Each Day Is a Gift

This morning's run was one of the most joyful runs I've had!!!  Karen picked me and Carolyn up at 4:40 and headed down to Toby's.  According to Karen's car, temp was 75.  Toby had already gotten up SUPER early to run 8 solo miles and was back by 5am to run her remaining 12 miles with us. This was to be her first 20 miler!!!  :)  Thanks Toby for letting us be part of your awesome run!!! :) :) :)

Lowell and Terry came from Pocatello to join us since Terry's grand daughter was getting married in the Timpanogos Temple at 10am.  Lowell provided us with flash/glow lights and we were off with much laughter and giggles!  :) :) :)

The 6 of us meandered west on the streets of AF then north onto the river trail then east to Lone Peak High and back on the trail to the golf course.  We had so much fun chatting and laughing, the miles just flew by.  We stopped at the drinking fountain east of the golf course and realized it was already 6:15 and Toby had to be back by 7 for her Ward's Rodeo.  We still have another 5 or 6 miles to go.  So she proposed that we run to her house by 7 and finish the run at her ward's 5K race/fun run just up the road.   Seriously, how in the world?!! :)  I would not be able to do the math at the end of the long run to figure the mileage no less run a 5K at the end of a 20 miler.  She is AMAZING!!! :)

Everything worked out beautifully!  We got to the start of the 5K just before the race started.   Only Lowell took a bib number and I carried the bag of safety pins and chased after the guy with the clip board.  We just wanted to finish our long run so we stayed at the very back.  When the gun went off (yes, there was a gun and they even fired it once for testing), I followed the people (about 25-30?) in front of me.  The first 0.75 mile (per my Garmin) has an elevation drop of 90'.  I took it easy down the hill passing a few people and chatted with the boy and lady on bikes.  We turned left onto the river trail which we ran earlier in the dark in reverse.  The course flattened out and I passed more people...breathing easy and legs feeling great.  At about mile 1.5 there was a water station, I skipped it, then we turned east onto 300 North.  I ran on the sidewalk as there were cars parked along the road and I didn't want to get hit by oncoming traffic.  I spotted a group of young men/boys on this stretch so I focused on reeling them in.  I was able to pass all (about 5) but one who had a #31 basketball jersey on.  The course turned north uphill on 1100 East at mile 2.4.  I stayed on #31's tail because I didn't know the course.  We made one right turn into a neighborhood then a left turn.  I saw a group of ward members and ran towards them thinking it was the finish; but one lady pointed me to the left up in the grassy area towards the finish.  I never caught #31 but my time was 25:36 and found out I was top 10! :)  Splits: 8:28 (downhill), 8:18 (flat), 8:30 (uphill), (0.1 @ 8:48 got a little lost). 

I grabbed a cup of water then we ran back to look for Lowell and Terry who ended up running up to where their car was parked as they had to make it back in time to get ready for the wedding.   Didn't get to say goodbye but I'll see them in a week at the Pocatello Marathon.  Got home and went to my Stake R.S. self reliance fair!   What a FUN FUN FUN morning! :) :) :)

HUGE HUGE HUGE KUDOS to Toby for running her first 20 miler so AWESOMELY with a 5K race at the end to boot and...finish the whole thing in a kidK with her darling triplets!!!  WaHoooo!!!! :) :) :) :)