Wasatch Back

(Our team about 3 minutes before our first team member started the race at the starting line)

On June 19th and 20th I did one of the hardest physical things that I have ever done before. In January I signed up with 11 other individuals in my neighborhood and ward to run a relay from Logan to Park City. I at first was not sure what I had signed up for. I thought that when I signed up for this race it would a relay where we each run 5 miles. When I found out that I would run 3 times including in the middle of the night I had many thoughts go through my head of what the heck was I doing and this could be fun. I should let you all know too that before all this I had never run a mile straight in my life. For years I have wanted to run but never knew how to do it and where to start. I tried many times but almost killed myself and then never kept trying. This race has a training schedule for beginner runners. It says that for the first month you try to run for 15 minutes straight. It also says that if you are unable to run the whole time you can walk but just keep moving and don't stop till your 15 minutes is up. After about a month your time increases every few weeks by 5 minutes. It's a pretty easy schedule at first and it made it easy for me to do it. I was running on the treadmill at this time. I was not improving as much as I would have liked. I was getting worried because my race was in a few months and was not anywhere near to running that far. My goal too for the race was not to care how fast I ran but to run the whole thing. In April I started to run outside with my friend Natalie. I used to walk with her and we both said that we could not and may never run. I found out that she had been running about a mile a day because she was trying for amini triathalon that she was doing at the end of May. At first it was hard to run outside. My legs were so tired but very quickly I got to where I could run a few miles. Natalie had a harder time and still does but we ran together. I got her ready for her race and she got me ready for mine. There were many times that she would stop and walk while I ran and then I would run back to her. I didn't mind because I enjoyed running with somebody.

On May 15th I ran my first 10 KM. Everyone of us on our race had to run it to determine our starting time for the race. They take our average time from the 10km and then determine when we will start. The slower you are as a team the earlier you start. I was so scared for my 10km but did it and ran it the whole time. I actually did it in less than an hour. I was so shocked. I was so proud of myself. Our starting time ended up being at 1 PM. We actually were supposed to start at 2 PM but we called and asked to be changed to 1 PM because we thought that 2 was way too late in the day. The last teams for the race started at 6 PM and the first teams started at 7 AM. Pretty much everybody on our team had been running for years. I was the only one that had just started running.

Our team name was Random Runners. We all bought matching running shirts as well. So the race starts in Logan and then we run the 187.7 miles to Park City. We run one at a time. We have to vans per team. 6 runners per car. Van 1 starts with runner 1, they run and then at the trade point you trade with runner 2 and then they run, etc. So somebody is running at all times. I was runner number 7. The 1st runner for our van. When your van is running your van will play leap frog with you. It will drive ahead till they can't see the runner, they will then sit and wait till you catch up and pass the van and then the van will drive a head again. If you need water the van will stop and give you some.

The day of our race Enoch and I left in the at about 9:30 AM with 3 others from our team. We all drove together. Enoch was not running in the race but was actually a volunteer for it. One of our team members brother from Utah was running the race. The rules for the race were that if you had a team member closer than 100 miles of the race course you had to have three volunteers to help at the check points during the race. Enoch was one of our volunteers. He was volunteering at check point number 14 or exchange number 14. I was happy that he could come with us. The car ride to Logan was good. When we got to Logan we met as a team, went over last minute things, got our little goodie bags and then decorated our car. Everybody goes crazy with decorating the cars. We didn't do much. Most of our team didn't want to do anything but then afterwards said that next year they wanted to do more. It is a fun part of the race. It is easy to spot certain vehicles on the race course. We just put footprints around the car with our names on it and them we put our name on the back. We also had "together we = 187.7" on the vans.

(Enoch with me right before my first run)

(Before my first run in Liberty, Utah)

