Zions Ragnar Trail Race

This last weekend, April 26th through the 27th, my cousin, Krystyn and I ran in the Zions Ragnar Trail Race. 

It was a bonus weekend, not only did I get to spend time with my cousin, my Mom and my Aunt Julie (Krystyn's Mom) came down to spend the weekend with me in St. George.....well minus the time Krystyn and I were at the race. 

We did get to see some of St. George together, and it was fun to just sit around and talk. I just want to say, I have been blessed with a wonderful family.

Back to the race. Did I mention this was a Ragnar Race?? My very first Ragnar Race. Did I also mention that this was a trail race? Meaning, I would be running in the backwoods on a little trail, with ruts and rocks sticking up out of the ground, loose rocks, and uneven terrain. Again, did I mention this is my first Ragnar??

For those who don't know what a Ragnar Race is, it is a relay run. It takes 2 days to run the race since you get to run 3 times throughout the 2 days. There was 8 on my team. There were 3 trails we each had to run once. We would each take turns running one of the courses, till all of us had run all 3 trails. We each ran roughly 15 miles. It is different then a Ragnar on the road, we got to camp, sit around, eat, get a massage and sit by the campfire instead of following a runner crammed into a van with other smelly people and driving all night.

Tent city!

The race was held just outside of Zions National Park at a place called Zions Ponderosa Ranch. We had to drive through the park and come out on the way to Kanab to get to this ranch.

There were thousands of people there, this is only one side of camp and my camera doesn't do justice as to how many people are actually there.

That white tent is where you would start and finish your trail race.

This is what the course looked like. The Green run was 3.9 miles, the Yellow run was 3.8 miles and the Red run was 7.2 miles. 

The Yellow trail was my first run, I was the 5th runner and started my running time about 5 P.M. The first little bit wasn't too bad, but once you hit that incline, it is pretty much straight up. I was hiking not running, though some people did run up the mountain. At one point you are on top of the mountain and able to look out over the beautiful scenery. Once up and over the mountain the run down was fun, I would say the run down was my favorite part of the all the trails, though going up was brutal! 

I had to run the Red trail at midnight....needless to say I walked a good amount of it. I had a head lamp but after watching 3 people trip and I myself almost tripping I decided I would be safe and walk instead of face plant it in the dirt. 

The Green trail was my last leg, and it was claimed to be the easiest. I ran this leg about 8 A.M. I was out of gas by this point. I did run a good amount of it, but my knees weren't taking it anymore. I ended up walking some of it, which I wasn't too proud of doing, but I didn't want to injury myself. 

Here is Krystyn coming in from her last run.

I made Krystyn stop to get our picture taken before she could even go get some water after her run, aren't I a nice cousin?

Just for fun, I saw this cool lizard hanging around our camp. There are lots of lizards down here, I think I might need to try and catch one.

I will admit I did not train well for this race. It was a good experience for me though. I like running, I have a long ways to go though to get to where I want to be as a runner. 

Will I do one of this again? 

For right now I am good, but who knows maybe I will change my mind about that.

My First Trip to Zions National Park and Other Things

Dave was in town this past week!

I love it when we get to spend time together. I just wish that time would move at a snail pace when we are together though.

We spent lots and lots of time at the hot tub. When Dave made it here at 10:30 P.M. on Monday night the first he asked if we were headed to the hot tub. He was lucky it closes at 11:00 P.M.

We got to go see Don Williams in concert with the hubby's parents here in St. George. 

I love his music. 

I can listen to him just about 24/7, his voice is soothing to me. You should you tube him if you have heard him before. 

Look up the song "I believe in you". That is a good one.

Dave's parents thought it would be fun to go to Zions on Saturday and see the park and have a picnic. 

I can't believe I hadn't been to this majestic place until now.

These squirrels were fearless when it came to people!

Such a gorgeous place. I am going to be running a ragnar race in Zions this weekend, how cool is that?! 

Which reminds me....I should probably be training right now......ahem.

The hubs had to return to Durango due to the fact that we need to be able to pay for things and since his job is still there, off he went. 

Miss you Dave, but I am proud that you want to support our little family. Even if you are in another state. 

Before he took off though, I had him help me transfer my 1 cent tomato plant to the topsy turvy.

It may not be a big garden like I dream of having, but this little plant is still my garden. We'll see how well of a green thumb I actually have.

1 Cent Tomato Plant

So not too much is really going on in my life. At least, nothing really to report. 

Dave is still in Durango and I am still in St. George.

I keep busy by running (I am doing my first Ragnar Trail at the end of this month, yikes!), workout videos, learning the guitar (I am taking it slow, so no performances yet), working, going to church, reading books from the library, and spending countless hours on the internet (I am seriously disgusted with myself with the hours I spend looking at Facebook posts, I have a problem!). 

I have been cooking, and I actually tried a new recipe the other night, that included poached eggs, sauteed spinach and mushrooms. It was delightful and made me feel like I haven't lost my desire to cook. 

Living alone can make you lose your desire to cook, at least for me. 

I need people to feed! I want to share what I make with others. 

So maybe my parents should come down to visit.....right, Mom and Dad???

