I don't know how it got to be Conference weekend again, but it is now past and with it the St. George Marathon!
I love to run. I love to be outside and see the beauty in an up close personal way. When you drive the St. George marathon course, it is always overwhelming to me how far it truly is. To get on the bus, and spend the 35-40 minutes it takes to get to the start line and then realize that I have to take enough steps to get all the way back to where we began is overwhelming, but step by step I really try to enjoy that I get to do just that! This year was no exception. Life has been so fast paced that we have not trained for the marathon. We have done other great things, but we haven't been running! Broken necks, weddings, missionaries home, Lotoja (a bike event), Salt to Saint (another bike event) have all been great times together, learning, growing, laughing and working side by side. But, they haven't trained my leg muscles to run 26.2 miles! So two weeks prior to the marathon when I knew it was the drop dead date to get my sponsor forms turned in, I asked Brad if he was going to run with me. He declined and said he didn't think that would be wise. I didn't have the same feeling. I said with Chandler, "Sure, bring it on." So we signed up for another marathon, this one my 10th St. George Marathon.
I didn't hope to be fast, or to set to set a personal record (PR) I just wanted to finish once again that great feat of doing something hard. I told myself I was just going for a supported run in the morning while listening to the Prophets and Apostles of the Lord. I am grateful this year for a phone with mobile data so I could listen to General Conference via the Mormon Channel app on my phone. My phone battery has been struggling to hold a charge, so I knew I had to save all the battery I could to use for listening when it got to be 10:00 and Conference time.
Chandler and I were up until about midnight preparing. He went to bed, and I desired to have a banana and clean up my house to leave it in better shape for my kids and husband to enjoy conference in the morning while I ran. So I stayed up and even went to Walmart to get some bananas and yogurt and groceries for the next day. I didn't end up going to bed until about 2:00 that morning. And that was when Stephen came to find me and wanted a hug. I climbed in to snuggle him and hug him back to sleep. I am such a blessed Mom! Then at 3:30 Sophia came to join us for a hug too. At 4:00 my alarm went off to get dressed and be ready to leave at 4:45. I woke Chandler and we made our final preparations and left to get on that bus.
I am so blessed! Right now in my world Stephen and Sophia each like to be hugged as it is time to go to bed. I climb in next to them, and we say prayers and listen to primary music as we fall to sleep. I can often get Stephen to sleep, and then go to Sophia's bed to find her still awake, waiting for a hug too. Sometimes, she is already asleep, but usually I can get to both of them before she nods off to sleep. I love to get to cuddle them as they drift off. I love to hear their prayers to our Heavenly Father as they express gratitude for the many blessings we enjoy together. I am so blessed! Often sometime in the middle of the night they realize that I am not laying beside them, and they come to find me for hugs again. Brad and I have some foam pads under our bed that we try to encourage them to find a bed on the floor beside us, but we often give in and hoist them up onto our princess bed to join us there for a hug. That morning, they were both there hugging and enjoying the comfort and peace of a Dad who loves them and honors and protects them with the Priesthood Power he has been given by God. I am so grateful for that protection too. I love sharing those special moments of time together!
So Saturday morning, Chandler and I departed to go board the bus to drive that long way up to Central to the starting line. I bid Chandler farewell as he lined up with those running a 3:30 time, and I found my way back in the line to the 4:45 time slot. I knew that was ambitious, but hoped to finish by 5:00 hour mark.
It was a beautiful morning. Seriously, the temperature at the start line was not terrible freezing. We were wrapped in our trash bags, and I kept my warm clothes until the 3 mile mark so it wasn't clear to the top of the Veyo hill. Then the sun started coming up, and the sunrise was beautiful! As we climbed into Dammeron Valley, the sun was just cresting over the hill, and I tried to enjoy the fact that I was taking these precious steps one at a time. I really was covering this distance with my own two feet! One year I drove Brad and the kids to the starting line in preparation for a marathon training bike ride, and I had to pick them up in that valley because it was snowing so hard on them the last week of September they were frozen! This year we still have very warm temperatures - in fact Saturday it was in the 90's by mid afternoon. It wasn't unbearable hot, we had perfect cloud cover for much of the morning, another special tender mercy for those of us out there running!
