I'm only HALF crazy! {13.1}

I ran my first ever half marathon on Saturday and I think I caught the running bug! I have never been a big
runner but one of my friends suggested I try a half marathon and I think I laughed at the idea. But that thought
stuck with me and I thought, "Why not, this is the healthiest I've ever been. Better now than later."
I started training in January because running was something I did about once a week and it would only be
for 3-4 miles tops! For my first half I am so glad I trained as early as I did because I got sick and did not run
for a week or two. We went to Hawaii and I only ran 3 mile runs, 3 times. Later, I got a small injury that prevented
me from running for a week. Just small setbacks but since I had 6 months I wasn't trying to cram in all this
training. With that being said, it was a lot more running than I was used to and I was anxious for my half marathon
to be over because I was so sick of running almost every single day!

I ran the American Fork Half Marathon Against Cancer and it surpassed my expectations!

The day started with waking up at 3AM and we were out the door by 3:40. Guys, I seriously have one of the best
husbands because he woke up with me and drove me to the race and he was not even running the thing! He walked
me to the bus and I was shuttled up to Tibble Fork. It was FREEZING! I'm talking about low 40's here with a
little wind chill. The weather this year is bizarre! I know it's  colder in the morning, and then it's up the canyon,
but why in the world is it so close to the freezing point in summer? And it got a little warmer as the sun got out
and as I started moving but it never got hot. (To prove my point, we had a BBQ later in the day and I was wrapped
up in blanket because I was so cold.)

The first 7 miles of the race were all downhill which was amazing! I have the app RunKeeper on my phone and
I have it set to tell me the miles I have covered and my average and current pace every 10 minutes and I
could not believe how fast the time and miles were going by! Thank you downhill! When I reached the mouth of
the canyon, Andrew, with my parents were there cheering me on and it was so fun to see them!

I was doing and feeling really well and ran 10 miles straight before I needed to walk! That is the longest I
have ever run before slowing down. From there I needed to walk more, not necessarily because I was tired (I was)
but more so out of the necessity because my calves were crying! I think it was all the downhills which I was not
used to because I trained mainly on flat ground with a slight uphill. It was a mix between walking and running
between miles 10 and 11 but when I got to mile 12 I told myself I was going to run the entire last mile no
matter how slow I went and that is exactly what I did!

I saw the finish line and I started to sprint hard. When I got there I realized that the finish line was not right in front
of me but around 2 more corners! You have got to be kidding me!!! I slowed down a bit because I can only sprint
for so long and when I turned that last corner I went hard! I saw the time ticking and when I saw where I was,
I was determined to make it before it turned into another a minute and I went faster. When I crossed that finish
line I was fighting the urge to not throw up and thank heavens it only lasted for about 10 seconds.

^Do you see my parents with in the observation area with their phones?^

I ran 13.1 miles in 1:57:58:55 and I am SO PROUD of myself! 

I did not expect to run it in under 2 hours but I just barley did it!

^My dad was my running buddy near the end of my training. He pushed me and kept me running when I was dying!^ 

 ^My parents came to cheer me on and kept popping up during the route.^

^My in-laws came to cheer me on at the end.^

I loved my first 1/2 marathon! I went into it thinking this would be my first and only half and doing it to cross
it off the list, but I absolutely loved it and would do it again! I think I'm still on this runners high!

If anyone wants to do it with me next year, let me know! I went solo this time but I think it would be so much
 fun to start the race with friends! I can't quite convince Andrew to run with me. haha. 

The Miracle Pageant

This weekend we went to the Manti Temple and attended the last season of the Miracle Pageant in Manti, Utah. 

Going to the pageant has been one of my favorite summer traditions and I am so sad that this was the last year. 

The pageant is an outdoor performance about the early days of the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ and reenacts 

scenes from the Book of Mormon. One of my favorite scenes is when Jesus Christ comes to the American continent 

shortly after his resurrection. I’ve been coming to the pageant ever since I can remember and can quote almost 

all the lines. When I read the scriptures I’ve recalled moments portrayed in the pageant. It has brought the 

scriptures to life and has given me so much joy to belong to the Church of Jesus Christ. ❤️ 

Since it was the last year I tried to get as many pictures as I could with the cast members. 

I am so grateful for the many years I was able to attend this pageant! It has been a wonderful time to be with family

and to deepen my love for my Savior. I hope that in future years I can still remember the lines, the music, and 

the strong spirit felt. Fingers crossed that someday they will bring this experience back!

3 Years!!!

I cannot believe it has been 3 years (at this very hour!) that we were married and 

then we walked out of the temple doors together as HUSBAND AND WIFE! 

Best moment ever! 

So a little tribute to my husband: 

I still think you're cute.

I still love your smile.

And thanks for making me laugh everyday. 

I love it when you call me just to tell me something real quick.

I love how you go out of your way to make me feel special. 

I still love your hugs and your kisses.

I still love the way you smell.

I love making memories with you.

Either out on the town or

a night inside our apartment. 

I have fun and enjoy my time with you either way.

I love how you are the first person I see in the morning and

the last person I see at night.

Thank you for being my everything.

Thank you for being such a wonderful example to me.

I will love you forever. 

Happy 3 Years my Love!!!   ❤︎  ❤︎  ❤︎ 

Here's to year 4 and the many to come after! 

