Ogden Half

The main purpose of my trip to Utah earlier this month was to run the Ogden half marathon.  Both of my sisters have completed this race along with my mom.  It was now my turn.

Race day weather could not have been more perfect.  And the scenery is unmatched; amazing!  We ran along Pineview Reservoir (we call it a 'dam') and down Ogden Canyon.  That canyon is amazing.  It is narrow and full of twists and turns.  The road hugs the river all the way through and you can hear the power of the water bounce off the sides rocky canyon walls.  The waterfall at the mouth of canyon is the last hurrah as you enter the valley.  It's incredible; and it made me miss home very much.

I ran in to lots of friends at the beginning of the race and along the way (thanks for letting me tag along Kenj and Ash).  It was fun to see familiar faces.

And let's not forget Nancy.  My mom is a rockstar.  She beat her goal by four minutes.  This is her 4th half marathon.  And she wears a message she believes in.  Go mom!  I am so proud of you!

In the end, I finished 16 minutes faster than my first race and was pleased with my overall time.  Maybe next time, assuming I don't have to make THREE bathroom stops, I'll beat the two-hour mark.

Adjusted

Growing up, when I copped an attitude, my father would inform me that I needed an attitude adjustment.
Well, I've channeled his suggestion over the last 24 hours and...

attitude adjusted.

New, more positive posts coming soon.

They Say It's a Virtue

{via Martha}

It started last night.  W went to bed and I treated myself to a bowl of air popped popcorn with real butter and salt.  I inherited my love of this treat from my mom.  So good.  Nothing quite like it.  I fended off Lucy long enough to eat, well, the entire bowl, which feat made me quite thirsty.  And nothing complements salty popcorn quite like the sweet burn of my drink of choice:  a fizzy, no cal., caffeinated delight.  It was after 9:00 p.m. and I second-guessed my desire for said beverage, but caved and consumed anyway.

Bad decision.

When it came time for bed, soda was just getting started.  She rocked and rolled until well after midnight...so I did too.  W has been under the weather since Friday, which means several less-than-stellar nights of sleep.  Last night was no different.  Instead of getting the rest I'd hoped for, I was up several times with the boy in the hours following the caffeinated reprieve.  At 8:00 a.m., I was kicking myself.  I admit I'm not the most pleasant person when I'm overly tired.

W's refusal to eat breakfast should have been the first indication of where the day was going.  He didn't even want the fruity smoothie (which did taste a big odd today), and instead threw strawberries all over the floor and fed eggs to Lucy.  Awesome.

Post breakfast, we headed out for a walk.  Walking outside was like hitting a brick wall; it's hot!  Undeterred, I strapped W in the stroller and we headed down the driveway.  The Bob seemed a bit lopsided and I discovered a tire was completely flat.  Again, undeterred, we went back up the driveway and pulled out the bike pump.  Apparently Dave's pump is more advanced than I can handle (Is that even possible?  It's a pump!).  After I wrestled the tube cover off, I couldn't get the blasted pump to pump.  Really?  Yes, really.  It just continued to hiss and hiss as I pumped in vain, at which point Lucy freaked out and proceeded to poop all over the garage floor.  Really?  Really?!?!  Cue throwing in of the towel.

My VTs came later that morning. I tried to mask my sour mood.  But you know how sometimes you just can't fake smiling?  Yeah.  One of those.  Regardless, their message was becoming more and more relevant as the day continued.

After they left, W was no longer interested in his nap, or his lunch for that matter.  Instead of sulking, we headed out to run some errands.  We perused the aisles of Target, threw in some bubbles and other stuff, then headed out to the car.  Keys.  Keys?  Where are they?  Keys?  Yes, this was really happening.  Someone please punch me.

We walked out to the car.  No keys in sight.  The heat.  Oh, the heat.  We headed back inside and THANKFULLY someone had picked up my stray key and handed it in to the customer service.  Meltdown (physically and emotionally) averted!

W fell asleep on the way home.  I sucked in all the cool air I could from the AC.  It felt good.  I needed to chill out.  It was then that I remembered my VTs lesson from this morning.  Patience.

Patience isn't learned when baby is sleeping, dog obeys commands, or hubs picks up his shoes without asking.  It is learned when baby is launching fistfulls of spaghetti squash on to the floor you just cleaned, dog is losing control of her bowels, and hub's shoes dot the house.

Patience, Kate.  Patience.

We pulled into the garage.  I quietly open and closed my door and opened W's door, trying to keep him from waking.  I quietly unbuckled him and began to pull him from the car.  But I couldn't.  I was stuck.  My hair was now stuck on the hanger hook in the car.  Had my mouth not been inches from W's face, I may have slung a line of bad words into the air.  Instead I just thought them.

I obviously haven't learned patience, just yet.

But I have learned something.  Two things.

• Patience is a virtue.  One not so easily learned.  But one well worth achieving.
• (and perhaps equally as important) Caffeinated beverages are not to be consumed after 8:00 p.m.  To do otherwise is a punishable offense.  Self-inflicted punishment.  

