Foster Care: Year Two

Troy and I are wrapping up our second year fostering dogs for Friends Of Animals so here's the recap of pups that have come and gone in 2011.

  

Drake (Black Lab)

Most readers of this blog already know about Drake. Drake came into our lives last December as a dog who needed long-term fostering. At the age of 3, he had been diagnosed with progressed bone cancer, and was no longer a suitable candidate for adoption. We couldn't stand the thought of this poor boy bouncing between foster homes in his frail condition so we asked to adopt him. FOA was so kind to waive the adoption fee, and turned Drake's papers over to us for keepsakes. We had Drake for over three months before he passed away in March.

Though we knew Drake wouldn't be with us for long, his passing was hard. Troy and I took a brief hiatus from fostering for a few months while we focused on traveling. Come late summer we were ready to pick up another pup.

Penny (German Pointer)

Penny was also a long-term fostering case. This young dog had been running as a stray when she was hit by a car, and broke her front leg. She needed a foster home for several weeks until the cast could come off, and she could return to the shelter.

Besides Drake and Penny, all our other dogs were short-term fosters, and stayed with us just until they could find a home. The average turnaround time for our short-term fosters has been about two weeks.

Lola (Miniature Pincher)

Melody (Cocker Spaniel)

Pluto (Cocker Spaniel)

Porsche (Pit Bull/Lab). 

Porsche had a heartbreaking past. While most of the dogs are strays that have been picked up by various shelters before making their way to FOA, Porsche came to FOA after being involved in an animal cruelty/neglect case. She had scars reflecting past beatings, and even though she had been removed from the violent situation, any fast movement would make her hunker down and cry. Luckily this sweet girl found a home quickly because Troy and I were seriously tempted to add her to our permanent family. ;)

Taz (Pekingese) 

Colonel (Terrier Mix)

Vigo (Schnauzer/Poodle)

Pilgrim (Chihuahua)

Trying to update my blog with Pilgrim snoozing on my arm. ;)

Here's looking forward to another great year filled with many fur-kids! 

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Our last stop on our Mexican cruise was Cabo. When I did this cruise about seven years ago, I remember Cabo being my favorite of the three stops so I was thrilled that we got not one, but two days to soak up the sun in Cabo.

Beautiful beaches. We followed the same itinerary as Puerto Vallarta. All we did is play on the beach all day!

Boat ride and snorkeling on day one.

Jet skiing, playing in the surf, and building sandcastles with the little ones on day two. It was definitely a relaxing vacation!

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

The week of Halloween the entire Madsen crew set sail on a Mexican cruise. Now Troy and I have done this same cruise before, but not together. Troy went on a Mexican getaway shortly after returning from his mission, while I picked this cruise as a celebration for my upcoming 19th birthday. I can't speak for Troy, but the first time around, I did a ton of sight seeing. I took cab tours around the outskirts of town, and used entire days trekking through town on foot. This go around I just wanted to relax. Troy and I spent all our time in Puerto Vallarta lounging on the beach and snorkeling.

Beach time!

The city from the ship

More travel posts tomorrow!

Birthday Girls!

Lucy                                      Desi

Our old pups just got a year older. The Corgs are now 14!

2011 Running Review

Yesterday's 5K will more than likely be my last race for 2011. The Utah racing scene is pretty sparse for the next few weeks, and with the upcoming holiday and all the time I've been spending on the slopes, it doesn't break my heart to hold off until the snowshoe races kick off in January. So how did I do in 2011? Here's the final tally:

three 5Ks
five 10Ks
seven half marathons
four full marathons

I absolutely loved every experience, even though some races were better than others, and plan to do all these same races again next year with the exception of the 4th of July Half and the SoJo Marathon. I do, however, plan to increase the number of races I complete next year, and push my limits with my first ultra marathon in April!

Girls On The Run 5K Results, Plus Some Good News

This morning I ran the Girls on the Run 5K, but before I get to the main event, let me give you a little background. Girls on the Run is a non-profit organization geared towards preteen girls. Their mission is to "develop self-respect and healthy lifestyles through running." I became involved as a running buddy for GOTR this summer. One of the local training sites just so happens to be the elementary school I worked at for the past two years so I was thrilled about the opportunity to still be involved with these students I love so much.

I was assigned as a running buddy for eight-year-old Hannah, a former student of mine. We did a few training runs over the past few weeks, and today was the big day. The race was held in Sugarhouse Park, which is pretty hilly, and today was quite icy. This didn't stop Hannah. She was going all out, just like she had done in our training runs, and tackled those hills without problem. We went just over two miles before she took her first walking break, and we crossed that finish in 42 minutes! It was such an amazing time, and I really can't wait to begin training again for the April race.

And on the topic of running, here's a little good news. This week I was offered the opportunity to be a race pacer for American Flyers. Woohoo! Free race entry? Yes please! My first pacing experience will be the St. George Half Marathon in January!

