Race Day!

Race Day! Ok so I entered into a 10k race with a friend from work. She wanted to do it and so asked me to join her. I had never ran that much (6.1 miles) at one time but thought it would be fun to try. I need more adventure in my life so this was perfect.
I started running in March of this year. At that time I couldn't even do 1 mile straight through. Pathetic I know, I was lazy but needed to get out and get into shape. I worked up to running a 5k (3.2 miles) in April and May. It was great the first 5k in April i wasn't quite ready for and so walked a little of it but not much. The next one I ran the whole thing. I felt so accomplished. I kept training for the 10k but could seem to push past the 3mile mark. My body just got too tired. Everyone I talked to that runs said it is all in my head and I should push past it. I started to get discouraged that I couldn't push past it. I really actually didn't even run once in the last 1 1/2 weeks. I was just going to have to walk some of this 10k. I was okay with that too. At least I can say I finished it right?
Well come to find out my friend that got me to do this race never signed up for it so I was all alone in this. I wanted to have someone that I knew there with me but I didn't. I almost just said forget it I probably cant do it anyway I haven't trained well enough.
The night before race day I had to work. We didn't get out of work till 11pm. Then I had to shower and get all my stuff ready for the race. I knew if I didn't have it I would be late. So I got to bed around 12:30ish. I had to get up at 4:40am the next day. I knew I was going to be tired but it is what had to be done. My alarm went off and I was up, tired, groggy but up. I got dressed got everything ready to go and took off. My family said they would come out in time to see me cross the finish line. That is really what I needed, someone that I could look for in the crowd. Someone that expects me to finish and will cheer me on. I get up to the Research park by the U and cant find anywhere to park! AGH! it is 5:55am and the race starts at 6. I finally just parked across from sunnyside ave and ran to the race. HA yeah silly I know. They started late I guess cause I still had 1-2 mins before the race began. I was in the back and there were so many people there. We took off and I jogged trying to find someone that ran the same pace as me so I could just follow them or run by them. I couldn't find someone that ran my pace they were either in my way or too fast. So I just listened to the music on my ipod and kept running. The down hill part was the easiest and at the beginning, of course. I gave up just before mile 3. I was tired and my legs were starting to hurt because we just had climbed a little hill. (WAY LITTLE) so I walked for like a minute. But I couldn't keep walking everyone was passing me and I felt good enough to start running again. I passed mile 3, mile 4, and mile 5. I had never got this far before. I could feel blisters forming on my feet but I only had a mile left and couldn't give up now. There was all the parade people watching. So I kept running. It really didn't feel all that hard until the last 1/4 mile. It was more uphill slightly and I was starting to feel how tired I really was. But I made myself continue I could see the finish line so it wasn't much more than I can stop. I am looking everywhere for a familiar face but I didn't ever see one. I passed the finish line and looked at the time clock 1:05:55 I was amazed I thought it would take me at least an hour and a half. Sweet! I did it and not a bad time for my first time ever. I wanted to fall over and never get up. My legs felt like noodles. I still had to find my family but I didn't make a plan where to meet them at. So I stood there and waited till someone found me. My sister found me about 10min later. :( they had just got there and didn't even see me finish. I was a little sad to hear that no one saw me finish. But I did it ant that is what mattered.
Well day after the race I am so sore. My legs are tired, I have blisters on my feet, etc. I would do it again though because it was something I wanted for me and no one else.

I went hiking on Monday. It was a lot of fun. My stake for church planned a hike up donut falls and then we roasted s'mores and just hung out. It was a lot of fun. We decided to climb all the way up to the falls (which I haven't ever done before because I didn't want to get wet) But today was different I didn't care if I got a little wet you can always change your clothes and stuff. I tried not getting too wet though! My feet were soaked and I rolled my pants up a bit but the ends were still drenched. It was all good though I had a lot of fun and now have a great group of friends to hang out with. So it was a good trip in the end.

Funny thing is I had gone hiking earlier that day up Timpanogas Cave. I took some pics of the valley from up on top the mountain. It was smoggy but still a great view. The last time i went up that mountain was when I was like 10 or maybe even younger. I remembered the trail was paved and that there were a lot of switch backs but I didn't remember how steep it was. Of course when I was little things like that didn't phase me as much. The caves were a lot smaller than I remembered also. Or maybe it was because I am much bigger now, lol Oh well It was still really cool and by the time we got up to the caves we were sweaty hot and the cold caves were just what we needed.

I suggest if you ever go hiking up Timpanogas that you go early in the morning so the heat doesn't get to you too much. Take lots of water and a snack.
Also go with someone you really would like to have the time to talk with. I went on a date with a guy I had never met. It was good we had plenty of time to talk while going up the mountain but he just wasn't interesting enough and I wished there was someone else there to talk to.