RAGNAR EVE!

I am stealing today's post from the Ragnar blog. It is a recent blog post from a woman who ran the Cape Cod Ragnar in May. I think it sums up perfectly why I keep signing up for crazy things like this...

As the story goes...I pulled myself up by my bootstraps and marched off, admittedly feeling a little unprepared.  But...I realized something about this race...

What Ragnar has done for me is remind me that life is about going even when you're tired ("Wake up! Meagan is on her way! GOOOOO!), pushing even when you're unprepared, and about just doing it when you don't feel ready, knowing that you'll figure it out along the way. Even with the hose water, beer lines, and other snafus, Ragnar has really become a metaphor for the way life works.

It's a reminder that even when you have no idea what lies ahead, even when you're unsure if you're going the right way at all, there's only one thing to do: keep going. It's a reminder that there are often long, dark, scary roads with no lights ahead of us and no lights behind us, so this is when we run like hell for our lives. It's a reminder that sometimes in life your friends can cheer from the sidelines, sometimes they can cheer alongside you, sometimes they can jump in and even pull you along because you're hurting or doubting yourself and they can reassure you. Sometimes, though,  you just have to go it alone, but they'll be at the end waiting for you. Sometimes, no one is there and you have to figure it out for yourself.

Ragnar is a reminder that when you feel like life is all uphill and you're ready to quit the climb, that just over the horizon is the finish line. 

Here we go!

2 Vans

12 Runners

30 Some-odd hours

197 Miles

1 Heck of a good time!

Wish me luck!

Pee Pee Hide-N-Go-Seek Christmas Eve!

RAGNAR is in two days. Two days! I have that nervous-excited-pee-pee-hide-n-go-seek feeling and the kid on Christmas Eve I-can't-sleep-cause-Santa-is-coming feeling all at the same time!

I have already started packing and I keep checking the weather incessantly to make sure things stay clear and are not too hot while we are on the course (looks like it will be sunny and clear with a high of 82). I have also been making a mental note of all the things I have to do before tomorrow night to make sure I am ready to go. The list is as follows:

Make a playlist for my 8 miler
Find my stupid ipod armband that has been missing for 2 weeks
Make some homemade granola bars
Pull out my sleeping bag
Get some cash for food and a RAGNAR hoodie!
Wash every piece of running clothing that I own
Yoga it up and foam roll to loosen my crazy tight legs
Charge my Garmin
Eat some more macaroni and cheese (hooray for carb loading!)


Am I missing anything? Probably. Luckily, all I really need is my running shoes, right?

Well, ready or not, here I come!

It's all in your head..

It's RAGNAR week! I can't believe it is already here! About a month ago a friend of mine asked if I wanted to sub-in to her RAGNAR team. The guy on her team who wanted out REALLY didn't want to run and even offered to cover half the entry fee for whomever was willing to sub for him. I tell you, that lucky sub is ME! I did a relay race last year and I loved every sleepless minute of it. (Well, hindsight may be a little rosy, I recall some very sleepless moments that I did not enjoy.) But, overall it was an incredible experience and a RAGNAR relay was quickly bumped to the top of my running bucket list.

I had just finished the Salt Lake Half a few weeks before signing up for team Shaka Laka and had been taking it super easy on my training. My next half isn't until September and I didn't plan on starting that training until June. So, I did some reworking on my training schedule and hopped back on the bandwagon. I will admit, that the training CERTAINLY hasn't been what it ought to be, but I am SO EXCITED!

In fact, speaking of my totally lame training, I have realized something interesting. This last week I have been stressing a lot about the race. I am running one of the most difficult legs of the RAGNAR and it has me more than a little bit freaked out. I keep asking myself, "Who do you think you are to just jump into a 15 mile weekend with a freakishly intimidating 8 mile run up the side of a mountain?!" In those moments all I see is the little, unathletic theater girl who I always was. The girl who walked the fun run in school just because she resented anyone telling her that she had to be athletic. The girl who shies away from laid-back, pick-up games of anything because she is afraid that someone will discover that she sucks at sports and isn't athletic like EVERYONE else seems to be! All of my old fears of not being able to keep up with everyone else have come rushing back.

But then you know what I remembered? Running has taught me that I can do hard things. If I am determined, if I am patient, if I am consistent, if I go at my own pace - I can do anything. I just ran 13 miles 6 weeks ago for heaven's sake!

It is amazing how much negative thinking can effect you! It is no good!

I am strong. I am healthy. I am determined. I am a runner.

It really doesn't matter when you cross the finish line, it matters that you cross it.

I realized on Saturday when I saw people complete a 3 hour marathon and then returned to watch others cross the finish at 6 and 1/2 hours, that all of those people had performed with herculean effort. They had all done something amazing.

So, you know what 8-mile-uphill-crazy-run?! Bring it.

Give me this mountain.

