Running For Relief 5K Results

This is the third year I've ran the Relief 5K. The course is slower given that runners must stick to the shoulder of the road. Also, at the beginning of the race the course takes a quick lap around the block. Trying to pass the walkers/strollers/etc. while confined to the shoulder killed my splits, and I ended up averaging slightly faster than a 10 min/mile on mile one. I couldn't recover all my lost time from my slow first mile, but I was quite pleased with my pace for miles two and three. According to the stats from my Garmin, I ran the second mile just over an 8 min/mile, and the bulk of my third mile was sub-8 minutes! I ended up finishing in 27:20 (8:40 min/mile average).

**SLC Marathon tomorrow**
**Florida in 5 days**

Day 100

Our backyard has a new name

I can finally scratch "ski 100 days in one season" off my goal list.

Last Friday I finished my winter challenge, and honestly, I'm more than ready to hang up the boots for a few months. As much as I love to ski, this has easily been the mildest winter I've experienced in my 26 years as a Utah resident. I spent a bulk of the season skiing groomers (boo!), and there were some days I was skiing more dirt than snow. But hey, it's nice just to be outside every day, right?

On my last day, I came home to find the pictured sign hanging above our back door. Our house sits against the mountain, and after this season, Troy saw it fitting to give me my own run. He even wrote me an "official" congratulatory note from Canyons. :)

Troy didn't do too shabby either. He originally aimed for 100 days too, but around 40, when the snow just wasn't falling, he called it quits. He did log an impressive 75 days though!

Well now that the winter challenge is in the books, it's time to set my sights on my summer challenge: racing. My first marathon of the year is in four days!

Utah State Taekwondo Championships

After finishing my 13 mile run, I scurried over to Saratoga Springs for the Utah State Taekwondo Championships. Last year, at the Utah Open, I competed in individual forms and sparring, and ended up walking away with a first and second place finish. I was quite pleased I placed in both categories, but I knew that was nothing compared to the championships. Utah State had competitors from all over Utah, Idaho, and California, and it is a national qualifying event. Just to give you an idea of the magnitude of this event -- for sparring there were three matching running at all times. Each match is two minutes long, and sparring still took over four hours to complete!

To add to my stress, I wasn't even positive I was going to make my first two divisions. The half marathon started at 9:00, and since I was pacing the 2:30, I had to ensure a finish with two minutes of 11:30. My first Taekwondo division started at 11:00. Eek! But it all worked out in the end. Even though I came hustling through the doors close to noon, I still made it in time to compete in all three of my divisions.

So now that you've heard more than enough back story, time for the results! In individual forms I missed the first place position by a fraction of a point (boo!), and placed second. In group forms, two of my fellow U of U teammates and I took home a first place win, and in sparring I took first! Woohoo! All around it was a successful event. I feel silly admitting I was bummed about my one second place finish, but I'm sure it's safe to say none of the other competitors ran a half marathon beforehand. I don't plan on attending nationals this year, but it's fun to know I could if I wanted to. :)

**SLC Marathon in two weeks**
**Florida in three weeks**
**Chicago in five weeks**

Riverton Half Marathon Results

The Riverton Half was my second pacing experience for 2012. I've done a handful of races in the Riverton area (Saratoga Springs half, SoJo Marathon, etc.), and there's one thing they all have in common: wind. This area of Utah is always windy, but the day of Riverton took it to a whole new level. The day was beautiful -- record-breaking temperatures in the 80s, but the wind was clocking speeds of 60 miles an hour! It was one of those runs where no matter which direction you were facing, you had a head wind.

Course wise, Riverton is pretty similar to St. George. The bulk of the 13 miles is flat with a few good climbs. I chose to pace one of the last groups for this race, and we ended up getting everyone in with six seconds to spare! But this was just the start to my Saturday. Come back later for the details of the Utah State Taekwondo Championships.

Day 90

Logging day 87 at Deer Valley

The end is so close! Yesterday I finished my 90th day of skiing this year. At the pace I'm going, I should hit day 100 by next Thursday. Woohoo!

Foster Care: Year 3, Months 1-3

I can't believe Troy and I are now in our third year as foster parents for Friends Of Animals! We just wrapped up our third month for this year so I figured this was as good a time as any to start my updates. 

Otis (Pug/Beagle)

Albert (Australian Shepherd)

Trigger (Border Collie)

Watson (Havanese mix)

All these pups have been the sweetest little angels, and we're thrilled they have all been placed in forever homes. One of my goals for the year was not only to continue fostering, but to spend one day every week volunteering in house for Friends Of Animals. I'm proud to say I've been right on track with this goal. I've lined it up that every Sunday after church, I spend a few hours walking dogs, cleaning kennels/cat houses, and doing laundry for Friends Of Animals. This has been such an enjoyable and rewarding experience. And the best news of all: after four years of marriage, Troy finally has a regular schedule (YAY!) so now he too is volunteering. 

Las Vegas, Nevada

Hoover Dam

Our first trip of the year was a five-day stint in Las Vegas. While there, we took a day trip out to Hoover Dam, caught a showing of "Love" performed by Cirque Du Soleil, and of course I spent too much time shopping. :) It was a great to start to what's sure to be an amazing year for travel. 

**First marathon of the year in two weeks**

**Florida in 3 weeks**

**Chicago in 5 weeks**