Anna Facts

I don't remember where this idea came from. I possibly read it on one of my friend's blogs or maybe I am just a genius and thought of it myself (jk). I am going to try to think of 25 things about myself. hopefully they will be interesting. 

1) My favorite color is blue, usually. I go through phases where I am obsessed with other colors but usually my fav color of the week has a blue base. 

2) With the super bowl coming up, I have a confession. I don't really care about NFL football as much as college football. When I do pay attention, or if someone asks, my fav NFL football team is the Greenbay Packers. Really I only follow BYU football. I love the Cougars.

3) I use to be flexible. I had the dream of still being able to do the splits when I turned 60 (because I had a drama teacher that could). Some days it's all I can do to touch my toes. I use to be able to lay on my back lift leg straight up to my head and then have my toes touch the floor. It was awesome. 

4) I miss dancing. And sometimes I even miss cheer leading. 

5) I am a graphic designer. Here is my portfolio. I love designing, I still have so much to learn.

6) I like learning and I am learning, after spending most of my life in school, I seem to learn better in a classroom environment. I'll have to learn to learn a different way since I'm not rich enough to go to college for life. 

7) I really enjoy cooking but I really hate the clean up afterwards, unless I have someone there helping me. I don't know why that makes all the difference in my attitude about dishes. 

8) I hate cleaning showers. I'll clean the rest of my bathroom but for some reason I really don't like cleaning showers. 

9) I feel awesome when I can name a typeface on something. For those that don't know a typeface fancy (and in my opinion correct term) for font. 

10) I'm obsessed with polka dots. 

11) Sometimes I feel like I was born in the wrong decade. I love most everything from around the 1950's. I have looked through old pictures of my grandma and thought that is a super cute dress I want one and maybe I could do my hair like that. You may wonder, could you live without all the great modern technologies? Well if I were born in the 1930's (so I could be a teens or in my twenties in the 50's) I wouldn't have a clue about them so you can't miss what you don't know about. Although on the other hand, I don't know if I could handle the strong encouragement to just grow up and be a mom and wife. I mean I haven't exactly studied every aspect of the 50's but college wasn't the highest thing for most girls. I mean looking at the movie Mona Lisa Smile, the girls went to college basically until they got married. Not saying I don't want to be a good wife and mom but I'm grateful that I went to college because I love the job that I have now.

12) I love movies. Not so much going out to the movie theater, I mean I will, but I would rather stay at home and watch movies. That way I can wear my PJ's and lounge across my couch without annoying strangers. 

13) I'm not a huge chick flick fan. Probably 95% of the time I will pick an action movie instead. 

14) I play the piano. I'm not that great anymore but it's tough to be good when I do not own a piano. I have an electric keyboard and it works fine but its nothing compared to playing a real piano. 

15) I like to sing... in the privacy of my home or with the congregation at church. I don't think I am that great but it hasn't stopped me from doing it. 

16) I play water polo during the summer. I am so excited for the season to start again, I should probably make my way to a pool to start getting in shape. I don't think I have been in a pool since last August.

17) I want to say I love reading. I mean I do but other things seem to get in the way, like movies, facebook or pinterest. Once I make myself start reading I love it and I think to myself, "why don't I do this more often? Well now I am going to." Then I start dreaming about all the books I am going to whip through. Next thing I know it's been a week since I last read the current book I am reading and I have to re-read a few paragraphs to remember what is happening. =/ So when I'm reading I love reading but when I'm not reading I tend to forget. 

18) I am a runner. I think I have done enough running to classify myself as one... well maybe minus this winter. I have had a hard time finding the motivation. I've regained some of that motivation and now it has become a time thing. Also, I really don't like running on treadmills and since it has been friggin' cold this winter I don't want to run outside. Now that it is starting to get up into the 30 degree area I wouldn't mind running outside but the smog/inversion/crap in the air makes me shy away from it. I have become desperate enough that I have clocked a few miles on the treadmill within the last few weeks. 