Spectating at the Utah Valley Marathon

Today was my first Saturday run with my running group. Last Saturday I was dirty dashing and missed the change to run with these awesome ladies. Yesterday we wrapped up week 2 of the Couch to 5k program.  We have 10 girls in the group and average 4 or 5 runners at each run. There is a group that goes in the morning on Tues/Thurs and one that goes in the afternoon. On Saturdays, the idea is that we all run together. However, I am pretty sure the idea of sleeping in often wins out at 8:00am. This morning we had 4 girls show up and we rocked the run. When we were done (because Saturday is a special day), we went to the Provo Bakery for donuts and then walked down to the finish line of the Utah Valley Marathon! 

We stood and cheered on the back of the pack half marathon runners and the front of the pack marathon runners. It was incredible! I loved watching people cross the finish line with intense looks of determination on their faces. Everything they had just accomplished in the last 26.2 or 13.1 miles was written on their face. Many people had family members join them for the last stretch of the race. I am not kidding when I tell you that I teared up more than once. One of the reasons I wanted my running group to see the end of the race is that I always think it is surprising to see the kinds of people who run endurance races. They are not all professional athletes. What they ARE is determined. Short people, tall people, large people, skinny people, old people, and young people - you see them all. You make up your mind, and you don't stop. You are capable of anything. This has been the greatest lesson I have learned from running and this is why I wanted to start this a group. I wanted to share that awesome feeling of  realizing that you are capable of so much more than you ever thought you were. 

Because I am running the Ragnar next week I had to get in a couple more miles before the end of the day. My fabulous new roomie came out with me and we actually ran back down to the UVM finish line. We got there just in time to see the last marathon runners cross the finish line. This is when I really got emotional. Those people had been out running for 6 1/2 hours. You make up your mind, and you don't stop. I love it. 

Quick shout out to my running group: The girls I run with are fantastic. They are dedicated, enthusiastic and so. much. fun. They are progressing quickly and are already kicking my trash. It's going to be tough to keep up with them! We are training for the Pioneer Classic 5k on July 21st. The race is sponsored by Magleby's and ends with french toast. Say what!??! Yeah, it's gonna be great. If you are in the area, you should come run with us! 

Visualizing the finish of our race in just 41 days! These girls are amazing!

Dashing Dirty!

Dirty Dash June 2012

Last year I ran the Dirty Dash with two of my very good friends. We were super excited to run it again this year but, when we went to sign up, the race was SOLD OUT! I am sure that we all cried a little, but we moved on and got over it. Then, miracle of miracles, I got a phone call about a week before the race. It was Mindy from Gold's Gym. My first thought was that she was going to try to sell me something. She asked if I was Jennica and then asked if I had entered to win a team for the Dirty Dash. I HAD! I won 5 entries into the race! Not only did we get in, but we got in for free and got to bring 2 more friends along! We laughed, we cried, we danced for joy! Gold's hooked us up with some sweet tops and we ran like the excessively awesome team that we are. We took on the 10k again this year and had a blast. My most spectacular moment of triumph was when I took on the monkey bars. I haven't faced those bars since 3rd grade. Well, my friends, I took them on at mile 5, dirty, tired...and triumphant! BAM! There is nothing like proving that you may actually have an ounce of upper arm strength to make you feel like a rock star. 

I really do love this race.  I love all of the costumes that people wear, I love the energy, and I love that there is no pressure to finish within any time limit! We just took our time and got as dirty as possible and loved every minute of it!

Thanks to my best mates for getting dirty with me and thanks to Gold's Gym for hooking us up!

My Final Final

My graduation cap! Class of 2012! I did it!

I just turned in my last final.

My FINAL final.

I have the strangest feeling right now.

I am done. Finished. Everything is complete. It is amazing how two years of constant stress, deadlines, endless work, and expectations can be done with the push of a button.

"Send"

My final wasn't due until 5 o'clock this afternoon and I found myself contemplating holding on to it just a little bit longer. Surely, there was more I could do. Surely, there was something else that I could add. Then I realized that this final is just one drop in the bucket of two years of hard work. I had already put in at least a good 8 hours into this one assignment and friends, it is time to be done!

So I turned it in!

Now it is time to head to campus and trade out my graduation robes for something that won't fit both me and a car full of clowns. Seriously, I know these things aren't supposed to be fitted, but somehow the robe I got could double as bedding for a California King.

Once I get that taken care of, it is off to Commencement! Elder Dallin H Oaks, former BYU President and member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will be speaking.  I can't wait! I can't believe I am here!

Let's make this happen!

Just when you thought I was gone forever...

Guess what my plans are this weekend?!

Um, yeah, remember that one time that I thought it was a good idea to complete my last semester of grad school and train for a half marathon at the same time?! Well, I am happy to report that it was a GREAT idea! It didn't leave much room for blogging (I know, I missed you too). And I must admit that neither my grades nor my training was perfect - BUT I DID IT! I am two days away from graduation and three days away from my second half marathon! 

EPIC!

So, I WALK on Friday and I RUN on Saturday! I can't wait!