At mile 14 1/2 at the top of the cinder cone outside of Diamond Valley there was a group of runners just ahead of me, and one of them fell. She didn't get her hands out to catch her, she dove into that asphalt and hurt her mouth severely. Her husband was one in the group with her, and he immediately jumped into to caring for her as she had blood and panic. The others in the group all paniced as what to do, but there was a kind person running right beside me from Cache Valley who said, "Does anyone have a phone? I know a number to call and get help." I whipped my phone out and she dialed a number. No answer. She tried again. Answer - she relayed that we needed help and our approximate location. They hung up and we tried to help the lady. She needed stitches on her mouth, had broken and damaged a couple of teeth on the right side of her mouth. She was bleeding and still laying flat on the ground. We helped her sit up so she wasn't gagging in the blood in her mouth. My phone rang, and they asked for help with our exact location. I answered as that lady had continued her run. Shortly after there was another call from another number asking again. Then a car arrived so I began my descent into the Snow Canyon area. Then my phone rang again and then again. Then an ambulance passed on their way to help her.
By this point I had lost the 4:45 group but was ahead still of the 5:00 balloon - a Cliff Shot Runner carries a balloon with that time marked and they run on a schedule as a timer to the runners on the course so they can pace themselves to finish at their desired time. After helping this lady, I couldn't see the 5:00 balloons any more. It was discouraging to me, but I had done a good turn, and now just needed to finish my race. I was more than half way, but man it is still a long way! Many people around me at that point were walking instead of running at this point, and it was difficult to keep going. I had a problem with my left shoe and stopped a few times over the next several miles to fix that. And it was now 10:00 and time to start my conference stream which meant I had to walk and get that hooked up and streaming. I tried to focus on enjoying a morning outside with the words of Prophets. I was grateful for President Uchtdorf's message of Simplify and Keep trying.... God will make weak things become strong!" I felt his message was just for me, encouraging me to keep going.
After the accident of that lady, there was a team of two running about my same pace. They were both wearing a bright orange shirt, and one had a reflective penny on that read "Blind Runner." They were linked together by a strap that was velcroed to one of their arms, and the other held a little handle that was sewn in the end. The strap was only about 18" long so they were close to each other as they ran. I watched them for the next 10 miles. They would work together so much so that I couldn't tell which one was the blind one. They would both look in the direction of each other when talking. They seemed to take water and food from the people without hesitation so I don't think she was really completely blind. She must have been able to see images near her. All the while, these two worked together. Walking when one needed a break, talking and working together.
Just last week I had opportunity to quietly serve in creating vinyl lettering for the sisters in our ward to put up in their homes that read "Thee Lift Me and I'll Lift Thee, and We'll Ascend Together." I was asked by Sister Stuart to help her by preparing these. At first I was certain that she didn't understand what she was asking of me with all those words times the 40+ that would be needed for the sisters in our ward. I told her I would do only three words, and she picked "We'll Ascend Together." To me that feels like Ascending happens without any effort on our part. I don't believe that is true. I tried to sway her to "Let's Ascend Together" but she was persistant that she wanted the other. We were out of town for the weekend, and not returning until Saturday evening from the Salt to Saint Relay (bike ride) so I couldn't work on them until after Women's Conference was over (at which we took our photo booth). So after we got that all cleaned up, I returned home to start this other project that I felt was going to be a big job. I am grateful for the renewing power of our Savior who helped me through that night accomplish that goal, and in the end, because I didn't love the word she was choosing, I did the entire saying for her. I felt it shows that we have to lift and help each other, and not that it just happens. So after many hours of working through the night, by 8:00 a.m. I had 40 of those done for her. Miracles! I am grateful for the tender mercies of the Lord who helps us when we ask for His help!
I asked for His help along that marathon route as well! As I watched those two work together, I was grateful for the music and spoken word in my ear from General Conference encouraging me along that roadway. I know that it took the help of angels to get me there, but I did it! :) At the finish line I got to visit with that team and share the beauty of their loyalty and helpful attitude towards each other. Here is a photo of them.
This cute Chandler set his goal time at 3:45 and he did just that! He is so talented and gifted to accomplish the things he wants to! He got the pace band for that time, and said he just set his pace at that, and didn't change it. I wish I could do that. This marathon for me will be remembered for the lady that was severely hurt. I consider it no small miracle that that other lady who is married to a brother of a gentleman over the emergency staffing for the marathon! She called her husband from my phone, and the other calls were the emergency people actually calling to get more details. It would have been easy to climb into one of those vans and be taken to the finish line. I didn't. I carried myself every step of that course! 26.2 miles is a lot of steps! Good Job Chandler!
