What do you call a fake noodle?

An impasta…

So I have been thinking about this a lot lately, I have been running, trying to be a runner for almost 7 years now. I have countless 5k’s about 12 10k’s 2 half marathon’s one full marathon and 3 relays under my belt in this time. Let me state some other facts, I AM NOT fast, I do take walk breaks, I am not having the time of my life about 40% of the time I am running, I have very serious conversations with myself like “Why are you doing this?”

But for some reason when I am done I ALWAYS am grateful I went and feel like a runner I love what it does for me physically and it truly is my Prozac. I see “real” runners as I call them, and wish for talent, Brad is a natural athlete he can just run and run yet he dislikes it, it’s just not fair I have the desire he has the talent!

Another point of interest/frustration of why I feel like this. I live in the mecca of ultra athletes, triathletes, cyclits, Fast runners! If I could keep up I would have endless groups and venues to enjoy the social part of training, yet I have just a couple of training parnters that I feel comfortable with based on our paces. ps always recruiting!

Let me just clarify I am ok with being "that slow girl" as the saying goes "No matter how slow you go you are still lapping everybody on the couch" .......ok maybe that's a lie I have resigned myself to that, I will always hope for more "natural talent"

So because I cannot maintain anything under a 10 to 11 minute mile, because I often have to take a walk break can I really say I am a runner? Am I a jogger? Or am I an imposter?

Team Hallelujah!

Our next adventure will be Wasatch Back Ragnar Relay, I am SO excited and so is Brad (lol not really but he is being a good sport). When I announced to him he would be joining me on a 12 man relay team to run 200 miles (his legs are about 20 miles of that) just 6 weeks after Ironman and knowing that running is his least favorite I knew this might not go over well, he actually agreed. Its probably the only athletic event we will do together because he is way to fast for me to run with. I am excited to have my husband experience this with me this will be my third Ragnar.

Its like a 24 or in our case probably 30 hour party, sleep exhaustion sets in, the smell in the van starts to change, every muscle in your body hurts and your not sure how youll be able to run your third leg on no sleep and not much food but its pure adrenaline that gets you through. And the thought that your team of 12 runners just ran up and over some of the toughest, yet beautiful mountain ranges from Logan to Park City is amazing, its not for time it is to say "I DID IT!" Well and its for the car sticker, and temporary tattoos!

My Blog is Ugly!

If my blog was a living room it would look like this Ok I am a blog addict! I love reading people’s blogs, friends, family, even strangers. I learn so much from other people, I get inspired by the stories I read some of triumph and some from tragedy. They have cute little gadgets and fun things on them. However I feel like an inadequate blogger mostly because mine is, well just not very pretty! And as computer savvy as I think I am (key word THINK) I cannot for the life of me figure out how to make it cute. So please enjoy my words and not judge my decorating lol. And if you have any advice/help feel free to comment and guide me to a visually pleasing blog page. PS the girls at the top can stay I think they are pretty dang cute :)

Iron Brad!

May was such a blur that June showed up and I was a little confused of where the month had gone.

We started it off with Ironman which I was going to do a full entry on however I feel like everyone is Ironman’d out and has seen or heard about it on facebook, also every time I sat down to write the post I struggled to put the 17 hours of that day into words that would do it justice.

I will say Brad and I have been taken aback with how many people watched followed and supported him. We dont go many places lately that somebody doesnt stop him and say "hey you just did that Ironman didnt you" Its truely amazing how you can inpire someone with an event, with putting your heart and energy into acomplishing something most wouldnt even dream of attempting. I think if it sends any kind of message it should say "We CAN do hard things!" You have more inside of you than you believe you do, and Brad proved that, that day. Here is a few of my favorite pictures of the day.

And don’t you worry he isn’t over this little phase yet he signed up for St George Ironman 70.3 next May 4th, and has his sights set on Coeur de’Alene full Ironman just 8 weeks after that!

The little things.....

Between Ironman training, work, football, marathon training, volleyball, track, dental assisting school, I could go on and on..... We sometimes have failed to STOP and just enjoy each other as a family and to get out and enjoy the amazing place we live in. My girls aren’t getting any younger! And I want to soak up every moment with them I can.

Last week I went on my Annual Mothers Day Weekend girls overnighter to Fredonia with Mindy and Traci which included running the Kanab 10k. I absolutely cherish this time I get to spend with my “sole sisters” we stay up late eat a lot of chips and salsa; we laugh and cry talk about our dreams and our fears, it literally feeds my soul for months to come .

Any way while I was away Brad (his first weekend post Ironman) took the girls up to the mountains to go mountain biking, it warmed my heart that they were spending a day with their dad, their hero, laughing and having fun just spending time together.

"ITS ALOT OF LITTLE THINGS THAT MAKE UP THE BIG THINGS IN LIFE"

These days together with the ones we cherish and love are small but really SO BIG!!

Torrie :)

So proud of my Torrie! She is starting a new job tomorrow as a dental assistant for an Oral Surgeon in St George. Becuase I know she doesnt read my blog Ill share the story :) She finished up her Dental Assistant school back around the Holidays and has been looking for a job while working at a Girls home for troubled youth, A friend from the program called and told her that the dentist she worked for was hiring so Torrie went in with her resume. The dentist liked her enough to ask if she would stay and shadow for a while so she did, he was preforming a tooth extraction on a patient and Torrie watched as the room started to spin and she became warm the next thing she new was she was waking up after being catched by the dentist. She had FAINTED! After she had collected herself and they made sure she was ok, she went into his office to wrap up the interview fully expecting him to say something like " I am sorry , this probably isnt for you" instead he just kept saying how much he liked her and how he never hires on the same day most of the time they do working interviews for weeks at a time BUT "I just really like you and want to hire you"! Torrie said " Um after I just fainted?" He wasnt worried about that and she got the job! She assured us it wasnt the blood that caused her to faint, she was so nervous and had not eaten all day. This is an amazing first time job and opportunity for her.

Where did the year go!?

I have been seduced by facebook, pinterest,and now twitter! They are just easy fast and instantly gratifying when you want to socialize. But I have always had my blog in the back of my head, sad that I have abandoned the updates, so I will do my token yearly entry this time making no promises to when ill be back. Life is SO busy that I often find myself hoping it will slow down a bit, then instantly regretting that feeling knowing that all to soon the girls will be gone and we will be looking for things to keep us busy (well probably not, ill update on our new adventures soon.)

Its been about....

Running: yes we finished our 11 in 2011! #7 being the St George Marathon!



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Football: State Champs baby!!

Volleyball: Amazing year for kyndall who got great varsity time




Track: Torrie had an amazing senior year running hurdles! and Cheering on the Tigers.






And for whats to come, Brad will compete in the St George Ford Ironman on May 5th 2012. We will be updating our facebook and twitter accounts for anyone who wants to follow him. Twitter @coachbradgard.



ok I said I wouldnt promise updates BUT keep checking in as I will update on Ironman! and some other things other than running, football, volleyball, and track :)