Shelley's First Half-Marathon

When I signed up for the Mesa Falls half-marathon I had just finished my 2nd year of running the ragnar. I'm always on a high after a race, and tend to sign up for my next one during this high, and realize my insanity later. Such was the case with the Mesa Falls half-marathon, my 1st half-marathon. When I actually started to take my training for seriously (about 2.5 weeks ago) I realized that I was cutting it short and probably wouldn't be as ready for my first half as I had planned. The longest run I had time to get in before the big day was 8.15 miles last Saturday. I felt really good after it, even though I drank too much water, but I was hopeful.

My dad let me borrow his garmin for the week, it was good to run with it a few time before the half to get used to it. But it saved my life, I loved knowing my pace and my distance at all times, it helped me stay on track.

So this morning arrived, and the first thing that could go wrong, does. I slept in! I don't understand, I set my alarm. Oh well, I jumped out of bed, got ready super fast, grabbed my bag (which luckily I'd set aside last night), my aunt Camille grabbed some breakfast for me, which I ended up not having the appetite for, and we ran out the door. My Uncle Brady and Aunt Camille are runners too and they've done several half-marathons, so it was nice to run with some seasoned half marathon runners.

Despite out mad dash, we were early, and had time to catch some of the breakfast (I had just a handful of grapes), stretch, and catch the bus that would take us up into the mountains to the start line.

The first little bit was downhill, so I took advantage of it and sped down the hill. It quickly leveled off into a slow decline on a hiking trail. This part was fast, fun and beautiful. I did the first 5k (3.1 miles) in 27 minutes, this really helped me get off to a good start. Just before the trail started climbing the 3-mile hill, I had to use the bathroom. I figured better now, than in 2 miles without a port-a-potty and I'm dying, but that only slowed me down for about 45 seconds.

I kept a good pace even with the hill and finished the first 10k (6.2 miles) in about the same time I did the 10k two weeks ago in Ucon. At this point, I was almost half-way, and I was still feeling good, passing people and going strong. Then I did a stupid thing. At one of the water stations, I dumped a cup of water on my head and down my shirt and straight onto my ipod! It immediately stopped working! I tried turning it back on to no avail, but I didn't have time to mess with it, so I just stuck it back down my bra (yes, I keep my ipod there, the arm band drives me nuts) and kept running... without music :(

At 8.5 miles I was still feeling good. But soon after that I must have started to reach my limit, because my pace decreased dramatically, and my muscles started to give. By the time I reached the 11th mile, I was so ready to just stop and walk the rest of the way, but I really wanted to run the race in 2:20, so I kept at it.

Then at 11.6 miles, I had to stop and walk a ways. I was still going good on my schedule for my goal, but knew I needed to start running again or I wouldn't reach it. So at 12.2 I managed to pick it up again, and run to the end. I finished in 2:20:04, so I was pretty happy. They handed me some water, my medal, and I walked 20 yards before collapsing on the grass, my muscles were shaking so bad. But, I know that if I hadn't of crapped out at the end I could have gotten 2:15 or better. Oh well, there's always the next half-marathon, right?

After lying there for a few minutes, I ate some orange slices and went to go watch for Kim (Eric's aunt who was also running it) Camille, and Brady. First Kim came, then Camille, then Brady. Everyone finished in good time, without injury and relatively good spirits.Oh and good news, after the race was over my ipod started working again, and we got free huckleberry shakes, yum!

We were too tired to think about pictures, so I had my grandma take some later once I got home. The medal is pretty cool, it's wood and engraved with the Mesa Falls Marathon logo.

Safe and sound at home with my medal.

Um, so gotta love Idaho. The traditional complimentary bag of goodies you get from every race was an authentic Idaho potato bag. Sack race anyone?

And here is a picture of last years medal. Mine looks the same except it says 2011 and Half Marathon instead of Marathon. I tried to take a picture with my camera but it kept showing up as a ball of light, idk, I'm not a photographer, so I found this one online.

All in all, it went pretty well, and now I know where I'm at and can set a new goal for the Just Cuz Marathon in Pocatello in November. And this time Eric will run it with me!

"Working" in Iraq

So everyone is always asking how Eric is, and what he's doing in Iraq... well I'll tell you. Currently... absolutely nothing. He was actually supposed to be on his way home by now, but the unit that is replacing them thought they needed extra time to be trained on how to do practically nothing (the predecessor to doing absolutely nothing). Well, they don't actually need more time to be trained, so Eric and his unit are stuck over there with nothing to do. Thankfully there happens to be a pool where he's at, though it is a long dusty walk to the pool, at least it is something to do, and they sure seemed to have fun!

