say, "Uh, no thanks, we don'' know you yet."  Dave seemed arrogant and made a statements about my PF being with me for life.  No, Dave!!  But then Dave grew on us and we may just work with him again.  We've been shopping for a new shoe guru since Seth, our running idol, quit.  (PS:  He came in 3rd in the St. George Marathon we ran in the fall!)

Here's my new garb!  Can you spy, with your little eye: a GU, Adidas, Smartwool, Matt's first pair of running socks, an extra jumbo sized body glide!, blister shield, Saucony's (40% off baby!), and (this is a hard one- bonus if you can spot it!) an injured foot.

I LOVE having new running stuff.  Can't wait to bust out the new shoes tomorrow.  I never anticipated buying a pair of Adidas, but Dave recommended them and they were so comfy and felt just perfect as far as arch support for my PF and all.  I jogged around the store and fell in love!  And I've always wanted Smartwool socks.  D's always raving about them.  I knew it was time for new shoes because I was having weird aches and pains in random novel places.  And I was past mileage for my other shoes.

Any of you runner girls recommend any sports bras?  Nothing fancy needed- I'm cheap!

D and I have a cool giveaway coming up so be sure to stay tuned!

XOXO

~K

Running rules (there's a double meaning here)!

It's Kristin here.

So, I have a question for you runners.  How many times do you wear your running clothes between washes?  And if you do more than one wearing, where do you put them in-between runs?  Just curious.  I wear some things 2-3 times, and I hang them all over the banister while they "dry out."  Ew, gross- sorry!  But, it looks so sloppy and I want to know a better system.  And I want to know just how dirty my fellow runners are.  It will make me feel more normal.  :)

Well, I thought it would be fun to name some of the rules we run by.  Over the course of running with Danna and Suzy so regularly, we have realized some unspoken rules (and some spoken ones too) that we follow.  Here they are.  And I want to know your running rules too!

1. No apologizing.  (This applies to anything, but mostly saying sorry for a story you overshared, or for needing to slow down or walk.)  We say, when you need to walk, you walk!  We all have our rough runs.
2. No missing runs.  We have never talked about this, but the thing is- none of us ever bail unless we have a DANG good reason (like being truly sick).
3. Move to the right for bikers, pass other runners on the left.
4. Plan the run for as late as possible.  Although, it still tends to be waaaay to early in the morning for comfort.  We are so not morning people!
5. Don't be offended about correction.  We feel free to tell eachother stuff like, "Hey, you are swinging your arms in front of your body a lot today," or, "Stand up straigher."  We like it!
6. Whoever asks for the walk break, ends it.  If you want to walk for a sec, no one will ask to run again- they're waiting for you to feel ready!  (But anyone can say, "Actually, give me 10 more seconds...")
7. Someone bring a cell phone.  Danna usually fills this role- sorry girl!  We lazy!
8. If we spot a cool wild animal- we stop and check it out until it disappears.  The exception on this are the pelicans.  We see them a ton in the spring.
9. Cheerfully greet every other runner/biker.  It's usually, "Good morning!" but sometimes we get crazy and throw out a, "You go girl!" or a "Good job guys."  We like to make extra comments to the regulars.  Usually the cute old men.  "Haven't seen you for a while!  Nice hat!"
10. If Larry, Stan, Jeff, or Rod approaches, no walking!  Look alive ladies!  We can have the super runners catch us taking it easy.  In fact, run extra fast and don't reveal any gasping.
11. Whining is permitted, and sometimes encouraged.
12. If you see a dog owner with is dog off-leash, or with poop being abandoned, and you have the guts- say something.  (E.g., "Hey sorry to be annoying, but we really appreciate it when people follow the leash law on the trail.  Thanks!")  We gained this "rule" when Danna got attacked by a scary boxer once.  Well, growled and lunged at but never bitten.  Suzy, we're still waiting for your initiation on this one.  Hee hee!  Just kidding Suz.

So, those are a few of our rules.  What about yours?  PS:  I am loving everyone's comments and input on our posts- keep it coming!

XOXO,
~K

While we're on the subject- advice and gear.

Hey! It's Danna. Race season is fast approaching. We have run through this snowy winter and while we still have a lot of training to do, I feel glad for the early morning, snowy, cold runs logged. I at least have a good base to build on. Our little 'she runs like a girl' training team is well on their way to fame and stardom! (ok- at least a promising future of finishing our planned races!)

While we are on the subject of gear and advice, I wanted to mention a couple of things....

There is something I hear from EVERY new runner. "I don't drink during runs." When I was training for my first marathon, I told this to my trainer. I got side-aches when I would drink. She made me practice. I realized that I have a measurable energy boost when I am well hydrated through out the run- even 3 miles or so. I do not run without water. My body learned how to handle the water as I ran, and really it only took about a week of consistent effort. You will have better endurance and speed if you train yourself to drink. K taught me the best little drinking secret too- sounds simple- works like a charm... Tuck your chin to your chest when you swallow. No choke or gag. Great to have a speech therapist for a partner right!

