It was a cold windy March morning...

Friday night Bill was looking forward to date night.  I looked at the clock and realized "Bill, I have a race tomorrow."
He groaned.
I started planning my costume.  There would be a contest for shortest shorts.  But how short do I dare go?  And how cold will it be?
Clover tights, a green lucky theme  -   BUT WHAT WILL I WEAR?
I tried and several pairs of really short shorts and various forms of undies and did the squatting tests.  I really didn't want to show off my "parts is parts".  But I had to find something that would work and put me in the running for shortest shorts.  This would be more important than actually running a good race.

5:15am my alarm goes off and I post on facebook that all I really want to do it sleep in one weekend.  This is a normal wake up time for me Monday-Friday.  It seems so much earlier to me on a Saturday for some reason.

Get dressed in 3 layers of clothes
It's early March and still chilly out in the mornings especially.  Gloves, snow hat, scarf, warm up pants... extra socks... 2 pairs of running shoes...
Oh yeah don't forget the fun part
 - Green makeup and nail polish
- Hair Glue
 - and Food - Jerky, Trail Mix, gatorade, various fruits and nuts and some peanut butter treats.
My ride shows up at 5:45 amand we are off to pick up the other runners on our team.

Katie Demille and her Nursing baby are in the back seat.
Jessica Hickman and Nikki Richins are 2 people I just met for this race - new friends.
 The driver and Team Captain - Wendy Smart - long time friend and client of mine.
This will be a great adventure!
Jessica keeps grumbling "it's early."  I laugh.

We arrive at Gunlock resevoir around 7am and decorate the van, paint our nails, put on green make-up and try and keep warm until start time.  I get out of the van with Wendy and we join in with some guys with ugly wigs playing LMFAO music and get a little rowdy and warm while dancing up a spastic dance storm.  I just can't help myself , It's how I roll.

Katie quickly feeds her baby and starts leg one of this 52 mile relay.  The relay is a 52 mile race with teams of 5people that take turns running specific "legs" of the race.  We started at Gunlock resevoir and finish at Sand Hollow Resevoir.

I get Leg 2.  It's still chilly at 9am.  I realize just then that I would be running right by my friend Kim Mower's house and My Brother Robert Proffit's as well since my leg finishes in Ivins.  I text them to let them know right before I start my leg of the race.  5.8 miles of rolling hills.

This was my first race where I purposefully left the electronic devices behind to just connect my mind and body without distraction.  I wanted to run how I felt without music telling me to go fast or a device telling me my pace.  It felt good to just run how my body told me it wanted to run.  My competitive nature kicked in.  every time I saw someone in front of me, my goal was to catch them and pass them (kills)  I had 4 kills and no one killed me.  My brother and his wife Peggy were about .5 miles (or less) from the finish line cheering me on - AWESOME!  Robert joined me and helped me push it in for the final stretch.  I loved opening up and pulling out what was left in me for the finish.  My team wasn't expecting me for another 10-15 minutes.  apparently I had given them a poor estimate of my running pace.  ooops.  Jessica was "taking care of business".  :)

Then Jessica was off after she found out I was waiting for her at the finish line.  SORRY JESSICA!
Oh well...

I ran 8.6 minute miles average on that leg for almost 6 miles.  I've never done that.
My knees felt amazing.  I think my knees feel better when I run faster.  when I plug along slower and keep a pace I "feel capable of"  my knees get more of a plodding and pounding. 

I decided that this is how I will race from now on.  Plus I figured out solutions for all the world problems at the same time as I had only my thoughts during the run.  :)

I stretched for a few minutes - said Hello To my friend Cherie (I still need a copy of the picture she took of me right then. I am sure I looked "amazing"), said goodbye and thank you to my brother and his wife and then we were off again to meet up for leg 4.
Wendy had Leg 4.  Our team was doing better than we expected.  How fun!  I saw my friend Cathy Ford and her team.  These relays really are just a big party  I tell ya.

Wendy finished strong and looking good and then Nikki gets a tough climbing hill for her run on leg 5.  We are keeping pace with a team in fluffy skirts "Off like a Prom Dress" is their team name.  so much fun!  I love all the crazy wigs, costumes and crazies out there.  Nikki KILLS IT!  She did amazing!  Lots of "kills" and beats her estimated running time.  we keep on this way for each leg of the race.  Wendy got leg 8 - a killer of a hill and a long run for her. 

I felt tired and ready for a nap but needed to get ready to run leg 9, 4.4 miles of trail running and hills.  It's a tough run after a long day and it's now pretty warm outside.  I take a shot of a drink called "Zenergy" for a boost of energy.  I hate those energy drinks.  I had bought it just in case I needed a pick me up.  ugh....  my brain was a mess.  It was like I was having a weird anxiety attack of some sort.  I was trying to prep for my next run and my brain was a mess.