19) I love junk food. Chocolate, Pringles, cupcakes, candy, cake, cheesecake, etc. If it's probably going to clog my arteries then I probably love eating it. Therefore I have had to adopt a runners life to prevent the poundage from collecting. Yay getting older and metabolism slowing!

20) I LOVE BEING IN YOUNG WOMENS! And I will be sad to leave my young wimies in March when the hubby and I move. The new curriculum scared the crap out of me. Today I did my first lesson. I had my questions and stuff outlines on a paper. When I got to church I totally forgot that paper and kind of winged it. I feel like it went well but maybe it is because it was a lesson for me. Hope the girls got something out of it. Granted that's how I feel about them in general. I don't know that they are getting much from me but they are making such a difference in my life. =)

21) I have some awesome friends. Some of them have dropped of the map, for one reason or another, and we reconnected and they are just awesome people. One friend I've known for as long as I can remember, we lost contact in high school but ran into each other at a wedding and now we go get sushi once in a while. Another we met in 2nd grade, some things happened and we weren't friends anymore but she ended up being in my singles ward. There is even one that I have reconnected with in just the last year and the things that she is doing simply amaze me. It has been fun to have friends back from old times. Having people in your life that you can say, "remember that one time we...?" I don't know why it seems to make all the difference in my life. 

22) I love dogs. I miss my Abby even after 3 years. Lets be honest I miss all the dogs I have had in their own little way. I think why Abby means the most to me is she was (this may sound weird, dog lovers will understand) there for me through some tough times in my life. She was my baby, that always made me feel better because even when it seemed like no one cared, she loved me and it meant a lot. 

23) I love making things. I can sew but I'm not exactly good at it but at least I try. I've done some pretty craft things so that our newly wed apartment can have some decoration on the cheap. Yay Crafts and craftiness.

24) I love my husband. That's probably obvious since I married him. We have been through a lot in the time that we have known each other and I am grateful for him and all he has done for me. I'm glad he is so smart and patient. This probably should have been #1 fact but I wanted to put off stating the obvious as long as I could. 

25) I made it to 25! How interesting it actually was is up for you to decide on your own. I guess I'll finish off with this, I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I love it! I'm so amazed to see the little things that my Father in Heaven has done for me. I know there are people that think miracles no longer happen but I disagree. Miracles don't have to be some big grand thing, they can be small and it's the small ones I am most grateful for. I try to find them in each day. If you try, you can find evidences of God's hand in our lives everyday. Some days it seems we have to look harder than others. Today mine was my lesson. I shared this video because when I first watched it I just felt I had to share it with my young women. I love that my Heaven Father has given me the opportunity to communicate with him through prayer. I love my Heavenly Father and I am so grateful for the answers that He gives me, even though they aren't always what I want. I know He knows me. I know He loves me, more than I can comprehend. God is real. He listens to our prayers. He answers them and I know it!

Thank you for reading =0)

So, tell me about yourself?

The dreaded question that comes with pretty much every job interview I have ever been in, and I have been in a lot in just the past 7 months. You would think I would prepare for it, knowing it was coming. I have tried, I promise, but when that question escapes the interviewer's mouth my mind goes blank. Just like the moment when a teacher places a test on your desk. You have studied hard, you strutted into class like peacock cause you know this stuff. For some reason once that piece of paper hits your desk everything is GONE! At least for a test you have time to muddle through the best you can. When you are being interviewed there is someone sitting across the table waiting for an immediate response. I never know what to say. I usually start with where I went to school and when I graduated. However, I feel that information is redundant because it is on my resume and my online portfolio. I don't want to be redundant.

