Each Day Is a Gift

What is it with you and Ogden? I'm glad that you had great support for you throughout the race. Another demonstration of how tough you are. Great job.

Why why why does Ogden do this to you??

This was number 26 for you, right? That in itself is AMAZING!!! Also, you forgot to mention how unbelievably cute you looked all decked out in green. :) :) :)

I hope that you are feeling MUCH MUCH MUCH better today.

Congratulations on number 26!

Love you.

You are so lucky to have Eric to help you out! UVM is going to be a lot better I am sure! You will have to tell me all the secrets Eric is teaching you!

Congratulations! You are awesome. It was great to ride up with you. You had a great time in spite of the cramping.

4:02 is GREAT! Sounds like you ran the perfect race minus the last 0.1 miles. Get yourself recovered and ready for UVM. I'm so excited to see everyone up there.

How could I be embarrassed by your antics when I was leading a few of them? Or at least following in some nice footsteps :) I really did have a wonderful time with you, and if my brain wouldn't have been in such a bad funk I would've stayed with you and Eric. I absolutely LOVE running with you! You were running so strong and smooth when I left you I thought for sure you would have NO problems. It made me SO sad to hear about your .1 collapse - stupid Ogden! I'm glad Eric is working with you (he really is an amazing guy!!!) to get you all straightened out so charlie stays away permanently.

I am SO glad Eric and Sherman were there for you in the corral after the race. I was so useless barely being able to walk myself! The hip flexor had seized on me and I knew I should be walking with you, but just wanted to curl up in fetal position :) Good thing the grass was stinky and wet or I would've.

Another BQ in the box and it seems you beat a few 'marked' people with this great race as well! Smooth, you are such an inspiration! Recover well and enjoy your weekend with family. Thanks for being the wonderful woman you are to inspire me all the time!

Smooth-- I could never pull of any "antics" at the same time as BQing. You are amazing. I'm sure running with RAch was a big help. YOu guys are funny. I can only imagine how much *fun* you had. It is *fun* to run a marathon right?? Glad the athsma attack was under control, but that.1 collapse? Man, you are tough. Glad Eric gave you some new tips--which of course I'll be sure to score off you next time we run. You are the FRB fairy godmother. We are so lucky to know you, run with you, and be your friend. So glad you've got another Ogden, and BQ in the bag. Rest up sweetie, you deserve a bit of R&R-- XOXO

Ouch! Ogden is a beast. Congrats on getting it done. Nice to see you at the start.

Oh Smooth.....I am so impressed with you! I can only look up to and admire your speed and abilitly to run marathon after marathon! One of these days maybe I will be able to keep up with you! I really think the downhill while nice is really hard on your body. At least it was on mine! I kept thinking how much harder this would have been on my body if I had been coming down that canyon in mile 15-21! Crazy!!! So impressed with your time! 4:02 is amazing!

Good job! I heard about your shinanigans from Bec :)

Nice job hanging in there through fatigue and cramps. You are an inspiration to all runners.

Congrats on yet another BQ, just amazing how many marathons you run. What is it with long courses anyway? All those Garmins are not wrong. When you're done with a marathon you should be done.

Smoothie, Smoothie, Smoothie!!! One day you will get the better of Ogden and not get cramps near or at the end. I missed seeing all of you come in. We were there, but the kids started complaining they were hungry and wanted to eat, so we were in Karen's Cafe on 25th street eating a hearty breakfast.

I'm impressed that you keep coming back to Ogden after so many struggles the last few miles. After my one and only Ogden debacle a few years ago, I haven't had the guts to sign up for it again, but I think I will do it next year, thanks to your tenacity.

I guess you and Teena didn't recognize Amy hanging out with Julie Ann, Rob, Mindy and Alisa at the fires. Of course, Amy didn't say anything because she rarely speaks unless spoken too first. lol

Congratulation for completing another marathon!!! You rock!!!

Smooth, Great race, you are such an inspiration. Thank you!

Andy ~ I am still trying to figure it out why I cramped up in Ogden (except in 2007 when I ran it the first time! It didn't seem to matter whether it's warm (finish temp in the 80s) or cool like this year; or if I ran fast (3:59 in 2008) or slow (4:35 in 2009); I always cramped up at the end.

