Each Day Is a Gift

Let us know how the skinny dipping goes. I know they have food at some of the aid stations because one year my neighbor served spaghetti for hours.

I would take bug repellent and sunscreen.

Hey you little skinny dipper! :) You're so funny. Good Luck w/ the Relay this weekend. I don't know what to tell you to bring, I've never done it before, but Sushi sounds great to me, I love it! Just pack it in a cooler w/ some fruit and you'll be good to go!

Can't wait to hear how the relay goes for you and your team. You are smart to take this week easy, you'll be stronger for the weekend.

Oh, and I like your, yet again, "new" picture! :)

Smooth,

Take some money, you do need to pay for the food, the shower and the cot to sleep on at the HS. I think it's $3.00 for the shower, $1.00 for the cot to sleep on. etc.

You will need at least 3 outfits to run in unless you don't mind putting on a sweaty sports bra (Yuck). Sunscreen is a must, I don't remember needing bug spray, but we have had a wetter year. Tooth brush, pillow, sleeping bag, hat... hmm my team will have some coolers, so I think I will take some oranges, chocolate milk, nuts, jerky. But they are also bringing other food. Baby wet wipes are nice to have... wipe off a bit after your run, so you are not too stinky :) That's all I can think about right now. I'll let you know if I think of anything eles :)

Really? Skinny-dipping? Does President have any idea? Oh man ... you are going to be in so much trouble when he finds out!!! :)

I just love you more than words! You make me laugh so hard!!

Wish I could tell you what to bring to WBR but have NO idea! Talked to a guy at the gym today (the RivertonPaul of Gold's Gym ... this guy cranks it out on the treadmill) ... anyway, back to my story, his team sounds really fun if your young and single. A bunch of single men and women runners who don't know each other get together for this "meet and greet" type race. The girls will LOVE him ... he is so stinkin' fast!

How did I get talking about that? Hmmmm ...

Hope you are having a good day Smooth! How are your legs?

LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL

Skinny dipping young lady? I don't know about you! I don't think president would approve.

I don't really know what you should take for the WBR. Are you running at night? I have a headlamp you can borrow if you need one. You will have so much fun! I'm excited to hear about your experience.

Bec,

Yes, I'm running at night, 1:00am in East Canyon. Have never run at night before. Can I borrow your head lamp? I'm so worried about getting lost. I can't see that well even in daylight. My team is gonna regret having to "grandma-sit" me. :)

Oh, it's overcast right now, my skinny dipping idea isn't gonna work.

Wish I could help you out, Smoothie. It sounds like a lot of work to pack everything up for the WBR. I wouldn't even know where to begin.

Lori,

THANKS! GREAT ideas. Man, that's a lot of things to pack. Wish I could just show up and run the thing. This WBR thing is like camping, slumber party with a little of running thrown in. Will you post your packing list so I can check it off? Going to your blog now.

Teena,

Single guys and girls? Sounds like a roudy bunch. That would not meet Prez's approval.

Maurine,

I don't like mass produced spaghetti dinner, sounds icky. Plus, do we need to carb load? It's not like an endurance run, right? What do I know?

Amber,

I think that's what I will do for food. Bring my own little cooler of Costco sushi, fruits, SlimFast, veggies, yogurt, ice cream bars. I hope I don't get car sick. uuuh!

Smooth,

I don't think they are the rowdy type. I think Prez would be okay with it. A bunch of singles meeting, running, and getting to know each other. Apparently the captain of the team has done it before and it turned out to be a lot of fun.

Hey ... did I miss it? I don't think you ever told me how you were feeling today??

How are your legs?

Are you walking w/o a limp?

Teena,

I didn't run this morning, quads are still sore. Am I walking with a limp? Hmmm, Don't think so. That's how I've been walking ever since that knee acted up.

Hey, go to LuzyLew's blog and read about the medal thing. After Lowell's story about Jerry, I feel like sending a copy of it to Sasha. But, may be I should stay out of it. :)

Smooth,

Please be careful. You are suppose to be babying your legs!! Silly girl!

WOW!!! Just went to LuzyLew's blog. Very interesting commentary on there. My first marathon was a 4:53 and that Moose Medal that I got for finishing it means a lot more to me than the one I got when I ran a 3:34 at SGM.

I think it is very sad when anyone feels it is their duty to criticize someone else's effort. It breaks my heart when people are unkind to each other.

Wow ... I just don't know what to say.

You could post Lowell's story, and the people who appreciate others successes without qualifications will enjoy it.

I sure hope when I die that my effort will be judged by what is in my heart and how I tried to uplift and help others rather than how many visiting teaching appts I made, how many discussions I taught on my mission, or how many times I attended all of my meetings with perfectly reverent children.

I think anytime we start judging each other we are in some serious trouble.

Love you!!

SO SO SO SO MUCH!!!!

Teena,

Very well said. I just love you. The Ultimate Judge is kind, loving, merciful, just and without sins. We are nowhere near that, although, you're pretty close.

You know something funny? I had hidden all the medals in a drawer. Prez made a "shrine" with my medals and marathon pictures in the old office. It's so embarrassing. He even showed me how he can lie down on the little couch and admire that wall. Talk about silly! I place no value in those trinkets. I think relationships and who we are becoming is so much more important and meaningful. There is so much we can do to help uplift and inspire that there's really no room to make judgment either of ourselves or others. LOVE YOU TONS!!!

I hope that all my friends on the blog have a wonderful day.

Smooth - one thing I have found with my medals is that they mean a lot to my family and friends and gives them something to aspire to. I use finishers medals (after the first marathon and now after the first day) to track what races I ran in which years and to remind me of my races.