Often I feel that this question is a test. Some psychological test. What are they really looking for? A glimpse at my soul? Well I don't just hand those out to anyone, gosh. Maybe it is a test to see how well I know myself? and can I speak intelligently. One interview I had the interviewer asked me this question TWICE! It definitely had me worried, maybe I didn't answer it good enough or properly the first time. The first time was my redundant-ness and so I thought I was over and done with. When it came around a second time I was like gosh, what do you want to know? My extreme talents, habits? my addictions? Okay confession I'm addicted to Pinterest. Yes, there I said. I didn't realize I had a big problem until today when at work I got asked about something. When I noticed I didn't print what I was suppose to I said, "oh, sorry I forgot to pin that." Yea my co-workers started at me, laughed and said I had a problem. Do I tell that to my potential employers? I would consider myself a serious pinner because I try to attempt the things I pin. I'm not just out there gathering wishes and someday things (hey that rhymed maybe I should tell potential interviewer I'm a poet and I'm pretty good at it). Enough of Pinterest back to this question. Maybe they want to know some unusual talents I have such as; I have a highly active imagination (I don't do well walking around at night by myself because you never know when a bad guy might hop over a fence and attack you); my tummy talks, a lot, and not just because it is hungry; I can whip my hair back and forth just like Will Smith's daughter only white chick style; I can refrain from pinning things every time I look at Pinterest; and finally I can make a dang good cheesecake and will make you one if you hire me =) Maybe that's crossing a line and I know I am just being goofy but this question always makes me ponder about myself afterwards. If any of you (as if tons of people read my blog lol) have any suggestions let me know. Thanks. C=

It's December 3rd

Basically this is going to be taking thoughts in my head from today and throwing them up on this page... er screen rather.

Today a customer walked in 5 minutes before closing, not entirely unusual. This guy has been a customer for a while but his visit have lessened since I have been there. Anyway, our designer was up front and this customer said, "Hey aren't you the designer guy here?" Our designer nodded, "yes I am." The customer replied,"I thought so, you fit the profile." I just starred at Mr. Customer er Dr. Customer my mind didn't know what to think. Let me paint a picture of our designer. He is male, obviously, he has thick glasses. He probably stands around 5' 10"... he isn't standing very often and when he is I'm not usually right next to him. On that note he probably weighs like 280 lbs... basically I could fit into one of his pant legs, hips and all, I'm guessing. Here is my offense, I am a graphic designer and some how the above profile... well it's not really me. I guess I need to work on gaining another 130 lbs then I can be fall into the "graphic designer" profile. Okay I'm really not offended I was just like WHAT?! Really? The things people think.

Today I got a paper cut on my middle finger. I always put a bandaid on my paper cuts when I am at work because I don't want dirt and crap to get in there. Well, sometimes they bleed and I don't want to get my blood on people's printed items. However, now the bandaid that covered my bleeding paper cut today is interfering with my typing and scrolling on my mac.

I am currently addicted to Tiny Tower. It's an app my sister warned me not to play and I completely forgot about it once I got home from Sunday dinner at the Parental's. Then my hubby asked me if I had played it yet and I said no and immediately downloaded the app and I haven't stopped playing it since. Well I have taken breaks cause I had to work and stuff and now I am writing this so this is another break.

Today, I really feel like my life is lame. And I feel like I don't have any really good girl friends anymore... well other than family. I guess I can't really find the words to express how I feel about this topic. I often feel like if I want to go out and do something with people I have to be the one to plan it and invite people. Maybe this next statement will make me sound like a brat but it is what I feel, no one seems to invite me to things anymore. I had a group of friends that I did stuff with but then I realized it was always me planning it. At one point on of them mentioned that the group should get together soon. I think at the time I was working on graduating and planning a wedding and making sure I had days open for bridal showers, lots of stress. I told him if him and his wife wanted to plan something that would be great and let the rest of us know. Nothing ever happened. Last time I planned something with "The Group", one person came. Since then I haven't had the gumption to plan anything for no one to come to. It's probably all my fault. I mean back in the day, basically back when I was 18 or 19, I would be dating one guy and would revolve everything around him and friends would invite me to do stuff and I would hold off just to wait and see if "the guy" of the time was going to be available, cause heaven forbid I miss a spare moment. (eye roll). I wasted a lot of my time doing that. Plus, with going to college and my friends being in colleges both near and far... well I've never been great at keeping in touch with people, I'm trying to do better. I did the same thing with my husband when we were dating. Now that we are married I do find myself kind of doing the same thing but I am getting better at not waiting for every spare moment. The summer after we were married was fine, no probs cause all we did was work then come home and hangout. Now that he is back in school and I feel I have nothing other than work, making dinner and any other activities I create for myself. I feel slightly alone. I mean I'm not physically alone, he is about 15 feet away hunched over his homework. I'm glad he is going to school and I am doing my best to be supportive. But in the time between dinner being done and bed time I sometimes just want to get out and be with friends... but then I don't feel like I have anyone to call that can do stuff at the drop of a hat. Shrug. Anyway those are the thoughts I wanted to get out the most. Have a good day C=