It also looks like they've all spent a lot of their free time at the gym too!

Now his whole sojourn in Iraq hasn't been filled with doing next-to-nothing, but he has had a far amount of time to himself at home, and at work. So we always make jokes about his "work", because he usually ends up chatting with the other guys, watching movies, chatting with me :), playing his harmonica, surfing the Web and working on his independent study class. 

We can't wait for him to get out of Iraq, back on American soil, and most especially home! So this last little while he is still there, seems to really drag out, more so than the past 11 months because we know it is so close and yet not here yet. But most importantly he is safe and will be home soon!

Wedding Preview

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So, I'm enjoying this blogging thing immensely, more than I ever thought I would have -- or I would have started one a long time ago.

Well I thought I'd post pictures of things we are doing for the wedding/reception, to give everyone a teaser.

Here are the flower girl dresses. Eric's amazing aunt is a professional dress maker and is making them just like the picture, and I can't wait.

Eric's aunt is also making the bridesmaids dresses from a dress from Shabbyapple. I had one from shabby sent to Beth (Eric's aunt) and it turns out it was very "shabby"ly made, so I'm even more glad that Beth is making them instead.

I haven't ordered the tuxes yet because Eric needs to be here, but this is what I have in mind, and I love it. It solves all my problems. I originally wanted brown tuxes, but that would look weird next to anyone wearing a black one, but then I found this, and I like it much, much better.

I have a friend from back in the day from theatre who now owns his own flower shop Five Penny Floral, and he is AMAZING! And I'm not kidding, he is so singularly talented, and I'm just thrilled. The real thing will look better than this with a more autumnal feel, but this was my inspiration. The bridesmaids bouquets will have only one flower in them (i.e. dahlias, french tulips, gerbers, or roses), and all of them will be combined into my bouquet.

Below is kind of what my bouquet will look like.

And to make it even better Josh is going to recreate this for me for the center pieces, but of course with his own touch.

And the banister and chandeliers will look something like this.

The cake is being made by my old mission companion/roommate/friend. She is super talented, and such a great friend, I'm so glad she just happens to be boulanger :) I LOVE chocolate, and HATE fondant. So this is what I'm having for my wedding cake -- nothing but absolute chocolaty goodness.

Now, as to the rest of the food. When my sister suggested caramel apples, there was no going back, and so caramel apples it is!

And when my mom suggested a bread bar, there was no relinquishing that either. But I want more than just a few loaves! I want about 20 plus kinds of breads: pumpernickel, pumpkin, lemon, sourdough, wheat, rye, white, french baguette, olive bread, cinnamon, zucchini, banana... do you see where I am going with this? And then I want an equally astounding amount of spreads, jellies and cheeses. All to spread onto the slices of bread at will... and risk -- you may accidentally get Roquefort! But your imagination must suffice until October 8th, because the following is the only picture I've found, and even then it doesn't do justice.

And for the drinks we will have citrus water, and... apple cider with cinnamon sticks! I am way excited about this. Nothing explains the glories of autumn and harvest time than warm apply tanginess.

And the venue couldn't have been better, and it was the best price too! This place is the epitome of european loveliness. The styling of this place is perfect, we hardly have to do anything to it, it is already perfect. The lovely Edelweiss Center in Midway, UT.

And of course, we are getting married in the Salt Lake Temple, couldn't get married anywhere else!

 And we can't forget the happy couple! We were delighted with our engagement pictures, taken by Elizabeth Kate Photography. Kate was a gem to work with.

Well, there you have it, our wedding in a nutshell. Of course there are some things that you will just have to come to the wedding to see.

Blogging Early

So, for awhile Eric and I have talked about how we want to have a family blog once we are married. Both of our married siblings have done the "mommy blogging" thing, and we find it is a great way to stay in touch with family and to capture family moments and milestones.

So a few months ago, one day at work during lunch I decided to create our blog account, and that is as far as it got for a few months. Well, we still aren't married (though it is getting close, only 47 more days), but I feel the blogging itch... so I'm going to start early. Why not? There are so many "milestones" that happen and have already happened during the whole engagement and wedding planning process. So you are going to catch the last 47 days of that.