Why Do You Run?

Good luck to all of you who are racing this weekend!
Keep running!

Taking Flight

Remember when you were a kid and you wanted to fly so you spread your "wings" and pretended you were soaring high above the ground? The possibilities were limitless!

This morning on my run I felt like I was flying. You know that mili-second between steps in your stride when one foot lifts off the ground and right before the other one hits the pavement?...you are in affect flying for that tiny moment in time. Perhaps it is a long shot, but that is how I felt this morning. The breeze was hitting me just right, and everything was working together like clockwork. I love runs like that.

Several weeks ago in church someone shared this parable:

"An enterprising turkey gathered a flock together and following instructions and demonstrations, taught them how to fly. All afternoon they enjoyed soaring, flying and the thrill of seeing new vistas. After the meeting, all of the turkeys walked home."

I have thought a lot about this parable and how I have been taught to fly, yet sometimes I settle for mediocrity in my life. Why is it at those times that I walk like a turkey?  We all have greatness within us. We CAN soar like eagles! Today I feel like I am soaring. I am feeling motivated and excited about what the next several months have in store and I am grateful for the blessings in my life!

"One cannot consent to creep when one feels the impulse to soar." ~ Unknown

Keep running. (and soaring)

26.2, Tiffany's, Ghirradelli And Firemen

I must say, that is a great combo... Running 26.2 miles, a Tiffany's necklace, Ghirradelli chocolate and Firemen giving you said chocolate. Does it get any better? :)

I have been waiting for this email for 3 weeks and today it came!

Dear Stacey,

Congratulations! You are now officially registered for the 2010 Nike Women's Marathon, a race to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society!...

Race Day
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Race Start: 7:00 am
Union Square, San Francisco, CA

I am so excited! Keep running!

Salt Lake City Marathon Race Report

Yesterday was a perfect day for running a marathon! The weather was beautiful, cool and sunny.

After hitting the porta potty at the start line, I went and sat on a curb and just people watched until it was time to start. It was fun to see all the different types of runners pre-race. The nervous first timers, the veteran runners, young, old, big, small...I really enjoyed just watching and relaxing. I didn't feel nervous, just grateful to be there. I knew the course and since this was my 16th marathon, I knew what was in store and what to expect over the next few hours.

I got a little teary eyed during the National Anthem and then the gun went off. It just felt good to be out there running. The first part of the course was my old stomping ground...we ran the same roads that I ran when I first started running over 15 years ago...so it was very nastalgic for me. At mile 5, in Sugarhouse park, I needed to stop for a potty break. The porta potties had a pretty big line, but since it was a park, there were real toilets up ahead. I ended up going into the men's room...all is fair in a race, right? :)

I had just passed Highland High School when I saw my friend Leslie on her bike. It was fun to see a familiar face! She snapped a couple of pics and then went on her way.

At about mile 7 I found my friend Susie from LocoMotion Running Club. I miss running with them. Susie and I ran together and talked for the next 7 miles and it was great to catch up with her.

The rest of the race was pretty uneventful except for spectators calling out, "Go Little Caesar!"
I finished strong and felt great! NO NAUSEA... through out the entire race! Yay, me!

Thanks again to Little Caesars for making this possible! 16 down, 24 to go!
Keep running!

#16 ~ Here I Come

This is what I will be wearing on race day... In case you can't see it, I have disco on my chest! The words and the picture are all in sequins :) Don't you just love sequins? I feel like I should be running in Las Vegas. :)

Thank you for all the encouraging comments! I really appreciate all the support from you, my running/blogging friends! 

This morning on my quick 2 mile run I noticed a sign, I don't know why I have never noticed it before, but it was significant to me today...25 more marathons...just around the corner.

I am just finishing up laundry and getting all packed to leave in the morning. I do still need to paint my toenails, that is one of my pre race rituals..gotta have fresh polish.

Good luck to all those who are racing this weekend! Keep running!

It's Official....

I HAVE A SPONSOR!

For the past three years now, I have had it in my head that I wanted to run 40 marathons by the time I am 40 years old. Life got in the way, the economy went to crap, we had to cinch up our belts and stick to a budget, oh yeah, there was the fact that we lived on a tropical island for a year... I finally got it in my heart that this just wasn't going to happen, I just wasn't going to get to run my goal. A few months ago we moved back to the mainland and HOPE was on the horizon. Could I really do this with just the little bit of time that I had left? 

So, here we are 14 months until I turn 40, Ugh! 

But I have good news, I just found out that Little Caesars of Southern Utah will be helping me achieve my goal of 40 by 40! I am so grateful! I will be running 25 marathons over the next 14 months! I am so excited!  

Never give up, never surrender!

My first marathon as a "sponsored" runner will be the Salt Lake City Marathon next weekend (April 17), and then averaging two a month until June of 2011. 

Thank you so much to Little Caesars for helping me achieve my goals! 

I just want to say that no matter what obstacles get in our way or how many times people may laugh at our ideas, we have to just keep running past those that don't believe in us and run towards those that do!

Keep running! 

Happy Weekend

I ran 16.3 miles yesterday. It was one of those runs that every time you look at your watch, 2 more miles have passed. I love a good run in the desert! I enjoy running on a seemingly endless road... just me and the blacktop for miles. This is what I see on my runs...

The mountain in the distance is Pine Valley Mountain...the largest laccolith in the world. 

I feel so lucky to live here at this time in our lives. Although I grew up in St. George, I never thought I would live here as an adult. But it has been really nice to be around family, and they aren't kidding when they call this place "Sunny St. George." ( : The weather has been warm. The other day it was 61 degrees for my early morning run. It has been fantastic. 

Have a great weekend. Happy Easter. Keep running.