A First

Today started out like any other day. I woke up.... okay correction I woke up at 6 which is a little earlier than I normally wake up. My husband asked why I was up and I replied," I don't know I wasn't tired anymore and I just woke up... so I'm up." I got ready for work and went in a few hours early. Since it is Thanksgiving Eve my work was planning on closing at 4, which cut me short a few hours, we had lots of work to do to prevent us from coming in on Friday so i figured I would go in at 8. Okay so apparently my day didn't start out as usual but continuing on anyways.

I had just finished punching holes in some books so that they could be plastic coiled, like a spiral notebook but not metal. I'm going about my work, thinking about Christmas stuff. Just as I finished crimping a coil on a book BAM my elbow came in contact with a corner of the punching machine. Pain shot through my arm, probably the worst "funny bone" pain I have ever had. I set the book down and hold my elbow, straightened it and shook it out. My vision starts to go crazy and my head feels funny, like when you stand up too fast. I leaned over so that my arms rested on the table in front of me. Next thing I know I feel like I'm coming out of a dream after a good rem sleep. You know when you linger in half sleep stage but I hear a voice say, "open her mouth!" I open my eyes, and my mouth, and I see my co-workers around me. I am pretty confused because if I just had a heavy sleep why would I be waking up at work? I see Chris, our press guy, and Kim, my manager, over me and more people in the background. Kim is asking me if I am okay I tell her yes while thinking, why wouldn't I be I just took a nap at work apparently. She told me that I just passed out and hit my head. I was like WHAT!? I passed out? A little part inside of me was like FINALLY, I have a pass out story cause I feel like I am the only person I know that hasn't passed out. They had me sit up. I had hit my head on a machine that was directly behind me, no blood or wound. I just sat there, stunned. Then people started talking about what happened, because the sales people came out of their office to see what the big sound had been. I'm sitting there listening to them and all I can do is laugh and my eyes started leaking too. I felt bad for laughing because I know I scared the crap out of them and that passing out is serious and scary but I just couldn't stop laughing. Even now, thinking about it, I chuckle.

From what I gather, Kim saw me hunched over but my arms had fallen down, like I was reaching to touch my toes. And she was walking over to me and asking me if I was okay as I started leaning (probably more like tipping) back and she got to me just as I hit my head on the lower part of the machine. The press guy saw me going down and yelled "#*(%&!!" Once I was down my neck/head twitched a few times and the press guy thought I might be going into a seizure, which is why he was telling Kim to open my mouth to make sure I didn't swallow my tongue. That's when I woke up.

I tried to tough out the day but when I felt like I needed to stay seated, I realized I wasn't really helpful. Plus the head honcho boss strongly suggested I got to the doctor just to make sure everything is good... okay and my husband was ready to come get me and take me to the doc. I called my mom and she came to get me.