Some blog members will never understand that the reason a lot of us are on the blog is for support and friendship. I ran for years before the FRB and I will be running long after it no longer exists - but I have met the neatest people and friends in the past year that have helped me cope with being alone in life. THAT beats any finishers medal I could ever earn. (and they are all earned)

And you have a wonderful day as well Maurine!!!

Lots of Love!!!

I just read LuzyLew's blog and I am stunned at what is being said. WOW!!!

I love displaying my medals for myself and for my family to see. They really mean a lot to me and my family. I often look at them and I quickly remember what it took to earn them. They are some of my greatest memories.

Two years ago I could barely run a 5k and now I'm running marathons and it is one of the biggest accomplishments of my life. I've overcome a lot to get to this point.

I've made a lot of friends and I really love the encouragement to keep getting better. You all ROCK!!!!

Smoothie, what is Lowell's story about Jerry? I'd like to hear about it, if you don't mind.

Maurine,

And I have enjoyed and appreciated your friendship. I know that loneliness feeling. Yes, I'm not a single mom but feeling lonely has nothing to do with living alone or married. It can be painful at times. Just this morning I was telling hubby how lonely I've been feeling. He said: "But you have your running friends and have met so many great people from the blog." Well...here's to many many years of running and sharing our love of running and spreading friendships. Maurine, you are NEVER alone in feeling alone. Lotsa lotsa love!!!

Dale,

Teena and I have this mutual friend, Lowell (a 66 yr old attorney, fast multi-marathoners). Have you met him? He's the most incredible guardian angel.

Anyway, it's so ironic about the medal thing...just around noon today he sent us an email sharing with us his friend, Jerry's happy news.

In short, Jerry, who's a judge, younger than Lowell, was diagnosed with bladder cancer just before Boston this year. He has gone thru chemo and bladder scoping, perhaps needing surgery. Lowell dedicated the Boston run to Jerry, with every step at Boston, he would stomp out the cancer cells. After the Boston Marathon, Lowell gave his Boston medal to Jerry as a token of "our run" which incidently was his Boston PR by 13 min. Jerry broke down in tears for his kind friend's gesture. This morning Lowell got an email from Jerry saying he no longer needs surgery and only needs to have the bladder "scoped" in Sept. The Boston stomping worked!!! You see, I bet that Boston medal meant the world to Jerry and most importantly a reminder of their special friendship and triumph over cancer.

Yes, crazy discussion on Luz's blog.

To go back to WBR discussion, I always take food (bagels, granola bars, apples, twizzlers- great to pass around at 1 am), water, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, clothes... that's about it. Plus toilet paper.

Eating- depends if you are in van 1 or 2. We usually grab a subway after leg 1 (there is one in Logan you can set aside, or one before Trapper's loop). Then I eat my bagels/apples during the night. By the time the last leg comes around, I'm really not hungry any more. Food doesn't sound good.

As for having fun- just be happy, get some good sing-along music going in your van, and Get Out of the Van to CHEER for your teammates!

Wow, Smoothie, that is a very inspirational story. I really appreciate you sharing that. I've never met Lowell, but he sounds like an amazing person.

Stories like that are what makes it all worthwhile. Thank you so much for sharing and uplifting us all.

Dale,

Yes, Lowell is an amazing person with the most biggest generous heart! He is witty and funny. He is a blessing and loyal friend. I will have to introduce you to him next time. He takes care of everyone in need at the start line. Once you've met him, you will fall in love with him.

Jon,

THANKS for the tips. I'm in van 2. Hmm, thanks for the heads up about no appetite for the last leg. This is so helpful. I will get out of the car a lot to cheer. It's gonna be fun! :)

Enjoy getting ready for WBR. Sounds like you got lots of good advice.

WOW!! I've missed so much! I saw the first post on Luzy's blog, but now I'm interested in the comments its generated and will have to go read more! I was going to comment after Sasha's but then thought it best to just keep my mouth shut and my opinions to myself :)

Thanks for posting the packing question! I've been pondering the same stuff and have received a TON of help from your comments - THANKS!

Lowell is an amazing man and I hadn't heard the story of Jerry, but sounds just like Lowell. He helped me through SO much before and after Ogden that I told him I was adopting him as my dad (since mine is no longer here to cheer me on) and he said he'd be honored to do so! How incredible...I could go on and on about how much I admire that man!!!

Oh, and Smooth...you're crazy! I can barely stand to put on a suit let alone think about going skinny dipping in daylight!! Love you Smooth, can't wait to see you at WBR this weekend...I've got your and Lowell's cell # and we'll have to be in touch!!!

Wow I got here late I really can't add to what the rest have said except that you will need bug spray.

You may have a crowd coming to watch you skinny dip now that you posted it online!!!

Here is what I say: YES to sunscreen, never used bug spray but it could not hurt, your team has to have reflective vests and headlights so you should be fine, I never shower until I am all done running all my legs (yes, I love being stinky, but why shower just to get all gross in 3 hours???) but I do change my running clothes!!! I bring a pillow and a blanket, but I never really sleep. If you have an iPod or something you might want it, it will make it easier to sleep in crowded and loud places.

Bring FOOD that you like. I bring bagels, chips, trail mix, licorice, Boston Baked beans, dry cereal, fruit, and maybe a few cookies here and there. I am never super hungry because I just snack in between and I do not like to be full as I can not run well with food in my gut. We have stopped in towns to get food for the men who are hungry, so bring money. All of your stopping locations while you wait for the other van to run will have food to buy.

You will be fine, I promise!!! Just remember it is not really a race, just a grueling run with 5 other people (the other van does not count, you never really see them). Go in it to have a good time!

Cool story about Lowell!!

Psycho mom checking out!

Best wishes to you Smooth at WBR!! Can't wait to hear your stories.

Same to the rest of you WBRs. :)