Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Race Day!!






My trip to Moab was an experience I will never forget. I was able to go with my two sisters Kelsi and Jade, and then some friends Jen and Christy. The weather was beautiful! A nice change going from 20 degree weather to 80 degree weather. We arrived in Moab friday afternoon and were able to walk Maine street and shop around in the local businesses. Everything was really nice. We made sure to go to bed early Friday so we were ready for our run in the morning. Kelsi, Jen, and I kept asking ourselves what we had gotten into, in a nice way. Race day we woke up early and got up to the shuttles so that we could ride the bus up through the canyon where the start line was. The anxiety and energy at the top of the canyon was amazing! It was so much fun meeting new people and experiencing what it is like to be a crazy runner that thinks it is fun to run for over 2 hours (never thought that would be me:) The run was beautiful! We followed the Colorado river for the first 11 miles, and then ran into Moab for the last 2.1 miles. I completed the race in 2 hours and 39 minutes, and I feel pretty good about my time with it being my first race and not being a natural runner. The weather change was quite an adjustment as well, instead of finishing 13 miles with ice on my lips and eyelashes, I finished sweating like crazy! Saturday after the race we pretty much did nothing, and Sunday we were able to drive through the Arch's National Park. I will post pictures of us with our running gear on the night before the race, race day in the park, and pictures of our outing on Sunday. The big question now is whether or not I am going to keep running? I have not decided yet! I love to run because it is a stress relief, and I love the results I have seen on my body (I was not trying to lose weight or even worried about it, but when you run 20+miles a week I guess it is bound to happen). I do challenge anyone that would like to run with me in the next 1/2 marathon to let me know and we can do it together!

7 comments:

5 Brothers Farms said...

Hooray!! You DID it!! I am so proud of you Ri!! Nice work...it sounds like it was an amazing experience!;)

Jaime said...

Great Job. My friend and i were just talking about running in the Moab 1/2 marathon next year. She's done one before in the fall and didn't like training all summer, she felt like she couldn't do anything else. But how was training in the winter. I don't like running a long ways on treadmills. But then I remembered you were doing this one and we saw that the race was last weekend and I was waiting for your post. I'm glad it went well. would you recommend that one for us? Part of me still just wants to do a long bike race. Maybe I'll do both, but not till next summer after baby. Good work.

Stace said...

Kudos to you! It sounds like such a beautiful place to run!

Crissie said...

Congrats RiRi. I think people are nuts who run for 5 minutes, let alone 2 hours! I did a 5k one time, walk. I got passed by a pregnant lady. Not for me.

~Four Tully's~ said...

Good for you!! I am sure it was a lot of hard work, you & your sister are truly an inspiration!! Let me know when you guys come back up here again, would love to have dinner.. Take care!

Shelly and Bryce Stanger said...

Way to go Rian you are awesome!!

The Merricks said...

I need to add you to my blog, email me at captainmerrick@hotmail.com so I can add you. Megan



Kaden has recently discovered his voice, and when he starts talking you better plug your ears!