Go Marcie!!!

Just a shout out to MARCIE who is running 26.2 in Utah tomorrow! Everyone send energetic carma her way tomorrow morning! I know she will ROCK!

Marcie just remember "It is not age; it is not diet. It is the WILL to succeed." Jacqueline Gareau

So Run like the Wind Girl!

I AM A MANIAC!

Well, tonight is filled with some excitement for me! After finishing 4 full marathons last year including my Marathon Maniac Bronze level qualifying back to backs within 16 days (St. George and Long Beach), I submitted entry into the unique club and can now call myself Maniac #3597. I've had this "title" since I submitted back in March, but today it just feels official because I just received the hat and arm warmers that I finally ordered last week! I wanted to make sure I had some MM swag to wear in a couple weeks at the Wasatch Back Ragnar, so I could wait no longer to purchase my "elitist" gear (LOL). I cannot wait to wear them and with the crazy weather in Utah right now, the arm warmers will come in handy for sure! The hat will be worn as early as tomorrow!!! :) Thanks to many of you that I was able to join in training many early summer mornings last year! Couldn't do it without you!

The arm warmers are some of the nicest I've ever tried on. Very nice bands at the top that don't pinch but have non-slip rubber. The hat is full mesh with a sweatband on the inside. I'm quite pleased with the quality of both! Next time I'll order a shirt or some shorts, but I figured these are perfect for my upcoming running trip. About that...

If some of you don't know, I'm captaining a Wasatch Back Ragnar team. The race is June 17th and 18th. 8 of us are driving from Phoenix in a 15 passenger van and we have 4 Utah team members as well. Our team name is Sofa King Awesome Runners...don't say that out loud if the kids are around. ;) Fun group of runners of all abilities. I'm also very excited to again be sharing another Ragnar with Al (the amazing man in my life for those that haven't heard from me in a while). It's awesome to get the chance to share your hobbies with your partner! This weekend Al and I went up to Flagstaff to get some elevation training in. We did some major hill repeats on NAU campus on Saturday evening and hiked on Sunday (see pic of the view from the hike - we watched elk grazing in the distance!). Gearing up for this mighty race has been a challenge since we haven't run much since Del Sol, but it feels so good to be getting back into it! We are packing in the training this week especially and will likely travel to Flagstaff again on Saturday. We may hike Lockett Meadow which is even higher elevation than Ragnar's 8950 foot high point. Anyone been there?

We are still hoping all the passes for the Ragnar race will be open and the 192 mile route will go as planned. The biggest part of the race - "The Ragnar" leg - goes over Guardsman's Pass which isn't scheduled to open until late June. Ragnar says they are working closely with the state, hiring excavators, etc to assist in the repair process after already reworking the course routes to avoid the current damage to Old Snow Basin Road (see picture). We shall see! Always an adventure no matter what roads they send us down (or UP)!

More Ragnar updates to come later! Hope everyone is doing well out there in WeLove2Run Blog Land! Happy running!

Rave Run

Location: Grand Canyon, Arizona (near Indian Gardens, about one third of the way up the canyon from the river)

The Experience:  After hiking all day with heavy packs from the top of the south rim to the river and then up to Indian Gardens (approximately 12 miles) Scott and I decided to go out to a lookout point to watch the sunset. We dropped our packs at the campground and left our kids with Lisa and Brad.  As we left we realized how light we felt and decided to try to stretch our legs with a trail run.  It felt amazing to run. The trail was mostly flat and wide.  It was a mile and a half to the lookout point and we saw a few people along the way. One of them called out to us "are you in a hurry?"  We weren't really, although we felt bad for leaving our kids, it just felt so good to run. 

We got out to the lookout and the view was AMAZING and so worth the extra three miles that day. This picture doesn't do it justice at all.

Here is a 360 view of the experience.

We finished the hike out the next morning and I'm not sure if the extra few miles helped or hurt my body, but it was worth it! I highly recommend this hike to anyone. It should be on everyone's bucket list. 

If you want to read a more detailed account of the entire hike I will posting that to my family blog in the next few days at thebaxter5.blogspot.com

Early Mother's Day in Las Sendas

The sunday before the REAL Mother's Day, Noah gave me a true morning off. He got the kids ready and took them to church. What to do with my free time....so many possibilities! The Hills of Las Sendas were calling my name, so I threw on some tempo shorts, and off I went. It was a beautiful and peaceful morning. I enjoyed my solitude and enjoyed running up the hills. I even did a few "hill repeats", running up those hills at a really hard pace for a half mile at a time.

The 2nd time up the hill I felt that I needed a pit stop. Bathroom options arent a guarantee at Las Sendas. I mean, there are plenty of cactuses to squat behind, if you have to...but then there is the posh club at the top of the hill....

Sweaty runners from outside the community are not really welcome to use the sweet porcelein toilet. I found a worker and inquired if an out-of-towner might pay a club fee to have access to this nice bathroom. She almost gave me a number to contact, but then decided not to. She was pritty sure that this was not a privelege for anyone but the Las Sendas inhabitants.

These nice rolled towels with ice cubes and eucalyptus, are not to be mine. They will enhance the well-being of somebody, but not me.

So when you see this sweaty runner girl squatting behind a cactus- Look the other Way!!!

We've Been Snubbed by the "Winged Goddess of Victory"

From my rejection email...

The Winged Goddess of Victory has spoken. From the 30,000+ registration entries we received, we’ve drawn the names of the lucky women who will get the chance to run in the 2011 Nike Women’s Marathon.

Unfortunately, your name was not one of them.

I'm so sad! I was really wanting to get in to this race, and NOT St. George, so I guess now I have to start hoping for St. George. 

To those who signed up for St. George, lets hope "The Winged Goddess of Victory" sent our names to Utah!

SUSPENSFUL DAY!

Those of us that registered for the Nike Women's Half are waiting IMpatiently today for an acceptance email! GOOD LUCK TO US! CROSS ALL BODY PARTS that we get in!!!

I could live in Nike Tempo Shorts

Years ago at the Old Mountainside, I overheard a conversation amongst childcare workers: "Have you noticed that *Sheila Smith is always stinky?" Other girl- "Maybe she works out hard" First girl- "She is already stinky when she first gets to the gym!" 2nd girl "Oh, yeah, that is weird".

*Names have been changed to protect the innocent yet stinky.

I bet these days that I am the girl the childcare workers think is stinky. This is because sometimes I have to do a cycle class at 8:30, when I ran at 5:30. The 5:30 workout is a freeby because most people are still sleeping, so it is my bonus workout and it doesnt even count. Its a little bonus treat I get for getting up early- yay me! This is what you have to do sometimes when you love cycle, like yoga, and are obsessed with running. Sometimes you have to double up workouts. Especially when your 3 year old loves the childcare gym.

Somedays its not a 2nd workout. Somedays I need to make a trip to the store after I run, or go hiking, clean the car, or go easter egg hunting. I know that eventually I will need to get showered and put on "real clothes". I like to be clean and fresh. But I will admit that I am reluctant for the tempo short part of my day to end. I LOVE them. They are so light and fabulous. They feel like you are wearing NOTHING, and yet they are appropriate and not embarrassing the way wearing NOTHING would be.

If you dont have tempo shorts, get some! If you dont run, wear them to do your grocery shopping, clean the car, or go easter egg hunting. You will LOVE them too!

No I am not advertising for Nike. I do not have the Nike Account. But maybe I should!!!