When we started at 1PM van 1 left to follow their runners and van 2 just hung out. My starting estimated running time was 6:30 PM. We ate lunch and the boys played ultimate Frisbee while we waited. We had 8 men on the team and 4 women. We were signed up in the mens catagory. We had to do that because we didn't have even numbers of men and women. When we started our run it was about 85 degrees outside and when I ran at 6:30 PM it was 80 degrees. It was really hot. When I started my race I started in Liberty. We run the back roads and through the small towns in the area. When I started my race our van had to leave me to go and drop Enoch off at his volunteering station. When they left me I was doing great and didn't need water. I only ran 4 miles the first time. Well it was hot and when I got to my exchange point with my next team mate they were not back and had left no water. ( a side note we don't carry a baton to pass off to each teammate we carry a snap bracelet. You snap it on your wrist while you run and then pass it off to your other team member when you get to them) They actually dropped all the runner but the last two off at their starting points. They then drove Enoch to his check point. Well on the way back they tried to take the main freeway to avoid the runners and all the vans. Oh yah their were just under 700 teams on the race so tons of vans and people. Well after dropping Enoch off and they headed back to the race course. Well they didn't know that the exits were all closed for construction so they had to back track to Odgen and get back on the race course. So as they were trying to get back I was sitting and waiting for them at the exchange point with no water. I waited for two hours for them. I finally caught a ride with a guy who worked for the race. He took me to the next exchange point to find my other team mate who had been sitting and waiting for an hour as well. Well while I was waiting the sun started to go down behind the mountain and it sure got cold. I was freezing. The whole time though I was worried that maybe they forgot me and that the next person would not be there when the runner got to their exchange point. When I got to the next runner he was freezing too. When we finally were picked up the other girl in our van kept saying how sorry she was. She said that they drove over 85 MPH in a 55 MPH zone to get to us. Luckily they dropped everybody off and only the second to last runner had to wait a couple of minutes for us.

(Running my first run. My team left after this picture was taken)
Well as you all know that I got sick a few hours afterwards. We now think that it was because of altitude sickness. Even though it was not much higher than Idaho Falls I still got sick because I had not water. With altitude sickness you need water to help you. I was very nouseaous and had a headache. We also think that because I had no water for so long my body started to freak out. Well the rest of the race I was so sick and dry heaved for most of it. It was so awful. I was so glad to have Enoch with me. Well I didn't sleep because I was sick either.

My next run was for 2:30 AM. I was so sick and not sure it I was going to beable to do it. I got ready to run with another of my teammate ready to take my place if I needed. Well my teammate before me was coming and so I didn't have much time. Well he got their before I oculd decide what to do so I ran. It was my hardest run but my favorite. It was totally dark and I couldn't see really anyhting but runners near me and my own head lamp. I loved it though. I loved the cool air the stars and the not being able to see anything ahead of me. I had to acutally run up a few large hills. On the hills I was able to pass other runners. I acutally felt amazing as well running. When I got to the exchange point I was so happy. I had the biggest grin on my face. I was so happy that I ran it and finished it and felt great.

Ofcourse my grin did not stay. It was not much longer after I finished that I got sick again. I tried to sleep as best as I could but really couldn't. It was a long night. I did actually sleep for about 2 hours in the later morning just before my next run.

(Rob one of my other teammates sleeping in a sleeping bag under a table to stay fry from the rain. It was only drizzling at this point)

(Hanging out before our van started to run)

I ran again around 12:30 pm. It was really windy when I started to run.
(Before my first run)
I thought for sure that I was not going to be able to run it because after 1/2 mile I was so tired. I had not slept, not really ate all night and then I had the wind. Luckily though it started to rain. We pretty much ran the rest of the race in the rain. I was really wet when I finished but it kept me cool. My team was amazing too. They would stop all the time and run and give me water if I needed it. the last mile of the race too Enoch got out of the car and ran it with me. That was really nice of him. I loved running with him.
(Hanging out before I ran my last run. It was really windy and cold)

(Running my last run, wow ugly sweats I was wearing)

(Legs of one of our runners after running in the rain and mud)
I was so happy when I finished. I acutally fell asleep about an hour after and woke up after the last runner started. We finished the race in Park City and the last 150 meters our team finished it together. It was so exciting to finish together. It was really nice aswell to have my team members come up and hug me and tell me how awesome I did. Enoch has mentioned many times how proud he was of me and how impressed he was with what I did.
(Our whole team after the race)

(Me after the race in front of the official Ragnar van)
I now have this awesome metal to show for it and knowing that I ran my first race. I was sore afterwards too and sore for many days. The day of and after I couldn't walk down the stairs without moaning. We started at 1PM and finished at 6 PM the next day. Our team ran the race in 28 hours. We came in 66th out of 165 for the mens and 167 out of all the teams. We did amazing. I was so impressed with our whole team. Oh yah Mom Team Powdered by tahitian Noni came in 76th.
(Van 2 after the race)
We had tons of fun on the race. Joking with eachother and just hanging out. We have acutally signed up again for next year. Next year there will only be 650 teams and so you have to sign up right a way. We signed up after we finished. I am excited to run it again. Enoch is going to try to do it with me as well. That will be fun. I am excited to keep running.

I didn't run the week after the race but did start up again this week. I ran 4.5 miles on Monday without any problems. I am just so happy to have accomplished something that I thought that I would never have been able to do. I learend that if you really want to do something and put your mind to it you can do it. I still can't beleive I did that. Wow.

Thanks too for everybody for your prayers and support. I love you all.