We had been joking about how awesome we were that we were beating my friend Cherie's team and how cool that makes us.  LOL.
I was shocked and happy to see their car drive up to this transition point of the race. I adore Cherie and she told me her team's story I forgave her bad cheating  of needing to hop in the car as a team and skip a portion of they race since they race directors had given them a call to find out where they were.  They only had 4 people on their team and Cherie had already run 13 miles or so. She was tired and worn out.  I was happy that she was planning on running this leg of the race and was going to wait with me for Wendy to come in so she could run with me.  It helped me to calm down a little and I really looked forward to this run.

There were people yelling at Cherie as we took off.  If only they knew her story.  I was glad I had that time to think about how much I had criticized other teams we had caught "cheating".  I had no idea if there were injuries or if the race committee had been on their case because they were taking down barricades before they got to transition points.  So I became a nicer person and less judgmental right then.  
Cherie was in pain.  I felt great.  She told me to not wait for her - no worries - love you Cherie, But I'm feeling good and I parted ways with her.  It was such a gorgeous day.  I shook off the earlier brain fry I had and found my mind body connection I was looking for.  I loved passing people on this leg.  Each Hill was just an obstacle to put one foot in front of the other - 4 kills!  and even one of those other cheating teams that cheated to pass my team a long time back  I killed them!  LOL!  that always feels good. 

I was running past cows and horses and there was no one around that I could see at this point. I started talking to the cows  when I heard a breathe behind me.  Crap!  where did this chick come from?  I was just enjoying my jog...  "You're not passing me."  I tell her.  She looked annoyed.  I picked up my pace and kept with her as a pacing partner.  I still felt great.  I see my team ahead with my water bottle held out for me.  "run with me and the water - I can't let this chick pass me."  She looks even more annoyed.  "how much further?"  "one more mile!"  "Great!"  The woman I was pacing with groan out "another mile?  aaarrrgghhh..." poor girl.  she was tired.  I felt good.  I leave her behind....

2 more kills and a hill in front of me and then I am done.  One final push up this crazy hill...
AWESOME!  I actually love hills.  I chose this leg for the hills and short run.  So as people are walking the last stretch up this hill I am running past them.  I feel awesome!

Nikki takes the final leg of the race and I stretch and wait for my friend Cherie while I cheer on the other runners I had passed.  and of course I dance to other team's music they play loudly.  I can't help it.  It's how I roll.

My knees still feel good.
I have no idea what my pace was still today as I write this.  I am curious, but it doesn't matter.  I did great.  I ran hard and faster than I would have normally and I have no idea how fast it was.  I just like feeling good and passing people.
 Cherie comes in a little later - sweaty hugs... ugh...

Time to meet up at the finish. 
We head off to Sand Hollow and wait for our runner to finish up the race for us.
As we meet for Nikki at the finish we cheer on the ultra runners that ran the race solo (no teams - just them and 50 miles - cool!)  and we cheer on other teams.  we dance some more and we meet other people.

Nikki comes in strong and we cross the finish line together.  The race director is at the finish line and takes a look at my shorts "those just might win the shortest shorts contest.  But there are some guys out there that have some really short shorts.  We may just have to see who really has the shortest shorts."
  hmmmmm.... I think I need to wear these to the awards dinner just in case I have a case to prove.  

My husband Bill is on the lake with his SUP.  I was glad he came for the final part of the race - even if he didn't see us finish or take any pictures of us...  I was glad he got on the water and enjoyed himself for awhile.

We went home and got ready for the awards dinner.  What to wear?  My sweaty shorts again?  Really?  Yup.  I took a shower and put the sweaty shorts and tights back on (clean undies though - LOL)  and then put on some loose purple sweats on top.  Just in case...

Bill and I sat at a table with Wendy and her husband, Shelly and Darin Thomas (track coach and amazing runners) and... Oh dear... I forgot the other person's name - on Shelly's team... and her hubby.  Saw my friend Ben Ford and waived "hi" and chatted for a while.  It was nice to finally see some familar faces I had no idea were even in the race.  There is Heather Stout... Liz and Tom Dansie...  Strong runners and great people...

The awards... Ben and his buddy took first in the 2 man team category - awesome!  They just happened to also set a new record for the race.  way cool! 

I was looking for Cherie - couldn't see her.  She must be home cuddling her kids I assume.
The awards were given out to all the faster teams that won for being fast.

Then the important awards started... Costumes and ridiculousness...
best costumes - Supermoms
best decorated car... I think it was Heather's team and their Tipi on top...  that was cool.  I liked that Cowboys and Indian theme they had going on...
others... the ridiculous wigs... the crazies...
and then...
Shortest Shorts - some guys team was mentioned... and then he said "and a woman on team 44.."
"Hey that's me!  I won!  I won!  I won!"  I scream and pull my sweats down and run up for my award with my sweats around my ankles showing off my lucky tights and short blue shorts.  My mother would be proud  (or not - can't be certain).
I got a $20 gift certificate for a pair of shorts from Saint George running center. I'm stoked.  but I'm even more stoked about the really cool picture of the 70's man in short running shorts and cheesiness of the whole scrapbookable certificate.  I told Bill I was going to just scrapbook the thing. He told me to just scan it and use the certificate.  He's so smart.