We called my regular doc's office and they said since it happened at work I needed to go through some process and get it taken care of that way. Instead we went to instacare and they said go to the ER now. Off to Riverton hospital we went. I was not excited to go to the ER cause there are sick people there and I didn't want to be around that right then but YAY no one was there. I had been drinking a lot of water because my hubby suggested to do so, by the time I got to the ER I was ready to pee my pants but the receptionist said hold it cause I will have to pee in a cup. She lied. I was escorted to an examination room asked questions about the incident and then other people got called in, a nurse, a tech and a physician, I'm thinking this is a lot of people, maybe this is worse than I thought. Anyway the questioner asked what my pain level was I said a 2 then she got talking to the nurse and then she said, " you stated your pain level was a 4?" I said no a 2. I don't like the # scale for pain, if you know Brian Regan and his skit on pain level you know my feelings, kind of. Anyway, my physician, Dr. Balls (yes, I snickered immaturely, in my head) basically confirmed my answers to the questions. Told me it was from the pain of whacking my elbow. Depending on the pain, it can send your body in to shock, I think he said serotonin gets released which makes your circulatory system dilate and you blood rushes to your extremities instead of your heart and brain. Your heart rate drops and you often feel like you might faint and in this case i did. This could be medically incorrect but cut me some slack he was talking fast and my head felt like it had a head cold so comprehending vast amounts of info at once wasn't happening. BUT fortunately they gave me a handout about it that I can read later.

When leaving the nurse said that if I should start vomiting, my speech goes weird or I start acting funny I should go back in cause those are signs of a concussion that don't always show right away. Based on that my mom and I decided I should go to her house rather than go home and be alone or go to work to get my car and drive home. So I am here at mommy daycare until my hubby is done with school =) One of my co-workers mentioned that if I had been standing straight up I probably would have hit my head on a part of the machine that would have hurt me a lot more, we're talking blood and stitches and shaving of hair to make stitches probably... I don't know if they would really have to do that but I'm grateful I said my prayers today and that the part about being safe came true. Yes I fainted BUT it could have been worse. I am grateful for my Heavenly Father that it looking out for me and for my mom who is taking care of me even though she is trying to get ready for Thanksgiving and I'm not really much use right now. Dr. Balls said to avoid alot of strenuous activity. Blast. there goes my run tomorrow anyway I am just rambling now. Love you guys and thanks for reading!

The work party

Last night we had our work Christmas party. Its a little weird having it this early in the year but I would rather get a work party over with and have plenty of time for family and friends closer to Christmas. In all my years working, since I was 17 so 8 years, I have never had such a cool Christmas party. The employees had to meet at a specified spot at 5pm and our spouse's or significant others would be meeting us later at 6. The boss handed each of us an envelope with our name on it. He said, "there are 2 things in this envelope. A list of rules and the other you have to spend. Here are the rules; You have an hour, you must buy from 2 or more stores, no group shopping or collaborating, save your recipes and there will be a prize for the one that gets the most items BUT they have to be different." Then the production manager pointed out that he missed the #1 rule which was you MUST spend what is in your envelope on YOURSELF!.... Then the boss yelled GO! and we went rushing towards the mall that we were near. Opening our envelopes we each found a single $100 bill. WHAT!? My boss is giving me a $100 to go shopping. It was probably the most stressful shopping trip of my life.

I started at a Precision Mountainwear found a beanie I liked but felt bad giving the guy a $100 bill for a $13 item. Instead I went to the Forever Young shoe store. Found cute shoes but not in my size that were decent priced. I finally found some cute black ones, which I really needed for work of all things. They ended up being about $24 I handed over my $100 bill. It was officially broken with about $76 left and minutes ticking away. I ran back to get my beanie only to find out it was actually only $5 BONUS.  Racking my brain of all the stores that were in the mall and thinking where I might get lots of things for fairly cheap. I went to Bath and Body works and got some lotion because I am almost out of really good kind. I was trying to buy lots of things but I also wanted to be practical by buying things I would actually use. I went to Victoria Secret cause a new bra would be useful and I was running out of time and I still had quite a bit of money. Well I went in walked around changed my mind and right outside of that store was a Hickory farms stand and they had peppermint snow mints! They looked delicious and they were 2 for $10. Afterwards I ventured to Claire's debated on getting a scarf or 2 but then I dashed over to Victoria Secret again. After VS I went to the Candy barrel and got $3 worth of Bob's Sweet Stripes (love those things). Following the Candy Barrel I completed my shopping spree at Claire's where I got 3 pairs of earrings for about $13 that left me with change. Then I shed my coat because I was DYING of heat after rushing through the mall and stress of shopping on a time limit. I walked as fast as I could across the parking lot back to Chili's where everyone else was waiting.

