Ogden Half Marathon

We Gardner's like to see how many things we can squeeze in one month and May seems to be the big one every year.

I did the Ogden Half Marathon this year and it did not disappoint. However the weather did, it started to rain the night before and I went into a panic. I have never intentionally ran in the rain and I believed if I prayed hard enough I could will it away.........Uh ya.....NO I didn't.

This was a run I will never forget, it taught me so many things. For those that run you know that a run can be the best therapy session ever, and boy did I get my money's worth. On any run longer than an hour I am amazed at the emotional roller coaster your mind can take, I was in awe of the beauty one minute and in desperation the next to just crawl under a tree away from the constant rain drops that felt like Chinese water torture to me, ok a little dramatic but you get the point. I was bummed I didn't get any pictures but "Only in Ogden" did and I am sharing (photo credit to them)

YES that's me in the trash bag :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was one of the prettiest race courses, and as much as I hated being wet the rain and clouds made the views amazing.

 

 

My amazing and inspiring race buddy, I have loved all of our adventures.

 

 

What I learned-

I can do hard things

My mind is a powerful thing

Being wet is not the end of the world

Stop... and take it all in

Having soaked feet and socks wasn't the end of the world

There is only one way through things

I am stronger than I think

Keep running!

 

 

 

 

May Update #2

Kyndall had an amazing track season this year, when she started track as a freshman and decided to hurdle I secretly hoped she would do something else. Torrie had hurdled in track and done very well at it, but its so nerve racking to watch, I always say "cant they just run and not jump over things".

In the beginning I saw this insecure little girl who never thought she would be in the same league as others just come alive. With every track meet she did better and better and PR'd almost every time, she started to pass others, and there was a spark in her before we knew it she was at the region track meet taking 2nd in Region 9 and qualifying for State not only by region place but by time, she ran a 16.70 Then on to the State Meet where she finished with a HUGE personal record of 16.20.

Side Story: Brad is very superstitious when it comes to sports I wont even tell you the rituals he or the other coaches have had with football, I do believe a whole season was passed in the same socks and I am pretty sure that involved not washing them :) So I missed Kyndall race when she took 2nd at Desert Hills in April, I made sure to be more aware and on time the next track meet and she didn't do well at all you might see where this is going! She requested that I not watch she did better with me not there, so you got it I didn't watch a single (Hurdle) race after that I was conveniently late the rest of them (I did watch the 300 hurdles, and some relays I am not that bad of a mom lol.)  Brads words to me as we drove to Cedar for region "you mean to tell me we drove to Cedar to NOT watch her run!" So I dropped him off  saying "DONT let her see you!" and circled the parking lot until I knew it was over then she would call and say "I DID it , you weren't here were you?" I played along with this, because what wouldn't we do for our kids right? until State and then told her this ritual is over! I will not miss your Senior Year of track.

 

This is the first one I missed Desert Hills 2nd place overall

 

 

Kyndall at State Track Meet. (far left) She went into meet ranked in 11th by time and placed 9th in the semi finals to go onto finals were she placed 6th overall in 3A.

 

Photo by : Alex Santiago (I am amazed by his work!)

 

That confident, TALL, girl proved to herself that if you believe, put in the work and dedication anything is possible!

 

I just cant get over this one, that smile :) Far right. It was just the cherry on top to end up on the podium. She earned every bit of that SO proud of you girl.

 

 

 

May Update #1

What you can you accomplish with Hard Work, Dedication, and a little Believing in yourself?
Answer: A LOT!

 

This cute girl had worked with Dr Davis in St George as an Oral Surgeon Assistant for a year, she decided she wanted to get out of Southern Utah to spread her wings a bit. Having such a good job and Boss this made her decision somewhat of a hard one, but when she did decide and put her mind to it she moved up to Provo in March and found herself a job with a dentist in Highland and is doing so well! She got a great raise in just about 8 weeks of starting. I miss her like crazy but with all our activities it seems we are actually seeing her about 2 -3 times a month.  She knew exactly what she wanted to do out of High School, she made a plan and did it we are so proud of her.

 

She came back for a visit and Dr. Davis did a procedure on her jaw, according to him "She has the jaw of an 80 year old!" (good thing she has an "in" now that can help her :) Everyone in the office was so excited to see her, Dr. Davis told me “She doesn’t even need to call, she can come back whenever, just have her show up one morning in scrubs!” they have even kept her picture up on the wall. It’s nice to know she was so loved and cared for in that job.

 

Brad did the St George Ironman 70.3 (1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 run) on May 4^th. His hope was to better his half split from the full last year which would have been roughly 7 hours 38 minutes. He crushed that with a time of 6 hours 12 minutes! He put so much time into training it was so fun to watch him do so well that day. Next up another full in December!

 

The lake conditions were perfect this year!

 

 

                                                      

                   A little nervous going into the water, hoping it wouldn't be a repeat of last year.

 

 

 

He was so fast on the bike I almost missed him a 2:58 for 56 (VERY hilly miles) 19.50 mph

 

 

Only 13.1 miles left. It was a warm day pushing 90 degrees he started running right around noon.

 

The official time was 6:12 they did a wave start which made the finish line clock off.