Race Weekend

 First off Ogden Marathon.

This was my first ever marathon and it has been a few years since I have run this as a full marathon (last few times has been as the relay).

This day was the 5th or 6th time I've run this full marathon and was my 21st full marathon.

It wasn't too cold waiting at the start, but cold enough.  I almost had a problem with missing my chance to get my warm up stuff into the drop bag and onto the truck so after running to get my bag and drop my stuff I was warmed up.

 

The three of us had been training together for the last few months through all kinds of weather and with all kinds of fun.

 

Looking toward the start

Waiting for the gun to get us started and trying to stay warm.

We started together, but I knew after about mile 5 I started too fast and by mile 8 or 9 I told my friends to go on without me.  By the half way point I was in a bad place (mostly mental) and did not know how I would make it the rest of the way.  It was a struggle the whole rest of the race and now that it's been several months I can't remember everything, but I do know that mentally (which a marathon is mostly mental) this was the worst marathon I've run.  At this point (as I type) I am not signed up for a Fall marathon (which is mentally causing me anxiety), but I did sign up for next year's Ogden Marathon (it was a good deal that came across the week after the race) so I hope to redeem my marathon mentality next spring.

Seeing my family always gives me a little boost, so having them there along the last mile of the race helped me get to that finish.

So happy to be done with that one!!!

The following Monday was Wildcat Run day for Ellie.

The night before this race Ellie was sick throwing up so we didn't know if we would have her run the race.  She woke up and really wanted to go to school.  I told her if she could eat and still feel okay then she could go.  She ate her breakfast and said she felt fine.

It was hard for her to run the entire mile and she even was in tears a little at the end but she came through and finished!

These two girls stayed together the whole race.  I one point they were holding hands so I told them it would be easier if they didn't (lol).  

 So proud of this girl!!!

May Flowers

Enjoying one of Ethan's soccer game and dodging some crazy, stormy weather which included, wind, rain and hail.

Annual Sole Sister run was wet and rainy this year.

Love these crazy ladies.  

We meet at 5 a.m. a few times a week to get our daily dose of anti-everything so we can deal with the day ahead.

  

At the end of a run one morning we noticed how nicely we matched the pretty blossoms on the tree.

Love, Love, LOVE Cache Valley in the spring.

Taking one of our running friends to the dino-shack for her first visit.

Mother/Daughter night with the activity day girls.  We did pedicures and manicures and ate some yummy treats.

 As much as I love spring May is also a little of a difficult month.  Mother's Day has become somewhat bitter sweet as I miss my mom and am sad to not be able to talk to her and wish her well.  It's also the anniversary of her passing at the end of the month.  However, Mother's day is also a great day to celebrate motherhood and the blessing of being a mother.  Being a mom is the best thing in my life and I love these two kids more than anything.  Maybe that is what is so hard, to know the love of a mother from being a mother, and to not have that one person who feels about me, the way I feel about these kids in my life any longer.

Afternoon stroll to the dino-shack.  

It has almost become a tradition to visit this beautiful place on Mother's day.

Cooper sure enjoyed it.

When we got to the dino shack Cooper didn't know what to think about the dino.  He was barking and trying to get the green thing to play with him, OR he was scared and was trying to get him to leave.  Either way it was fun to watch.

 

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Across the road from the gate to get to the dino-shack up a hill is this monument for an owner of the land, Garth Baxter  (this area is known as Baxter Hollow)

It says:  "To be happy, A man needs only a good horse, a loving wife and family, and a few good friends. . . . . I am Happy in deed."

Oh the sunflowers!!

  

More soccer for both kids.  I took this picture to try to capture the difference between Ethan's team and the boys on the teams they play.  Ethan's team plays up a division so they play against kids who have gone through huge growth spurts and are way bigger than Ethan's team.

 

Picture day for Ellie's animals.  Look closely as they are grouped accordingly.

BFF fun

One afternoon Ellie and her friend Jessi borrowed my phone and here is a little of what I found afterward.  These two girls have so much fun together.  So much giggling and laughing whenever they are together.