If I would have remembered to ask for a receipt from the candy store I probably could have won the prize of a $100 gas card. Regardless I had fun and I like the stuff I got. It was fun telling my husband all about it when I got home. I think all the girls but 1 went to VS but one bought a perfume thing and mints, another bought a blush brush, the third bought panties and I bought a bra. Oh did I mention we had to show everyone the stuff we got afterwards. People were shocked that I bought a bra knowing that. What it's underwear, every girl has at least one so I wasn't embarrassed by it. This was the best game ever. I am glad I went practical rather than just buying tons of stuff to win. The guy that one bought a lucky coin from the Asian gift store. I'm like really? I know its only a dollar but what are you going to do with that? Anyway. Thanks for reading and I hope you have a fantastic Thanksgiving. =)

13.1 take 2

Last Saturday, Oct 20, I ran my second half marathon this year and well in my life. It was the SoJo half marathon, it took place in South Jordan, UT starting in the Daybreak area. I was kind of excited mostly nervous because I had become lax in my training. My first on I was all gung-ho doing my running everyday but there was a point where I started burning out but I knew I HAD to go run or I would really hate myself after my race.

I went to bed my normal time,because I have found that going to sleep earlier does nothing for me other than add hours I am in bed... awake. I slept great!... for 2 hours and then I was up every hour. I seem to always have this fear I won't hear my alarm clock go off and I'll be late or miss whatever it is I need to be to. However, in the past my phone (which is now my alarm clock) has fallen under my bed and managed to hide under some clothing and I have still heard it going off. For some reason I suddenly think that I'm not going to hear it when it is 10 inches away from my head with the volume set a few notches higher than usual. I'm weird, it's okay I'll admit it. So here I am race morning waking up every hour checking the time. At 5:30 my husband's alarm goes off, after that I gave up trying to go back to sleep and I was out of bed at 5:45. As I ate my oatmeal I went over all the things I need in my head. Even with all my preparation, when I got to my friend's house she asked if I had my shot blow. NO! crap. Shot blox are of most importance to me when running long distances. They are like gummy bears but a cube and the there is science behind them, all I know is they keep me going. I used them in my last half marathon about every couple miles after mile 5 or 6. My brain was freaking out about how I was going to make it through this half marathon without a good amount of training or shot blox. Fortunately Kim had some energy blast things, made by Power Bar, that she dug out of some drawer in her kitchen. At first I was weary but figured about mile 9 I probably would have eaten it off the floor.

It was chilly, cause it's autumn time and Utah is actually getting that season this year, and the wind was BLOWING! Worst combo, in my opinion. I hate running when here is a lot of wind. It just makes shedding your jacket the worst. Even though in your head you know that once you start running you'll be glad you put your jacket in your drop off bag (which are bags you put all your stuff in, usually put your number and name on so you can pick it up at the end of the race). Shivering all the runners huddled at the start line to send off the 2 hand cyclists and a few minutes later we were off like a herd of cattle, only faster. My first mile was clocked at 8:24 (8 minutes, 24 seconds) once my little app thing communicated that to me I looked at Kim and said, "I just got an 8:24 mile." She nodded, "We should probably slow down". Our next mile average was 8:45... Eventually I had to break away from Kim (meaning she left me in her dust) because I knew if I wanted to finish this race this was not the proper pace. The race went well. Most of it was downhill which I think helped make up for my lack of training. Mile 8 I started getting a pain on the top of my right foot near my big toe. I continued to run because I figured the sooner I get to the finish line that sooner I can get off of it, only 5 miles to go whoo hoo! The miles flew by as I was listening to my audiobook, well at least until mile 11. I made myself run no matter what and I made it to the finish line and I celebrated my 2 hour and 17 minute finishing time. One thing I thought was really weird about this race is they had pretzels and Swedish fish at some of the aid stations. Swedish fish I can understand because they would have the same effect as my shot blox. But pretzels? I can't imagine running while chomping on pretzels. I understand salt replacement and that they would be a great post-running snack but while I'm running? I just thought it was weird.