I'm heading outside to think about what I've done.  I'll be sweating it out.  Perhaps when I come back inside, I will have learned my lessons.

This Is What Happens...

...when I leave him alone with his auntie L.

You've been caught.  :)

Change Is Good

Today I walked the grounds of my Alma mater --  BYU.  I visited the campus briefly two or three years ago for my brother's graduation, but I hadn't really been back since I graduated five years ago.
I really had no reason for going today other than wanting to check out my old stomping grounds; who knows when I'll be back. 
Here's how it went down: 

• We parked at the MOA (where I had previously incurred too many parking tickets), 
• then headed to the bookstore (and immediately purchased chocolate-covered gummy bears), 
• next walked through the Cougar Eat (and shuddered at the thought of drinking caffeine-free DC),
• and finally, strolled around the campus en route to the Brimhall bldg (the place where I spent way too much time way back when...but didn't know a soul there today). 

It was sort of odd being back.  On one hand, I felt like I belonged.  But then I'd look around and see people -- people who I considered as peers -- only to remember I was carrying a squirming and/or limp-noodle-bodied one-year-old.  I wasn't carrying books or a backpack.  Nor was I wearing Toms, gladiator sandals, a high-waisted skirt, or a BYU Phys. Ed. shirt (all of which seem to be the rage in UT County).  Suddenly, I felt so much older.  And out of touch.  Way out of touch.

It was like I wanted to be cool, only to realize that I'm kind of a dork. 

Regardless of my uncoolness, it was cool for me to be back on the campus where I spent four formative years of my life.  And it was cool for me to be there with the newest chapter of my life. 
The campus has changed dramatically.  It is a thriving place with a very unique spirit.  The new J.F. Smith building is incredible.  And the new Hinckley building...nothing short of gorgeously amazing.  It is like a home -- in its looks and its feel. 
By the end of my visit, perhaps my coolness didn't return, but my comfortable-ness did.
On my way out, I walked passed the window of the classroom where I used to paint.  The classroom where D surprisingly showed up one weekend (after flying half-way across the country) to see me.  So much has changed since then.  We've come a long, long way.  Progress.
And although the school seems like a different place now, I realize that I am too. And that's a good thing.  All in a good way.  Change is good. 

MIA

been at home for about a week now. 
looking out the window at the beautiful mountains while the rain pours and the sun shines.
loving every minute of it.
not spending those minutes blogging.
don't be crushed.
will return mid-week.

race follow-up. 
norma lickings and drinking fountains.
dinosaurs and horses.

should be great.
hasta...

Running (wo)Man

One of my favorite things about running is when a song comes up on the iPod that makes me want to break out and dance whilst running.  Sometimes a song stops me dead in my tracks and, in my excitement, I have to make a quick decision as to whether I'll keep going or (very likely) humiliate myself on busy streets.  Regardless, it always makes me smile and then laugh a bit at the visual image of me dancing on the road in my spandex and neon shoes.

Speaking of running, I'm headed to UT this weekend to run a race with my momma.  A half-marathon, in fact.  Pretty impressive, right?  No, not for me, but for my mom, Ms. Fitness.  I'm proud of her.

I'm excited about this race.  Since we Waterfalls tend to run solo, I hope my playlist is excellent and keeps me jazzed along the course.  I'm looking forward to running through BEAUTIFUL Ogden canyon.  I'm looking forward to the cliche "runner's high," which really does happen.  I'm hoping I don't run behind this guy (that half-naked one you see):

When I ran in Chicago, for some reason I always noticed this guy around.  His shirtlessness was a little awkward perhaps, but that wasn't the problem.  I was running.  Which means I was sweating.  Which means I was wet.  But I kept sensing water or something similar hitting me (arms, legs, face!).  It wasn't raining.  I wasn't passing through puddles.  No, no.  It was the shirtless man!  His sweat!  Pelting me!  For miles!  It seemed as soon as I got away from him, there he was again.  I hope I don't experience a repeat situation.

For my mom

Only four more days until this guy (sans dog) is walking all over your house. Can't wait!

Just In Case You Were Wondering

I like W a lot:

** has a super long and pointy lizard-like tongue
** which he uses to give really slobbery kisses
** growls every time D gets home -- a term of endearment, I'm sure
** twirls his hair...and pulls it out a lot, but we're working on that
** makes good sound effects when he pushes his cars/trucks around
** holds the phone up to his ear and points the remote at the t.v. (shamefully humorous?)
** throws his paci in bed after waking up and before heading downstairs
** strums his lips with his finger...all.the.time.
** brushes his hair with my brush that is as big as his entire arm
** feels tremendous pride after climbing atop the couch
** wrestles with D
** and giggles like crazy
** literally licks his plate clean
** loves it when I tickle his arm or neck; instant relaxation
** laughs and laughs when we're in the car.  It's a fake laugh, but it's so loud and funny
** obsessed with shoes and vacuum attachments.  obsessed
** oftentimes will gently rub my arm when I'm holding him; a "gentle" breakthrough and so sweet

Perfect way to end Sunday

Take a minute to watch this. A clear testimony of what I believe.