When I am not training for a specific race, when I need to train with the energy drink they provide, I use G2. It has less calories, and less sugar. Then I feel like I don't waste the calories burned on the actual run, getting through the run.

Newbies- be careful to not increase your mileage by more than 10% per week. Otherwise you risk injury.

Remember- walk breaks for one to two minutes (time yourself so as not to go over) every mile at least. In our last marathon, we walked one minute every 1/2 mile the first 20 miles. We finished strong.

I have had quite a few questions about my GPS "watch." It is a Garmin Forerunner 305. I LOVE IT! It tells me my running time, my pace, my distance, my heart rate, calories burned, elevation, sunrise, sunset time, lap times, oh yeah- and the time of day. It is AWESOME! I have also worn it skiing and biking. It has settings for multiple sports. There is a newer model out- the 405. I bought the 305 because it has better reviews from actual runners. My mom runs with this same model. She thinks it's fun too. My sister runs with the 405 and loves it. I sync it with my computer a few times a month and it has maps of every run, monitors my improvement (or lack thereof) and keeps all the data stored. It looks big- and it is. But it is ergonomically designed, so it never bugs me. Sometimes on a Saturday I end up wearing it all day. Never know it's there. It was accurate to the minute on my last marathon. I love not having to try to figure out distances. It does all the work for me. I also have really enjoyed the pace feature that shows I have shaved MINUTES off of my mile time in the last year. It's an electronic cheerleader!


So- my next fave item I can't run without is my smart wool tank. It adds just enough core warmth on cold days- with NO bulk. It is the perfect breathable tank for warm days. And the super bonus feature- it's merino wool, so I can literally wear it for multiple runs in a row and it NEVER smells. Weird, but true. The same is true for my smart wool socks. The tank is tissue thin and is NOT itchy at all. They are pricey at around $50, but it's one of only a few items I can use year 'round. It long ago paid for itself.
Here is a link if it sounds interesting to you.
https://www.smartwool.com/default.cfm?gclid=CPe11eqjiaACFRFbagodwH7elw#/Womens/Apparel/Tops/_/2236/


Next- My multi-tasking gloves! A Christmas gift from the hub.


A nice warm, lightweight mitten to start the run.









A flashing LED light to make you more visible, plus the reflective stripe


When you warm up, the mitten part flips back to make gloves, and a flip back finger too, so you can tie your shoes, or mess with your watch etc. Love them! They are Saucony, and currently on sale too- http://www.saucony.com/store/SiteController/saucony/productdetails?stockNumber=90202-BK&showDefaultOption=true&skuId=***4*******90202-BK00**M&productId=4-100810&catId=cat620160

Another every day item is my Pearl Izumi convertible jacket. I want the most for my hard- earned running dollar. I love this jacket because I wear the vest on days above about 22 degrees. An then zip the sleeves on for colder days. It's lightweight and breathable.















There is a Pearl Izumi outlet in Utah- in Park City. I have found crazy deals there. I bought this on-line though. http://www.pearlizumi.com/product.php?mode=view&product_id=1448991

Of course my favorite running gear- are the girls! NOTHING is more motivating than running with other women. They keep me going. Every run with them is AWESOME!
Keep up the hard work. It pays off, I promise. And come and run with us sometime!

It's time to get serious, baby!

It's Kristin.

Well, now that the mileage is getting a bit higher for the spring training schedules, I have a few suggestions.  this is mostly for my beginner friends who are just getting into running.  Yes, I've only run one marathon, but you learn a lot of do's and don'ts in that process, ya know?

1.  Gatorade.  

It's time to buy some Gatorade.  If you can find out the specific drink they'll be handing out in your race, use that drink.  In the Us, it's usually Gatorade or Powerade.  Using an energy drink is important for a couple of reasons.  Practicing.  You need to be taking in electrolytes of some form, and you need to PRACTICE.  PS:  Some people prefer electrolyte tablets.  Also, it may be hard on your stomach and may take some getting used to.  If you need to water it down, that can really help, but then you'll need to practice that so you can water it down during the race too.  I never liked Gatorade till I started running.  Now I love it.  D and I call it "popsicle."

2.  Bodyglide

There are various things you can use for chafing prevention, such as vasoline, but Bodyglide is a specific brand and is prefered by most runners.  It's sold and running and sports stores (I found it cheapest at Sports Authority).  I like to use it on runs over 8 miles.  I like to out it between my toes, under the elastic parts and seams of my pants and sports bras, under my underarms, and on really long runs....well, call me and we'll talk about where else!  Let's just say, you don't share Bodyglide among friends.  Guys really need to put this on their nipples too!  Just stand at the finish line of a Marathon, and you can easily identify the guys who skipped the Glide.  And just ask Danna about the story of her meeting Sybille in her first marathon!  At mile 9, this girl was chafed red and raw already, and never finished the race.  

