haunted half 2017

About three weeks after the St. George Marathon was the Haunted Half-Provo.  I had previously registered to run it with Chelsea Riddle (my marathon running buddy), Becky Phillips and Shauna Goates.

I had taken quite a break from running, in order to heal up after the marathon, so I was a little nervous about being able to race 13.2 miles.

The Haunted Half ended up being a blast!  We all just took it easy.  We didn't worry about time, we didn't listen to music, we didn't stress at all.  We just ran, talked and had a good time.  It was perfect for a post marathon race.

The distance was just the right amount as well.  It definitely pushed me, but it didn't kill me.  When we crossed the finish line, I was completely spent, but felt great!

Again, I had completed a race with no stomach issues, no hip issues, and no IT band issues.  It was so awesome to be able to run two races in a row feeling so great!  It is always really fun to run with friends too.  It was the perfect combination.

It is a costume race, but none of us can handle running with loads of stuff on us, so we all bought Superwoman socks with capes, they were also compression socks.  Win, win!

The course was gorgeous, and the day was sunny, and beautiful.  We ran a trail that followed the Provo river.  We ran past waterfalls, under trees that were bright yellow and red, through parks with flowing streams, and we always had the huge majestic mountains right over us.  It was an amazing course.

rock the socks

freezing our butts off at the starting line...no joke.  It took about 4 miles of running before I could feel my fingers or my toes again.

Shauna Goates, Becky Phillips, yours truly and Chelsea Riddle.  Very fun running crew! 

Haunted Half Provo...you rock!

See you next year for sure!

labor day

This Labor Day was awesome!!

It all started with a long run for me.

Fall running is my absolute favorite!  I love everything about it.  The crisp air, the gorgeous colors on the mountains and in town, the excitement in the air of change, just everything.

I filled up on zipfizz, blasted my jams, and headed out.  It was an awesome run up to midway, with views of fields, old barns, mountains, rivers, bridges, everything.  I pounded out 11.5 miles, and came home happy and refreshed.

sunrise over the valley, aaahhhhh, nothing like it.

When I got home, Ben headed out with a buddy to mountain bike for a while, and I stayed home with the kids.  We cleaned the house a little, and then played outside and enjoyed the beautiful fall day.

When Ben got home, we packed up some things, met up with the Sweats (Karli and her kids) and headed out to hike in the Uinta's. 

It was a beautiful hike!  The kids were happily playing with friends, Ben and I and Karli were able to hang out, and it was a pretty day. 

hiking up to Ruth Lake

BFF's for life

 

Sam and Blake, best buddies

Molly and Beckham...two peas in a pod

Mary and Bailey

um, yeah.

big buddy!

Luke and Boston

doing what they do best

love!

We totally lucked out, and were able to find a spot away from the chaos of all of the other Labor Day hikers.  That is next to impossible here in the mountains, especially in Heber with Swiss Days going on as well.

The hike was great, and after we stopped at a little café in Kamas for some dinner.

When we got home, Karli invited the kids over for "kazookie."  Basically a giant cookie the size of the pan, smothered in ice cream, and candy.  Obviously, the kids loved it!

What a great Labor Day!  I smell a tradition forming...