Yay for experiences. I think after my Ragnar Trail Experiment I am interested in running on more trails but I may hold off for a while. Give my body a break from running because I think my brain is burned out on it. I do intend to keep exercising, I'll just find some other ways for a little bit. Thank you for reading =)

Ragnar Trail Experiment

About a week and a half ago I was invited to participate in the Ragnar Trail Experiment by a friend. I found out I would be running 3 legs, two almost 4 mile legs and one 7 mile leg, on trails. Trail running is not something I was experienced with but I figured what the heck it could be fun and one of the few Ragnar runs I might be able to afford. I was already training for a half marathon that I will be running next Saturday so I figured it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to do roughly 15 miles.

Friday morning I was up 4:30 AM to make sure I had everything and get to our meeting place. We had to be to Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort by 12 PM. We packed the suburbans full of camping supplies, our gear and our team of 7. Saying a prayer for safety we headed on our way. The rain started about 30 -40 minutes into our drive. I was in one Suburban with Logan and JaNae. At one moment, about 1. hours into the drive, I was looking down at my phone and I hear JaNae yell then BAM!! We hit something. The Burb starts hydroplaning and we are swerving down the highway, weaving in and out of the reflector posts along the highway. Next thing I know we are heading down the ditch or ravine between the two directions of traffic. At this point I hear JaNae's voice but I don't know what she is yelling. I'm thinking, "We're going to roll, oh my gosh we're going to roll and I'm not going to get to run. I've never been in a rolled vehicle, please don't roll!" Then the vehicle came to a halt about 20 feet away from a steel rod in the middle of the ravine. JaNae was about to freak out when Logan turns to her and says everything is okay. He got our recorded the damage with the video camera that we happen to have. I was like HOLY CRAP!!! I can't believe that just happened. What happened was a big, lifted truck lost its tire. Logan said he say the sparks, from the wheel hub hitting the ground, so he was slowing down, looking for the tire, when the tire hit us on the passenger side bumper. We were delayed getting information and talking to the highway patrol man that showed up after we drove out of the ravine. Yes, we were able to drive away. What a miracle! Logan says the only thing he remembered was the sparks and hitting the tire after that just that his hands were moving, with the steering wheel, and then being stopped in the ditch and telling JaNae it was going to be okay. There was a guy that stopped, as an observer, and he was so surprised that we were still upright. People say miracles don't happen anymore. I disagreed before yesterday but now I strongly disagree. It was a miracle we didn't roll, that we missed all the posts along the way, and that we didn't get any other vehicles involved while swerving! Miracle and I am grateful.

Once we got to Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort, on time in spite of death defying events, we were able to check-in and eventually able to set up camp (there was some confusion but it got figured out). We had the 2 suburbans in a V shape with the backs together. Then we set and Easy-Up and nestled as close as we could to the open backs of the burbs. Laying down a tarp for the floor and hang in tarps for walls with blankets for insulation. It was cold about 45 degrees when we got there and it was raining off an on. We also set up our propane heater so we got roasty toasty. It was the coolest little set up. We had the common area and the two "bedrooms" (as we called them) in the back of the suburbans.