I think the parkway is haunted! :) This year I ran very comfortably and felt fine the first 23 miles. I even ran controlled and easy in the canyon miles preceding the Parkway so as not to fatigue the legs. But something about running the winding rolling and congested parkway that really messed with me! I just don't know!

SSF ~ You always say the kindest things! I feel okay on Sunday. As a matter of fact, I hustled up like normal to the stand from the cultural hall in heels to say the prayer in Sac. Mtg. Wendy Clark who won the 40-44F division, who's in my ward, hobbled toward me afterward with disbelief. Of course, I'd be proud to hobble around in church if I'd won and left nothing on the course. The statement that says: "Pain is temporary. Pride is permanent." is so true!

My muscles now are very tight and there are still some soreness...as usual! It is taking me longer to recover as I'm getting older!

Wish you weren't so busy! I miss you already! But I am very happy for you doing what you always want to do and love with PT schooling. Can't wait for you to "practice" on my legs though! :)

LOVE YOU!!!

Kathie ~ Yep, I'm very lucky to have a fine son as Eric. I just wish he was in UT longer. He didn't get to show me any more core exercise or *secrets*. Between he, David and Teena, I'm sure they'll keep me running thru my old age all the way to the grave! :) :) :)

Johnny!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH again for picking up my packet and shirt. I LOVE that the shirt fits me this year, finally!!!! It was so fun riding up with you! I wish I could run fast enough to run even just a couple miles with you and Teena! You are a WONDERFUL friend! Some of my fondest memories of running the JRP in Murray was running with you and celebrating your birthday last year! :O)

Rhett ~ Thanks! I am getting so excited to see you and Doone at UVM. I don't know how I'll do at UVM as I won't do much running done the next few days traveling to Des Moines and helping Eric move to Cleveland.

RAD ~ Rachel my dear born-in-America-daughter!!! I am still chuckling over the antics you pulled especially the one where you tried to beat the people in the moving suburban; oh and our chicking the fast guys right before the zazoosh camera! You are so fun and so much fun to run with!

It was so AWESOME to watch you run down the canyon from mile 21 on, just flying! I could keep you insight (your pink mad mother visor) until we reached the parkway. You finished so strong! I seriously was very impressed with your performance. You would have run faster time if I hadn't been there to anchor you down! :)

I was in so much pain in the finisher corral (we all were) that I didn't even realize how much you were dealing with your hip flexor. When Larry said you were kneeling (like praying) I should have known that you were trying to stretch out the darn hip flexor. O well, we had a fun time eating and riding back. I hope your drive back on Bangerter was uneventful. Eric drank your gatorade you left in the Audi, I hope that's okay! :)

I can't wait to run Park City with you again! I just want you to know that you are a fantastic runner and super momma. Take good care of yourself as you reach your full potential! THANKS again for running with me!

Luz ~ Wish you were there running with me and Rach! Seriously, we had SO MUCH FUN!!! Rach did more singing this time and was so good to see *ahead* as I was both blind and too short to see very far! :) She saw the hot air balloon, the cabins in the mountains. She heard the roaring river and encouraged the cow bell ringers. She knows the drill! :) And yes running a marathon is FUN, at least for 23 miles anyway! The last 3.2 is always painful regardless of whether you run alone or with someone. It parallels life so much! The race to the finish is more of self-improvement than to beat others. We might as well help each other along the journey! That is why I love marathons...I meet many angels along the way...even with my antics which probably annoys more than it lifts others!

THANK YOU so much for your kind words! Fairy godmother huh? Never been called that before! :) :) :)

Can't wait to run with you soon! Keep doing those hip flexor and piriformis exercises! Hope you are still running UVM! I will see you then if not sooner! :)

Mark ~ Why is Ogden such a beast? Has anyone figured out how to slay this beast? You ran an awesome race! It was so great to see you at the fire. The smoke really got to me though so I wasn't too chatty and just enjoyed everyone being there! Wish I'd seen you at the finish! I got a glimpse of Kathie and she looked like she was going on a Sat. shopping trip, not a trace of sweat or having run any distance! I am sure you were the same way! You always look so calm, cool and collect both before and after a marathon!!! :)

Annie ~ Sweet dear Annie! You are too kind! You ran an AWESOME PR at Ogden! I am so proud of you! Wish I could've seen you at the finish and personally give you a huge congratulatory and sweaty HUG!!! You are running so well this year! You DA WOMAN!!!! You are going to have a great racing year!