There are some great things about these relay types of races.
 - I love that you get to know other people.  It's not just a start and finish - it's a party the whole way there as you cheer on your team and other teams.  You talk to people as you wait for your team to come in.
 - I love dressing like an idiot.  It's a great way to make friends.  People you normally would never talk to come up to you and comment on your outfit and a new friend is made.
 - I love connecting with the crazies of the world.  It's always good to know you are in a safe place as a fellow crazy.

All in all - it was an awesome experience.  can't wait for the next one!  I think I am signing up for a Ragnar Relay in California in April or May my big brother Robert tells me.  Can't wait.  What will I wear?
Definately not using anything electronic to tell me how fast or slow to run.  That was a first for me and it was awesome!

Running really is a team sport. no really it is...

They say running is an individual sport....  I beg to differ...
Saturday I ran the 10mile Dam to Dam Sand Hollow race.

Part of me is really disappointed in myself for coming in so much toward the last.   I had told my hubby before the race that I would average 11 minute miles with stretching breaks and that he would see my in almost 2 hours. so I should feel great about my results of about 9:43 minute miles.

I have to keep reminding myself that 4 years ago I could NOT WALK AROUND MY BLOCK! One year ago I was injured from not training for a half marathon I decided to do on a whim and I couldn't run at all for several months after. So really -   I should be flippin thrilled!
Why the disappointment in my results?  I have some serious issues...

 I struggle with the balance between my competitive nature and just focusing on my own personal journey.
I placed 11th in my division (women 35-40) and like 21st overall in the Women.  yup.  I was last in my division.  :)  ahhhh well.   there were only 26 women doing the 10 mile race. BUT if I were in ANY OTHER division - I would have placed!  LOL!   In fact the woman I ran with toward the end and then passed at the finish (Diane) - she finished in first place in her division and I was last in my division.

I started out with a decent pace and kept toward the front half of the pack.  I was running with a man named Tony from Apple Valley area -   A really TALL man with a great stride and I decided to pace with him.  I felt awesome. We talked about his running life.  Many Many years ago he qualified for the Boston Marathon and never went and did it.  He had brain surgery a year ago.  coming out of that he decided he would get back to that place and do it!  I love that people I meet doing these events.  THIS IS WHY I LOVE RACES! The people I meet always impress me.
 About mile 5 I asked him what our pace was he told me just under 9 minute miles.  I was like - "crap... I can't keep this pace the whole time.  I'm only half way through and I've never done 10 miles before."  So I slowed down and he pushed on without me.

 I wish I had never known our pace.

 About mile 7 my knee started bugging me and I stopped to stretch out.  tons of people ran right past me.  it bothered me.  ugh!  seriously bugged me.  so I got back into the run and stopped to stretch again.  my knee was really bothering me.  About this time a man in his 70's caught up to me and said "Don't let me beat you! You had a great pace keep going!"  so I did.  This man had passed me and I was determined to catch up to him and not let him beat me.  no way in hell was I going to let an old man beat the pants off me.  LOL - seriously?  I have some issues.

SO I ran with a 76 year old man that would yell at me everytime I stopped to stretch "Don't you dare!  Keep moving!  Concentrate on your turn over and not on your knees! You can't finish after me!"
um..... ok....  I am a sheep - I am a good follower.
I was torn - walk and stretch like I planned and let this old guy beat me?  Or Keep going and push through it and make sure some 76 year old man finishes after me.  UGH....
So I ran harder and faster than I thought I should and I kept up with the old man until the finish line was close.  and like a good little runner I kicked it in and pushed hard to as much of a sprint as this tired body could do with a limp as I crossed the finish.

My thoughts as I crossed:  "what have I just done?  will I be injured?  will I go through another year of not being able to run because of this?  crap.  why?"
So I stretched and stretched and stretched and stretched.  guess what?  NO PAIN the next day (well not in my knees anyway and that was the biggest worry)

So I am thanking that man.  I assume he MUST be a genius runner of some sort.  I keep making up stories in my mind about who he is and what he must have accomplished in his lifetime so that I feel more awesome about finishing barely in front of a 76 year old man.  I do thank him for pushing me to my limits.  I love finding out that I am capable of more than I thought I was.

Would you like to know the Story I made up about the old guy that pushed me?  I think his name is Jim Way.  I Don't know anything else about him other than the information I got off runner card.  His name, age and city of residence.  So my story about him is something like...  um.... he was a track coach and ultra marathoner.  and he must have some amazing race stories about who he's ran with and all his races.  He probably does a few marathons or more every year.... and.... He runs 10 miles a day just for fun.  sure... why the heck not?  I wonder how close to the truth I am?

anyway, thanks Jim for pushing me.
thanks to Tony from Apple Valley for pacing me and sharing his story.
and thanks to Diane Patrick for being my buddy toward the end and pacing with me there.


They say running is an individual sport.  But I have found it isn't.  any success I have in any race usually is because I have been pushed or supported by another runner.