Look what I can do!

So, like I said, I ran the half marathon. We woke up at 4:30am and I showered , really I did and I am glad I did. I felt fresh and ready. After I got all ready , I went to check on Megan. She was in her bathroom curling her hair. It DID look so pretty in her pony tail. but of course, I said, "Are you seriously curling your hair?" and then I took a picture.
Trevor was ready. Look how ready he was." Trevor, stop being so excited, relax, save your energy for the race!"

Well, we got to the light rail at about 6:20am or so and waited FOR-EV-ER for a train. I, naturally, was freaking out. Lindsey told me to calm down, so I did and ate some GU. Not really the thing to eat if you are trying to calm down. Good thing I was about to run 13.1 miles. That's right!

So, we started running. First, James, Lindsey, Megan, Trevor and I ran for a minute or two. I was so pumped that I went ahead and Megan followed. We lost Trevor to the bathroom and didn't find him until we finished the race. James and Lindsey took their time in the back, but not that far back. I ran with a GU in each hand, which saved my life. I need some of those for the days I teach preschool, now there is an idea.

So, Megan and I ran for about two hours together. One of my favorite things about this 1/2 marathon is being able to run with Megan. That was fun. I kept singing, "Because we can can can!" (I stole this from Natasha when she ran her 1/2, but it was so fitting, I had to sing it, plus it is funny.) Then after awhile I would say to Megan, "Hey Megan, remember mile 2? That was awesome. How about mile 1, do you remember that? Mile 1 was awesome.

While we were running, this lady came up to Megan and said, "Is that your real hair?" Megan said yes. Then she said, "Well, good because it is pretty." Alrighty then. Would she be upset if it was fake and it was still pretty? Crazy 1/2 marathoners!

When we came around the corner and saw this huge mile 8 sign, it was so exciting because that is the farthest either of us have ever run.

Another exciting time was when I saw this lady holding a "Run Forrest Run" sign and I said, "Hey, Megan, that is us!" We realized that it was Lindsey's mom holding the sign and we starting jumping up and down and screaming. Megan is saying, "James and Lindsey are behind us."

Then another time when we were running. This guy in a brown suit got out of his car and was whining to the policeman, "How am I supposed to get to the U of U with all these peeeeeeeeeeople? My daughter has a recital." That was funny.

After about Mile 10 we caught up with Raquel and this big guy flew past me and bumped me, I yelled, "What a JERK!!!" Then I realized that jerk was James and then it was funny, of course. So, for a little while it was James, Lindsey, me, Raquel and Megan running together. James, Lindsey and I ran the rest of the way together. I kept singing to Lindsey. I said, "is that annoying?" and she said, "um. let's just talk." Then when we got to the 1/2 mile mark, James took off, then Lindsay took off, then I took off. Then I slowed down, because really it hurt to take off. But, I came in 30 seconds behind Lindsey. AND that's okay.

As we got to the last 1/2 mile, this big black truck with a timer on it was honking, that was annoying, but right behind this truck were three marathon runners. That was cool to see the first marathoners come in. I finished with the 4th guy.

Here we are after the race. Gary was the one with this great idea, but he hurt his foot about three days before. The doctor told him not to run. I was proud of him though because he rented a bike the night before we left and decided to do the bike tour. He would have rather been a runner, but at least he still got to do something. I missed him during the run. He will be there next year!


Isabel ran the 1K. We are pretty sure that she came in second of the girls. She has been into running a lot lately. We are going to get her trained to run the 5K next year. She is excited.

Here Isabel is at the starting line of her race. Can you find her?

Here she comes down the straightaway.

And there she goes to the finish line. Good Job, Isabel!!!

That night we had a "Run Forrest Run" Bar-B-Q at the Stapley's. We all had our "Run Forrest Run" T-shirts on. That was the name of our team, if you haven't guessed by now.

FRONT:




BACK:

(Notice my heating strip below my calf. Those were awesome!)

Here are the Forrest girls who ran the race. Notice that I am about 13 years older then all of them. But, that just makes me look like a cool old person. I don't think you can tell that I look that much older, but then you see the elbows. My elbows look old. Oh well.

Here is what we looked like running.
This was a great experience. I am really glad that Gary had the idea and we all got into it. Well, really, I wasn't all that excited about it until I went and got my number at the Salt Palace. That is when I started to feel cool. I was in pain for about two days. Today, I have an ankle that is bugging me, but as soon as I am all good, I am going for a run. This really gives me a whole new perspective into running.

Some other exciting things that happened:

**A picture of Lindsay's mom holding the Run Forrest Run sign got into the Salt Lake Tribune.

**We all finished the race pretty close to each other.

**James who drinks soda all the time and didn't train very well, beat us all.

**For the next couple of nights after the race all I could think about before falling asleep was different streets that I was running on. Weird.

**I really didn't train very well for this. The most I had ever run was 7 1/2 miles. Because my life is two preschools, two screaming three year olds, potty training, violin lessons, girl scouts, motor group, YW secretary, 100% V.Teaching, two screaming three year olds, losing my best friend, Pepsi, (1. because it is bad for me and 2. another reason that is too embarrassing to mention), a crazy dog, stamp club, dentist appointments, assistant YW basketball coach or should I say cheerleader, two screaming three year olds, deciding whether or not to switch schools, switching schools, ordering uniforms for the new school, birthday parties, homework,10 year old drama, 7 year old drama, whining...tons and tons of whining, allergies, hives, sick kids and all that is without cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping and doing laundry. Oh, and did I mention two screaming three year olds?. Thanks, Denise, for pointing out that I do a lot of stuff.

**I ran the whole thing. whoop!

We had so much fun that we are going to do it again next year. I think Megan is coming to Denver for the Boulder Bolder and then the Run Forrest Run Team should be reunited again this summer in Bear Lake for another 1/2 marathon. That will be so awesome! Watch out!!!