I love to run. I love to be outside and see the beauty in an up close personal way. When you drive the St. George marathon course, it is always overwhelming to me how far it truly is. To get on the bus, and spend the 35-40 minutes it takes to get to the start line and then realize that I have to take enough steps to get all the way back to where we began is overwhelming, but step by step I really try to enjoy that I get to do just that! This year was no exception. Life has been so fast paced that we have not trained for the marathon. We have done other great things, but we haven't been running! Broken necks, weddings, missionaries home, Lotoja (a bike event), Salt to Saint (another bike event) have all been great times together, learning, growing, laughing and working side by side. But, they haven't trained my leg muscles to run 26.2 miles! So two weeks prior to the marathon when I knew it was the drop dead date to get my sponsor forms turned in, I asked Brad if he was going to run with me. He declined and said he didn't think that would be wise. I didn't have the same feeling. I said with Chandler, "Sure, bring it on." So we signed up for another marathon, this one my 10th St. George Marathon.
I didn't hope to be fast, or to set to set a personal record (PR) I just wanted to finish once again that great feat of doing something hard. I told myself I was just going for a supported run in the morning while listening to the Prophets and Apostles of the Lord. I am grateful this year for a phone with mobile data so I could listen to General Conference via the Mormon Channel app on my phone. My phone battery has been struggling to hold a charge, so I knew I had to save all the battery I could to use for listening when it got to be 10:00 and Conference time.
Chandler and I were up until about midnight preparing. He went to bed, and I desired to have a banana and clean up my house to leave it in better shape for my kids and husband to enjoy conference in the morning while I ran. So I stayed up and even went to Walmart to get some bananas and yogurt and groceries for the next day. I didn't end up going to bed until about 2:00 that morning. And that was when Stephen came to find me and wanted a hug. I climbed in to snuggle him and hug him back to sleep. I am such a blessed Mom! Then at 3:30 Sophia came to join us for a hug too. At 4:00 my alarm went off to get dressed and be ready to leave at 4:45. I woke Chandler and we made our final preparations and left to get on that bus.
I am so blessed! Right now in my world Stephen and Sophia each like to be hugged as it is time to go to bed. I climb in next to them, and we say prayers and listen to primary music as we fall to sleep. I can often get Stephen to sleep, and then go to Sophia's bed to find her still awake, waiting for a hug too. Sometimes, she is already asleep, but usually I can get to both of them before she nods off to sleep. I love to get to cuddle them as they drift off. I love to hear their prayers to our Heavenly Father as they express gratitude for the many blessings we enjoy together. I am so blessed! Often sometime in the middle of the night they realize that I am not laying beside them, and they come to find me for hugs again. Brad and I have some foam pads under our bed that we try to encourage them to find a bed on the floor beside us, but we often give in and hoist them up onto our princess bed to join us there for a hug. That morning, they were both there hugging and enjoying the comfort and peace of a Dad who loves them and honors and protects them with the Priesthood Power he has been given by God. I am so grateful for that protection too. I love sharing those special moments of time together!
So Saturday morning, Chandler and I departed to go board the bus to drive that long way up to Central to the starting line. I bid Chandler farewell as he lined up with those running a 3:30 time, and I found my way back in the line to the 4:45 time slot. I knew that was ambitious, but hoped to finish by 5:00 hour mark.
It was a beautiful morning. Seriously, the temperature at the start line was not terrible freezing. We were wrapped in our trash bags, and I kept my warm clothes until the 3 mile mark so it wasn't clear to the top of the Veyo hill. Then the sun started coming up, and the sunrise was beautiful! As we climbed into Dammeron Valley, the sun was just cresting over the hill, and I tried to enjoy the fact that I was taking these precious steps one at a time. I really was covering this distance with my own two feet! One year I drove Brad and the kids to the starting line in preparation for a marathon training bike ride, and I had to pick them up in that valley because it was snowing so hard on them the last week of September they were frozen! This year we still have very warm temperatures - in fact Saturday it was in the 90's by mid afternoon. It wasn't unbearable hot, we had perfect cloud cover for much of the morning, another special tender mercy for those of us out there running!