We were suppose to have 8 people on our team but one of them wasn't able to make it so we had 3 legs we had to cover. We got things all set up and figured out our running order, I was runner #4. At 2 PM we sent JaNae off to run trail #1 (the green trail, 3.9 miles). When she came in we sent Jody off onto trail #2 (the yellow trail, 3.8 miles) then Calleen onto trail #3 (the red trail, 7.2 miles). Then it was my turn. We had a tracker and were able to tell where our runners were but on Calleen's run the phone she had on her for the tracker died so we didn't really know where she was. We estimated she would be back about 6:30. At 6:20 I got my stuff on and had my shoes on, one tied, when we heard the loudspeaker announcer say, "team 2 your runner is here." Oh CRAP that was us so as I'm running out the door I was tying my other shoe and sprinting down to the start, about 75 yards from our humble tarp abode. We switched the timer anklet and away I went. 

The trail was marked by green reflector tape, and glow sticks. It wasn't dark yet and I hoped to get back before it started getting dark enough that I would need my head lamp. The rain had stopped for a little while so the trail had dried just a little. I have never done trail running so I didn't really know any particular "best practices". There was horse poop all over at first I tried to avoid it but once I started getting mud caked to my shoes I figured mud, poop, who cares just as long as I don't face plant into poop. There were parts where the trail was covered by a puddle, they instructed us to just run through it, I went around. I figured the less mud caked to my shoes the better, I don't need 5 lb weights on my feet to make it harder. Some times there was no way to avoid squishing through mud. about 2.5 miles, maybe I started walking, the altitude (6,500 ish ft) and the mud caked on my shoes were wearing me out faster than normal. As I was walking I came upon a little, 2 story, white house with its windows smashed out. It made me think of a house on a movie called 'The Road' and in that movie the house belongs to cannibals. I stared at all the windows cautiously and miraculously found my second wind and took off again. There were some steep parts where I told myself it wasn't anymore difficult than Suncrest and to just keep going. I made it through those 3.9 miles in about 45 minutes. I was proud of myself. It is not my best time for 4 miles but for running with mud cake weights, in the rain and cold I will take it. 

After me Logan headed out on the yellow trail. Shortly after he got back they closed the yellow trail because it was getting to be too dangerous but they still left green and red open. Teena headed out on red for her 7.2 miles. She did not return until 3 hours later, covered in mud. She had fallen 4 times and couldn't really run because it was too muddy and there were some "rivers" running across the trail die to the rain. I think it hadn't stopped raining since the last mile or so of my run. To be honest after I heard the yellow trail had been closed I crawled into the back of the burb to get some sleep. I estimated my next run would be at 4:30 AM. I vaguely remember Teena coming back to camp and everyone there gasping at how covered in mud she was. When I eventually woke up all the way, around 11:30 PM, I saw the runner that was suppose to be out on the trail standing in our tarp abode. I asked her if she was back already and she said she wasn't going out, we were calling it a night.

I slept all night on a cot in the common area. At 7:30 I woke up, we had a focus group at 8:20 to give feedback about the Ragnar Trail Experiment. After that I said I would go out with Jill, who didn't get a chance to even run, if she wanted to run of the trails. She didn't want to. We watched some of the people come in some had mud up to about mid thigh, one guy had mud from his shoulders down. We decided to hangout for a bit to let stuff dry, since it finally stopped raining, then pack up and head home. 

I didn't get to do all my runs which was kind of disappointing but I didn't want to put myself in danger of getting hurt a week before my half marathon. I loved the Ragnar Trail Experiment though and would do it again if they make it an actual event. It was cool being a guinea pig... a muddy guinea pig for something that I think would be a great thing. Ragnar Relays aren't for everyone but I think this would be something more people would be able to do. I hope Ragnar does it. I think if we did end up running and I ran all my legs in the mud, like I ran my first leg, I would have not been recovered enough in a week to run my half marathon. If it would have been dry then it would be a different story, I think I would be fine since I would have had about 7 hours to recover before my next run. I had a great team and I am glad they invited me to be with them. I hope you enjoyed reading and next week tune in to see how my half marathon went...hopefully this commitment will actually make me write =)