Winter Playlist

It's time to break out those Yaktrax, and get ready for some winter running!

Bulletproof - La Roux
Hook Me Up - The Veronicas
Like A G6 - Far East Movement
I Got It From My Mama - Will.i.am
Lollipop - Mika
We'll Be Alright - Travis McCoy
We No Speak Americano - Yolanda Be Cool
Sexy and I Know It - LMFAO
Please Don't Go - Mike Posner
How You Like Me Now - The Heavy

6 Down, 94 To Go

Our winter challenge has begun! This year Troy and I are going to log 100 days of skiing, and so far we're ahead of schedule. The resort has been open for seven days; I've skied six of those days. We'll be hitting those triple digits in no time!

Utah Open

First place in forms and second place in sparring. Not too shabby for my first tournament!

South Jordan Marathon Results

Four weeks after San Rafael I took on the South Jordan Marathon. I'm sure any reader of this blog already knows my dislike of running through towns, but for some reason I always think if I just try another route, another town, or another season I'll learn to love pounding pavement. I have this vision of being one of those runners who can easily transition from pavement to trail to snow, but atlas, the truth remains: I hate running through cities. I have a hard time judging distance as I'm winding around city blocks, and this is frustrating to me. So out of the four marathons I ran this year, this is the only course I don't plan to do again next year.

The one perk of this race is the aid stations. They had the most well stocked and best organized stations I've ever seen, but unfortunately that's not enough of a reason to tackle strong head winds, and less than scenic views of South Jordan again next year. I'm glad I gave this race a shot, but I'll be sticking to the canyons and trails from here on out.

Welcome, Fall!

The moose have been spending almost every day outside our back door. Fall is definitely here.

Dirty Dash 10K Results

Oh yes, it's that time of year again -- time for the Dirty Dash! I ran the inaugural Dirty Dash last year, and had so much fun, I dragged Jordan along with me this year for a sloppy 6.2 mile run. I didn't think it was possible to top last year's festivities, but with a handful of new obstacles and oodles of more mud, we had a ridiculously good time. After the race, Jordan was hooked. We promptly lined up a time to run it again the following weekend (it's a two weekend event in Utah).  I've created a monster. :) So in two year's time, I've now ran the Dirty Dash three times. I think that earns me pro status. :)

Little Grand Canyon Marathon Results

Fifth marathon completed! This Runner's World-featured course climbs a few hundred feet in the first two miles, and the rest of the marathon is a very gradual descent. So gradual, in fact, the last 24 miles fall just over 400 feet.  And the best part of all -- the entire course is held on the dirt paths through the San Rafael Swell.

One of the three water crossings. I love the unpredictability of trail running!

Pictographs at mile 24

Even with the flat course, mud, and tip-toeing over several cattle crossings, I finished the 26.2 miles in 5:10--good enough for first place in my age division! 

**Next full marathon in one month!**

**Mexico in five weeks!**

Swiss Days 10K

It has officially switched over to fall here in Utah, and today, with a little nip in the air, I ran the Swiss Days 10K. The extra early start time allowed me to catch one of my favorite sights -- the sun rising over the  gorgeous Park City mountains. The course was three miles of climbing, and three miles of downhill. I felt I was running slower than usual since I had left my handy dandy pacing watch at home, but I finished in 1:01.

**Next marathon in one week**

**Last 2011 marathon in one month**

**Mexico in two months**

Running For The Children 10K Results

This is my first time participating in the St. Jude's 10K. It's a pretty flat course -- 1.5 loops around Liberty Park, down and back on 600 east, and an extra half loop around the park to finish. I approached this run at a very comfortable pace. By the time we started, the temps were already creeping above 80 degrees, and I, being a cool-weather gal, don't like to run in temperatures above 70. I ended up finishing the 6.2 miles in 1:01 (9.5 min/mile).

**Two weeks until my next full marathon**

Goal List

In Progress:
*Continue to actively serve in my church. I've been working as the ward's librarian for the past eighteen months, and just this week was called as the teacher for the primary's valiant class.

*Travel outside of the continental USA every year. Troy and I are now on our fifth year of this goal. This year we will be going to Mexico in October!

*Read a new book every month. I implemented this goal almost two years ago, and have been diligent to complete the task since that time. I added a bookshelf widget to this blog to help keep track of what books I've read, but unlike my reading, I've been less diligent about keeping my widget updated. :)

*Take on a new hobby every year. I began training in martial arts earlier this year, and will begin fencing lessons in two weeks!

*Learn German. I've always loved German, and have frequently listened to German lessons while driving for the past few years. I feel I have a pretty good understanding of the basics, but would like to become more fluent. My formal German lessons begin in two weeks!

*Continue to support and serve with local organizations. Troy and I have been continuously fostering dogs for Friends Of Animals, as well as doing in-house volunteer work for them, for over two years. We are both also volunteering for the upcoming Sundance Film Festival.

