MY NEW ADDICTION

Okay, so I have a new little addiction that all started with a "little" race called Ragnar!

So if you haven't heard about this crazy race, here it is in a nutshell. It is this super intense race that is done in different states all across the U.S. Here in UT it goes from Logan to Park City (about 190 miles). You have a team of 12 and you run relay with your team and end up running three times within 24 hours. I know crazy huh? So what your thinking is why in the H*** would anybody want to do such a thing, let alone pay a good chunk of money to do it (at least that's exactly what Zach thinks). Well Zach's dad and sister Ashley had both done it before and my sisters have done it down in AZ so I had started to gain some interest in doing it. So when our friends brought up the idea to do it, of course I was all for it. I always like a little challenge in my life and wanted to experience it for myself. So last February I started training for this race that was in July. Now I have always ran for a little exercise but not as intense like this. In my training I decided to run a half marathon (since i was going to be running that far anyway I might as well make it fun and do a race). So last May I ran a half marathon in Provo and this is how it all began. Although it was stinking hard and it was pouring rain and hail the whole time I LOVED IT!!! I love the adrenaline rush of passing people (especially guys :) ) and I ended up doing pretty good. I finished in 1 hour and 42 minutes (7:49/mile pace) and got 2nd in my age group of 95 poeple, 63rd overall of 650 + people, and 13th out of all the girls (who are my real competition).

Then came the ragnar race. Three of my four sisters ended up being on my team and we also had Kamille Tubbs and her mom in our van. Jordan Sessions and her two friends and my sister's cousin and her friends made up our second van. We had a total blast!! It was definitely the adrenaline that keept me going, not the 2 hours of sleep! :) But again my obsession of competing just took over and I LOVED passing people and could not stand it if someone passed me. We did a ton better then we expected and just had so much fun! Our team got 7th in our division and finished in 29 hours and 6 minutes. Here are a few pics of the fun...

Here is the starting line where it all began in Logan. I was the first runner and got to start us off. It was fun to be at the starting line. My first leg was about 8 miles and I did bout a 7:15/mile pace. My second run was my hardest with 1 mile straight up hill and then the next 7+ mostly a strong downhill. I paced a 6:58/mile with all of the downhill. My last leg was supposed to be my easiest with only 4 + miles but it felt the hardest because I was so worn out and it was my slowest pace at about 7:45/mile. It was all worth it though!!! (In a sick and twisted way)

Our van!!!

Me and my sisters! It was so fun racing with them! They are just as competitive as me! :)

Our victory pose! Aren't we tough?!

Just enjoying our celebration drinks at the finish line as we waited for van 2 to come in! We got massages and just hung out.

 

Not sure why this one is so small but this is our end of the race massage. We were all very sore. Yes, we are dorks!!! Gotta love sisters!

 

Our whole team!! We hardly got to see the other van, only at our exchange points and the finish line. They did awesome though!!

Our team shirts. Our team name was "Hit the Ground Running" made up by Mandy Vance...so clever! :)

So, I wish I could say my obsession ended there, but then I moved on to bigger and better races like the big city of Perry's 24th of July 5K race. :) Once again I had to feel the adrenaline rush of beating people. I couldn't just run it for fun you know, so instead I have to run hard and make sure I pass people and don't let others pass me. I finished in around 20 minutes, pacing around 6:50/mile. I got 1st in my division, 13th overall, and 2nd for girls.

Then, Peach Days 10K race rolled around a couple weeks ago. When my alarm went off that morning to go, I was still tired and wasn't sure if I wanted to do it, but the obsessive part of me got me out of bed and to the race. Once again I had to go so hard I felt like throwing up for a lot of the race instead of just having fun. (I can't let people beat me :))  I finished in 44:53 pacing about 7:15/mile. I got 1st in my division, 5th in girls, and I think 23rd overall.

My metal!!

So there you have it folks!! I have a new addiction to running races. I don't know why, but my competitive edge gets the best of me. The next race on the schedule is the Turkey trot with my sisters down in AZ. They better watch out cuz I can't let them beat me... ;)