3.  The Belt

You may wanna consider a belt, although the problem is-they are pricey!  For me, it was totally worth it, and I'm pretty frugal!  I love love love my belt, and so does Danna.  I have the Amphipod RunLite Hydration Belt.  It was about $40.  I also recommend a bottle cleaning brush.  What would I change about my belt?  Maybe a bigger pouch so I could pack my camera.  Why do you need a belt?  So that you don't have to run where there are drinking fountains, or loops, or you don't have to drop off your fluids before hand and let them sit in the cold or heat.  Plus I can bring my gels, my pepper spray, my chapstick, keys, my phone if I want (we always like to make sure we run with a phone for many reasons), tissues, other treats for super long runs, lists or maps.....you get the idea.

4.  Decent shoes

Yes, they are painfully expensive if you get the good ones.  But you must!!  Get to the running store and have them evaluate your gait!  Or ask you Sports Medicine doc.  For example, Danna is a supinator and wearing pronator shoes gave her major shin problems.  I'm a pronator, but wearing pronator shoes + overly exaggerated anti-pronation inserts was too much and gave me tendonitis!  Suck it up and get some sweet kicks.

5.  Running socks

Okay, now I'm getting fancy.  But I'm on a roll here!  Running socks will change your life. No more blisters, no more annoying crinkle feeling under the ball of your foot, no more wet socks after a run, no more rubbing your Achilles on the back of your show- they have padding there!  Danna loves Smartwool.  I wanna try them, bit I love my Ascics.  And I also wanna try the ones with separated toes.  And the very drying ones.  Wrightsock? 

6.  Gel

It's time to start popping a gel, or power bar mid-run so you don't end completely gorked.  I have no preference except for taste.  D really likes GU brand.  They make me gag less than some.  I've never felt any difference between gels with caffeine or without, but some people really do.  All I can say is that theyr eally make a difference!  Don't wait until you think you need one- take them about 45 minutes into the run at least!  Or 15 minutes before the run if you want a boost. 

Ok, so what am I missing, fellow runners?  Any other essential accessories or gear?  

Happy running this week! 

XOXO,

~K

Running under the blue moon

Posted by: Kristin

Bundled up before the run. After a few minutes that scarf and my coat were gone!

My first experience wearing a grocery store bag on my feet for a snowy trail. Highly recommended! Didn't cause hot feet or discomfort at all! I think adding that foot powder we like would've been even better.

Note to self- trim toenails more often. My pinky nail jabbed me all through the run!

I just found out that last night (December 31st) was a blue moon! A blue moon is the rare situation in which there is a full moon twice in one month. This only occurs one every 2-3 years. Hence the famous phrase "once in a blue moon." No, it's not a person mooning you when they're cold.

Well, most people have to wait until it gets dark to enjoy the blue moon, but we 3 got to see it nice and early Wednesday morning. We didn't realize it was a blue moon at the time, but we did get look at it and comment on how full and beautiful it looked. Seriously, winter morning runs are so gorgeous!

What a beautiful run! But a seriously tough one for me. I think I'm majorly out of shape compared to D and S. I was huffing and puffing and begging for walks. They were gliding along like nimble gazelles, and I was a clumsy rhino in the few inches of soft/sandy snow. They were Olympic speed skaters and I was just putting on my first skates; they were Thumper on the ice and I was Bambi. You get the idea- I was working hard! D and S had their Yaktrax. I'm considering getting something like that, cuz my bod was so so sore from stabilizing the whole run! Sheesh!
Here's D's sidewalk to give you an idea of the snow depth- our path was NOT plowed, thankyouverymuch.

Me, coyly showing my frosty hat.
I really wanted to get a shot of D's hair- white with frost, but I kid you not, 5-10 seconds after we entered her house the frost was melted!

This pic doesn't do justice to the bright red stripes on my ribs and belly. Even after the hot shower these spots stayed super red from being cold! This always happens where I have excess body fat (yes I have a bit over my ribs there). Weird! A fun reminder of where you need to lose a little! Not.

Wish you could see this pic up close! Suzy's hairs were each individually wrapped in frost- just like pine needles get in the morning. It looked so cool. It was cooler that usual since we ran through some seriously wet foggy spots. It felt like running through a humidifier's stream!

Hey!! No one has said anything about my last post where we invited y'all to run with us! No takers? What if it's at 11:00 am? C'mon, don't be afraid, ladies!

Happy New Year! XOXO

This is IT! Don't get scared now.

Can anyone name that movie?