*Continue investing X amount into my personal account.

*Continue my fitness goals of exercising at least one hour every day.

Short-Term Goals:
*Start sparring in boxing. I began boxing at the beginning of this year, and I absolutely love it. At least twice a week, I do either a bag workout or a controlled spar with the instructors, but next year I want to get in the ring, and actually take on an opponent.

*Run a sub two-hour half marathon. Any frequent reader of this blog knows I've been on quite the racing spree this year. Just in 2011 I've completed two 5Ks, one 10K, six half marathons, and two full marathons. My latest half marathon finish time was 2:01. I should be able to scratch this goal off my list very soon. :)

*Run an ultra marathon. My first 50K is scheduled for next April!

*Ski 100 days this winter. Troy and I are actually doing this goal together. I typically ski about 30 days each winter, but with the amazing opportunities I've recently been presented, I have the privilege to ski much more this year!


Long-Term Goals:
My "to do before 30" list. ;)

*Qualify and run the Boston Marathon

*Finish my black belt in my martial arts practice (will be completed by 2013)

Timpanogos Half Marathon Results

Last weekend I ran the Timpanogos Half Marathon. Since this is primarily a downhill course, I set out to beat my current downhill best of 2:05. Everything about this race was absolutely fabulous, and I finished in 2:01. My year's goal is within my reach!

**Next half marathon in 7 days**
**Next full marathon in 1 month**

Deseret News 10K Results

For my fourth 10K, I ran the Deseret News race. Last year I ran this same 10K and finished in 1:03 so my goal for this year's run was to finish sub 1:00. This is such a fun course that follows the 24th of July parade route. I met my goal-- finishing the course in 58 minutes. Woohoo!

Murdock Peak

Some pics from our eight-hour adventure up to Murdock Peak:

Almost to the peak!

On the top of Murdock. From there, we dropped down the other side of the mountain to Canyons Resort, and caught Mid-Mountain back to our house.

Beautiful views on top!

At just under 10,000 feet, Murdock Peak offers views of eight different resorts.

**Next half marathon in one week**

**Taekwondo belt test tomorrow**

5K9 Results

My second 5K this year was the Friends of Animals 5K9 run. I have always wanted to run this race, as FOA is an organization very dear to me, but the past two years Troy and I have managed to be out of town the weekend of the race. This year I was finally able to make it.

I approached the race as a leisurely run. We had just returned from almost two weeks of vacation so I wasn't planning on attempting to set a PR. I ran at an easy, comfortable pace, and stopped to chat with some FOA workers manning the aid station. Even with my super lax approach, I still finished in 28 minutes. Not too shabby for almost three full weeks of no running. :)

** Next full marathon in 6 weeks**
**Three months until Mexico!**

Range Creek, UT

Last year Troy got a gig as the medical director for the University of Utah's archeology group. Essentially he stocks their base camp medical supplies and ensures AirMed has the coordinates for potential landing spots in Range Creek. In return, we get to tag along on their archeology digs. During the summer, the U's team spends a total of 40 days in Range Creek (10 days in the canyon, 3 days out). We joined them this year for their third session. Because of the type of work we participated in, I can't publish most of my photos, but here a few pics of our ten-day camping trip.

Locomotive Rock

Out on one of our many 7 hour hikes

A view of the camp from afar

Beautiful views everywhere!

What we called home for 10 days

It was an amazing time spent studying pictographs, excavating granaries, and screening dirt for artifacts. I'm already excited to go back next year!

Freedom Half Marathon Results

I was feeling so good about my American Fork Half Marathon PR, I decided to sign up for the SLC Freedom Half Marathon the following Saturday. This is a primarily uphill course so I set out to beat my previous uphill half marathon time of 2:27.

The course started just above Hogle Zoo, and cut across to Research Park at the University of Utah. We climbed the streets of Research Park to just behind University Hospital, and then the single track Bonneville Shoreline Trail carried us up and over the mountain directly behind the U. Our last three miles were a gradually downhill to our finish line at the state capitol.

Course wise, this was most my difficult half marathon to date. And running it on the 4th of July, when the Salt Lake temperatures are in the mid 90s, didn't help with the hills. I enjoyed the challenge, but my one complaint would be the aid stations. The race only offered water at each station, which is fine with me since I don't take Gu or drink Gatorade, but the station at mile 8, right as we were heading onto the trail to tackle our steepest climb, ran out of water. I think if you're only offering one provision to runners, you should have plenty of it. :) I did end up beating my previous uphill half marathon with a finish of 2:26.

Eight Already?

Where does the time go? My oldest nephew, Austin, will soon be getting his driver's license, Cameron is half way through junior high, and the youngest, Mackensie, was baptized this past weekend. I can't believe how big everyone is getting! I was so happy my sister and brother-in-law were able to arrange for her baptism to be held in Price instead of Great Falls, Montana, so both families could share in her special day.