The other day in the IFA paper I found a coupon to receive a 1 cent tomato plant. I love gardens and fresh tomatoes, even though I don't have a garden area I couldn't pass up a great deal on a plant!

I stopped on the way home and picked up my plant.

It brought some joy in my life, I am looking forward to watching it grow.

I will most likely be trying out the Topsy Turvy again, maybe I will have better luck here than in Lubbock. 

Look at how little it is! 

It amazes me how something so small will grow and produce so much food just off of one plant. 

I am already planning the delicious BLTs I will be eating!

They Say It's Your Birthday

Today is this handsome man's birthday!

Love your face, Dave.

I am very put out that I won't be spending my Husband's birthday celebrations with him. 

Though I am in another state, I am still hoping his birthday is as just as grand.

I'll make you my Mom's cinnamon rolls as your birthday treat when you come visit me, Dear. 

I love you with all my heart.

St. Pattty's Day Weekend

What a great weekend!!

This handsome bearded man came in to town!!!

That alone made my weekend complete. 

I ran in my first 10 K! 

(My legs aren't meant for public display.)

It was put on the newspaper down here in St. George.

The Spectrum 10 K started in Snow Canyon and finished at the city park in Ivins. 

The day I ran was absolutely beautiful!

I finished the race in 1 hour 10 minutes and 47 seconds. 

That was about 20 minutes faster than I had anticipated, and I didn't stop to walk once! I was so so proud of myself.

The past couple weeks there has been family coming and going. Two of Dave's sisters and their families have come down, along with Dave's parents.

My brother and his wife also stopped by to say hello.

We went and checked out the Red Cliffs with them.

Sorry Fro, I got the picture perfectly timed for when your eyes closed. What can I say, I am talented like that.

We loved the view and will definitely be back for some more exploring of the cliffs.

The weekend went by too quickly, Dave returned to Durango the next morning.   

I am ready for him to return permanently, my list of things we need to do in St. George is growing quite long. 

Cosmo is now 7

This little furball had a birthday yesterday! 

I can't believe he is 7, he still looks like a puppy to me. Though I would say he is getting cranky in is old age. Wait, I take that back, Cosmo has always been cranky....cranky and cute looking are a terrible combination. 

Hello from St. George, UT! (Updated with pictures!)

Hello!

I never would have thought that I would have let this blog get away from me like it has. It has been hard to keep up on since we decided to move to Durango, CO. That can happen though when you don't have home internet and were relying on the free time and free WIFI I had at the airport.

Much has happened since I last posted.

The biggest thing has happened is that I moved to St. George, UT, without the hubby. Insert a big frowny face here.

We both had applied for jobs down here in hopes that we would both get them. 

Well as you can tell, I got mine. I am now patiently waiting for my husband to join me. 

It has almost been 3 weeks now since we have been apart. I admire those that go much longer than that without their loved ones. It is not my favorite thing. Though it isn't the first time I have done, nor do I think it will be the last time. 

So lets do a recap of what I have done since last posting on here:

• In the past year, we have moved 3 times together and I have moved once by myself.
• I'm very blessed to have wonderful friends, once again, to let me stay with while I get my living arrangements in order. Thank you Howell family!
• Was lucky enough to go home and spend Christmas with our families, enjoined every minute of it.
• My parents came to visit us in Durango. I introduced them to a doughnut called the, pine cone, a cinnamon glazed doughnut that is heavenly.  Doughworks, you will be greatly missed!
• Found out I had a cyst. Went for a check up a couple months later and was relieved to hear it had dissolved. I was blessed.
• Spent Thanksgiving with wonderful friends in Durango. I had to make my Grandma's stuffing recipe in a 5 gallon bucket. I didn't have a bowl big enough to hold it all.
• Saw several deer every morning on the drive into work during the fall. Even saw a nice 6 point buck (hunters lingo, for big antler rack)! Biggest buck I have ever seen.
• Experienced -30 degree weather in Durango. Need I say more?
• Lived in a 5th wheel trailer. You haven't lived until you live in one of those. It is an adventure all in its own. You really need to read up on what to expect when living in one all the time. Some things that can happen if you don't prepare for them, can be quite disgusting.
• The hubby took on a project of getting the local library (that was located in an elementary school) a book drop. A big thanks to my father in law for helping him with that. The librarian was pleasantly pleased with it.
• We bought a new car, a Ford Fiesta. 
• The hubby's Explorer finally up and died. (I have come to terms with it, Dave definitely has not.)
• Went to San Francisco with friends, for our dear friend Brett. He married his gorgeous bride, Anna. 
• Went to Fort Worth for the Fort Worth Stock show with our good friends the Glovers. 
• Got to spend time with my brother and his family when they came to St. George for a soccer tournament. Caden did a great job!

A yummy pastry we had in San Fran...I can't recall the name of the pastry but the place was called "Knead".

Cod fish sliders

We tried oysters at "Hog Island" San Fran, they were delicious!

Me and Shannon, she's normally only 6'3, but with those heels she found she was about 6'6. 

Adolyn grabbing life by the horns.

I love cowboys....

I am sure I have been up to more, though my mind won't recall what else. 

I am looking forward to the many adventures that await us here!

Now, if only Dave would hurry up and get here already.

Waiting, just waiting on you sweetheart.

(Who can name the movie quote?)