At mile 14 1/2 at the top of the cinder cone outside of Diamond Valley there was a group of runners just ahead of me, and one of them fell. She didn't get her hands out to catch her, she dove into that asphalt and hurt her mouth severely. Her husband was one in the group with her, and he immediately jumped into to caring for her as she had blood and panic. The others in the group all paniced as what to do, but there was a kind person running right beside me from Cache Valley who said, "Does anyone have a phone? I know a number to call and get help." I whipped my phone out and she dialed a number. No answer. She tried again. Answer - she relayed that we needed help and our approximate location. They hung up and we tried to help the lady. She needed stitches on her mouth, had broken and damaged a couple of teeth on the right side of her mouth. She was bleeding and still laying flat on the ground. We helped her sit up so she wasn't gagging in the blood in her mouth. My phone rang, and they asked for help with our exact location. I answered as that lady had continued her run. Shortly after there was another call from another number asking again. Then a car arrived so I began my descent into the Snow Canyon area. Then my phone rang again and then again. Then an ambulance passed on their way to help her.
By this point I had lost the 4:45 group but was ahead still of the 5:00 balloon - a Cliff Shot Runner carries a balloon with that time marked and they run on a schedule as a timer to the runners on the course so they can pace themselves to finish at their desired time. After helping this lady, I couldn't see the 5:00 balloons any more. It was discouraging to me, but I had done a good turn, and now just needed to finish my race. I was more than half way, but man it is still a long way! Many people around me at that point were walking instead of running at this point, and it was difficult to keep going. I had a problem with my left shoe and stopped a few times over the next several miles to fix that. And it was now 10:00 and time to start my conference stream which meant I had to walk and get that hooked up and streaming. I tried to focus on enjoying a morning outside with the words of Prophets. I was grateful for President Uchtdorf's message of Simplify and Keep trying.... God will make weak things become strong!" I felt his message was just for me, encouraging me to keep going.
After the accident of that lady, there was a team of two running about my same pace. They were both wearing a bright orange shirt, and one had a reflective penny on that read "Blind Runner." They were linked together by a strap that was velcroed to one of their arms, and the other held a little handle that was sewn in the end. The strap was only about 18" long so they were close to each other as they ran. I watched them for the next 10 miles. They would work together so much so that I couldn't tell which one was the blind one. They would both look in the direction of each other when talking. They seemed to take water and food from the people without hesitation so I don't think she was really completely blind. She must have been able to see images near her. All the while, these two worked together. Walking when one needed a break, talking and working together.
Just last week I had opportunity to quietly serve in creating vinyl lettering for the sisters in our ward to put up in their homes that read "Thee Lift Me and I'll Lift Thee, and We'll Ascend Together." I was asked by Sister Stuart to help her by preparing these. At first I was certain that she didn't understand what she was asking of me with all those words times the 40+ that would be needed for the sisters in our ward. I told her I would do only three words, and she picked "We'll Ascend Together." To me that feels like Ascending happens without any effort on our part. I don't believe that is true. I tried to sway her to "Let's Ascend Together" but she was persistant that she wanted the other. We were out of town for the weekend, and not returning until Saturday evening from the Salt to Saint Relay (bike ride) so I couldn't work on them until after Women's Conference was over (at which we took our photo booth). So after we got that all cleaned up, I returned home to start this other project that I felt was going to be a big job. I am grateful for the renewing power of our Savior who helped me through that night accomplish that goal, and in the end, because I didn't love the word she was choosing, I did the entire saying for her. I felt it shows that we have to lift and help each other, and not that it just happens. So after many hours of working through the night, by 8:00 a.m. I had 40 of those done for her. Miracles! I am grateful for the tender mercies of the Lord who helps us when we ask for His help!
I asked for His help along that marathon route as well! As I watched those two work together, I was grateful for the music and spoken word in my ear from General Conference encouraging me along that roadway. I know that it took the help of angels to get me there, but I did it! :) At the finish line I got to visit with that team and share the beauty of their loyalty and helpful attitude towards each other. Here is a photo of them.
This cute Chandler set his goal time at 3:45 and he did just that! He is so talented and gifted to accomplish the things he wants to! He got the pace band for that time, and said he just set his pace at that, and didn't change it. I wish I could do that. This marathon for me will be remembered for the lady that was severely hurt. I consider it no small miracle that that other lady who is married to a brother of a gentleman over the emergency staffing for the marathon! She called her husband from my phone, and the other calls were the emergency people actually calling to get more details. It would have been easy to climb into one of those vans and be taken to the finish line. I didn't. I carried myself every step of that course! 26.2 miles is a lot of steps! Good Job Chandler!