This run's theme was "tangerine." Notice Suzy's new T. O. U. shirt! Also note my cozy p.j. pants. Don't start a run without em! (Yes, amazing Suzy is still running with us. She is an inspiration. And She is totally not sore or crippled either!)

This is Kristin.

This Saturday is the ST. GEORGE MARATHON! The thing we have been obsessed with and working toward all these weeks. Your good karma and prayers are appreciated this week- we need it.

Or do we? We have no idea whether or not we'll finish in intense pain, or the sweet feeling we had when we ran 23 miles. This time we will be running a lot faster, cutting out a lot of walking and messing around at drinking fountains and photo-op spots. Danna's shins could cause her trouble. My calf could "charlie-horse" again. Her sports bra could continue to cut off her circulation until her arm actually falls off. My knee cap could finally shatter. OR! We could leap blissfully across the finish line- mascara still fresh (oh yes, I will be wearing mascara!), and legs still functioning well. Will we weep at the finish line? I have imagined that many times and it is very possible. I imagine running up to Matt, sobbing, but also gloriously raising my fist in the air. "I DID IT!" I'll say. Or maybe I'll say, "Why did you let me DO this?!?!" Or "Need...ice...bed...carry me...hate running..."

I am feeling 85% excitement, and 15% nervousness and fear. I think part of my nervousness is just making sure all things fall into place. What time are we leaving for St. George? What do I pack for lunch? Will I be able to fall asleep the night before? Are my clothes warm enough for the starting line? What should I put in my pouch? What am I forgetting?!?!? Aaah! I gotta stop writing about this, cuz I can feel my heartbeat racing.

Last Saturday we went and cheered Suzy (and her husband Rick) on in Logan. What an exhilarating experience!!! We sat on a blanket at about the 25.5 mile marker- after our own 12 mile run, and we cheered for the runners like no one has ever cheered before! These were our peeps! We gave each and every runner that passed us an individually-tailored cheer.

Example 1: Girl runs by looking tired and focused.
D&K: You go girl!! It's all about you! This is your day!! You're almost there! Just keep putting one foot in front of the other! You rock!
Girl: (begins to cry)
Yes. We made a lot of girls cry. But in a good, touching, you needed that kind of a way. And we really feel like we helped a lot of people in a really tough part of the race where there were no other cheerers much of the time.
Then of course we would begin to cry ourselves.

Example 2: Man runs by, limping a little, chest splashed with Gatorade stains.
D&K: Hey! You look great! You're made of steel! You've almost run A MARATHON!
Guy: (Tries to hide a smile and blush, and starts running a little straighter.)
It was interesting how many people started running again right before they got to us. They didn't want these loud cheering girls to cheer for them while they were walking. We were seriously so loud. Amazingly, my sister Mikelle fell asleep for an hour or 2! I didn't think it would be possible with our constant screaming. We also applauded each runner. Our hands and throats hurt for a long time. (Mikelle, a vocal performance major, refused to scream. It made me proud as an SLP. Way to avoid phono-traumatic abuse and resultant vocal fold edema, hemorrhage, or nodules! But I couldn't resist this time!)

Well, we saw some fascinating things while we sat on that blanket. It seriously gave me the biggest high sitting there cheering for them. I'm still high on it! It was like the funnest service project ever! I'm so going to the SLC Marathon every year from now on, and sitting in a remote spot where there are no other cheerers. Cheerers make an amazing difference for runners.

Okay, this may seem a bit cheesy or weird, but I have decided to dedicate each mile to someone in my life who has had a big influence on me or whose friendship has really meant a lot to me in my life. The names are not in any particular order. I mostly assigned people numbers that would help me remember them, such as their birthday number or an inside joke (ask me about yours if you're wondering).

1 Daddio
2 Mili Silva
3 Annie Winn
4 Vicky Yocom
5 Rhonda Better
6 The West Family (CT)
7 Kristina Barss
8 Ambleh Prince
9 Mommykins
10 Heather Taylor
11 Liz Madrid
12 Denise Frandsen
13 Mkl Memmott
14 Emily Stokes
15 Krissy Wyler
16 Karin Dance
17 Sarah Shaw
18 Danny Memmott
19 Holly Badurek
20 Emmaline Sorenson
21 Sarah Haslam
22 Francisco Herrera
23 Danna and Suzy
24 Mery Carcamo Suarez
25 Matt
26 Jesus
.2 Janelle Swinton

When I run a given mile, that person will be my motivation, and I'll think of them and the influence they've had on me. Suzy also gave D & I little strips of paper with motivational quotes on them for us to stick in our belts and read when the going gets tough. Look for a new post soon, wherein Suzy recounts to you her own marathon experience last week. (***teaser***)

They look way too good after 26 miles! PS: Good job guys!!!

Who took this? You're in big trouble.

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.