The First Saturday of Summer

Friday night my friend Alyse texted me and asked if Andrew and I wanted to go to Lagoon on Saturday. 

She had extra tickets from her work and she wanted to give them to us. 

So Andrew and I went up for a day at Lagoon. Honestly I am blessed with some of the best of friends.

So glad we were freshman year roomies and we actually liked each other!  

Also glad she moved so close vs. being in Seattle. That was way too far. I'm pretty happy we get to see each 

other as often as we do. She is one amazing person! 

(and not just because of the Lagoon tickets, she really is as best as they come)

Later that night Andrew and I went to the Parachute concert with Amy and her roommate.

Andrew loves live music. He is singing and dancing to the music and loving every minute!

I'm so excited that summer is here! Can't wait for all the summer events to come!

Heigh-Ho, Heigh-Ho, to the Mine We Go!

Over Memorial Weekend Andrew and I had a once in a life time opportunity- to go to Star Wars Land at Disneyland before it opened!

Um.... YES! We were so close to going but we had circumstances beyond our control and we could not go. 

Someday, we will make it there! And Andrew will be in his own little heaven. 

Since we were unable to go to Disneyland we still wanted to make the long weekend memorable.

We went to the Kennecott Copper Mine up in the Salt Lake area. 

I had never been there before (shocker because it's totally something my parents would do) and Andrew hasn't been

there since high school. It also had a landslide a few years back and has been redone since he's been there.

It's no Disneyland but it was still pretty cool. I really love exploring our state and the amazing place Utah is.

^One of these tires cost $60,000 and each truck has six! AND they need to replaced every 6 months!^

We learned that Kennecott supplied 1/3 of the copper during WWII and that the mine supplied the medals for 

2002 Winter Olympics when they were held in Salt Lake.

We later went to Cabelas and explored and paid a dollar to shoot at targets. 

Once again, it's a good thing we do not rely on my shooting capabilities for food because we would be dead.

Andrew did pretty well though! 

And look at this! The one on the right is a typical bear skull but the one on the left is another bear skull that is huge!

I thought it was so cool. 

We did enjoy our time together in Utah. We do miss our California and all our friends there. We will make it back 

soon because we can't stay away for too long! In the meantime, Utah is a pretty wonderful place to be. 

HAWAII FINALE

On our last and final day in Hawaii we went to Nānākuli Beach and Andrew and I loved it! There were 

huge waves and we totally stood out as tourists because we were so amazed and in awe of it all. We didn't 

have any other camera except the gopro and tried as hard as we did, it just could not capture the waves. Where the 

waves were more calm I would be standing on the shore, nothing except sand at my feet. When a wave would 

come in, the water would quickly be past my belly button. Once it even knocked Andrew over. The water was strong!  

It was crazy and I loved every minute. 

There were locals who were camping out on the beach and that is now on my bucket list. Sleep with the sound of 

waves and then hang out at the beach all the next day. I think that would be so fun to try!

 ^We did make it in and just floated around.^

Later we came back to our resort cove where it is nice and calm and no waves.
Here is where we goofed around because we weren't so worried about being carried off .

^Ryan and Andrew^

 Then at our resorts pool. 

At a small shop down the street from us we could get Dole Whip for $4 and you served it yourself.

Andrew piled that Dole Whip up so high and we split it. Totally worth it and and so good.  Now my mouth is 

wanting one. We just need to go back to Hawaii. 

And of course we needed your standard picture at the beach taken by a local. 

Do we stand out as tourists of what? haha. But I think we look cute. Look at this fam! 

Hawaii was a blast and I am still dreaming about this trip. I love exploring new places with Andrew.
Speaking of which, we are going to see Aladdin today and we are so excited! (Whole New World came to my head-
not a completely random thought). I'm excited for new adventures with him, but I would not complain one bit
if we traveled back to Hawaii.

Past Hawaii Posts
Our Ohana Vacation
Pearl Harbor
Vitamin Sea
Beautiful View
The Polynesian Cultural Center
We Love Pineapple and Sunsets

We Love Pineapple & Sunsets

Another Hawaii photo dump. Promise, I'm almost done! 

One our last full day we went to Dole Plantation and the wonderful thing- it's free to see!

There are some things which you can pay to do but I personally loved just seeing it real quick and that was it. 

It was so cool to see how pineapples grow. I never knew and I never Googled it to find out.

My mind was blown. I feel like you just can't make it up.  

For lunch we found a food truck, Giovanni's Shrimp. The line for this place was long! I am not exaggerating when it 

took us close to 45-60 minutes to get through the thing.  We got garlic and personally it was a lot of garlic for me, 

but the shrimp was good. They have other flavors that I think I would try next time.

And just behind the shrimp truck was pure jungle. Jenna and I explored the area a little and we found coconuts straight 

from the ground. And we actually got to take them home! When we arrived at the airport and we needed to have 

an agricultural inspection and I was so nervous I could not take my coconut with me. But they checked it and said we 

were good to go. So now I have one and I still need to crack it open. 

And for the remainder of the day we swam and relaxed to enjoy Hawaii, and it was beautiful! 

^Just look at that sunset^ 

We are already looking at flights back to Hawaii. Not that we are going anytime soon because Andrew and I 

have school and life. But it's still fun to plan and dream.