I agree that the Ogden course is seducingly and deceivingly hard on the body. SGM is equally as tough but hopefully being a Fall marathon, our body will be better trained or prepared for it.

David ~ Oh no! Bec told on me?!!! I thought what happens on the road stays on the road! Tell her I'm usually a very conservative, mild mannered, sweet, gentle, quiet wife of a Stake Prez.; definitely NO shinanigans!!! :) It was fun having you in our thoughts though even for just a fleeting moment! :) :) :) :)

Nancy ~ I think I'm more of an embarrassment than inspiration! :) :) :) Thanks for saying that though! You are too kind! Us running grannies have it going, don't we?!

Flat ~ Thanks! Are you ready to rock it at UVM? Are you going to better your BQ time? My Ogden'11 time is 13 min BQ whereas my SGM'10 time is 17 min BQ. I wasn't planning on a PR at Ogden so the BQ was just bonus.

I have yet to run a marathon where my Garmin is dead on at 26.2! However, at Ogden, from the very first mile marker we were off by 0.1. We had to stay on one side of the road which makes doing the tangent in the canyon difficult!

Dale ~ I totally missed Amy at the start! I thought she would have said hello to me if she saw me! I would have never been able to recognize her. Then I was bummed to realize she was right there at the firepit with JulieAnn, Alisa, Rob, Mindy and Fly all along! I didn't even chat with the Flyers because the smoke really got to me and I was looking around for Teena who magically showed up at the PoP line the last minutes. So bummed that I didn't see you and the kids. But I'm glad you all got a hearty breakfast. I am so proud of Amy and her accomplishments! What an inspiration she is!

Yes, you will run Ogden next year! I figure the only way to erase the bad memories is to replace it with a good one! Having great friends to run with does help a lot though! :)

Smooth...you amaze me! Congrats on 26! I'm on 3, only 23 to catch up to you. :)

Hey Kim ~ How are you? It won't be long before you surpass me on the number of marathons. When all your kids graduate and leave the nest, you and Tom will have all the time in the world to race marathons! Are you running UVM? Will you be running AF1/2? Hope to see you soon! :)

Hey Jon ~ Are you and Kelly running the RHPC?

I signed up for AFCanyon Half. May be we should have a birthday celebration for you after the race! :)

amazing job, smooth! way to fight through those last few miles and give it your all. you are extremely tough.

i so much enjoyed seeing your smiling face go by at mile 21. you were running great! :)

Smooth, We want to run RHPC, haven't heard anything about it.

I think a party the whole way down AF Half would be better than just after. :-)

Allie -~ thanks for the cheerful cheer in your orange vest and flag with James! that was the highlight of my run! I was on the wrong side of Eric so didn't give you a sweaty stinky hug which I am sure is OK by you! :)

Hope you're healing by the minute!

Jon ~ I will forward Marion's email to you! It is on July 16th. Bunch of ladies from my ward is going to do it! I am not sure if I will be in town that weekend!

OK, PARTY the whole way down the AFcanyon half sounds super fun! Should I bring a birthday cake for you to wear on your head? We won't light the candles until you finish! :) :) :)

Smooth- Congrats on another marathon. You are amazing!!!

Hey Smooth, sorry I'm a little late to the party! You are amazing! Great time and report, and I'm sorry to hear that Charlie reared his ugly head again. I hope Eric's advice helps...I have vivid memories of your finish at PCM a few years ago..you are right, your body seems to give up right at about 26.2 miles. You are still amazing! :)

Marc ~ Thanks! That PCM was in 2008 when you came. It was an ugly finish that really scared you. I was so lucky to have so many friends who came to my aid! But I don't want to experience that ever again!