Life is like running a marathon

This video is awesome. One of the girls I met this year when Sherry ran Boston made this.

Little Red Riding Hood Century

We signed up for this race months ago and all of the sudden it was here. It's an all women's ride with 6 different lengths. We did the 103 mile option. There were 2600 women riding of all ages and skill levels. The race was so well run and the volunteers were great. The food before, during and after was great and there were so many porta potties along the way. There was even a portable hand washing station for us at lunch. They know their crowd I guess. It ended up only being 3 of us because Traci got too sick to ride with us. Next year we'll all be out there and maybe have a few more with us. Trust me if you bike (and your a chick) you want to do this ride.

Leigh Anne's husband James drove us, made sure our bikes were tip top, met us every 30 miles to see if we needed anything and even helped a few others on the course. It was so great to have him supporting us. Thanks James you rock!

The start of the ride was freezing. It was cold and the roads were wet so we layered up. Thank goodness I over packed and brought a few of everything. Leigh Anne and Gretchen both had on 2 layers over their jerseys and I threw on my jacket and vest (the best part about that is that my jacket fills up with air so my sleeves were very poofy while we rode but my vest kept the rest tight so it looked like I had 80 prom sleeves on - several people commented on them and someone actually thought I dressed up on purpose).

Leigh Anne, Me and Gretchen

The first 60 miles we made great time. We were averaging around 20 mph and not pushing ourselves too hard. We had this really long steep downhill and I actually hit 40 mph. Then about 20 miles later we had to climb a very long hill right before lunch. I was ready to get off my bike by lunchtime and it felt great to stretch and eat. It had warmed up by now and the weather was perfect.

The funniest thing I heard the whole day was when I heard this girl say "does it help if I break the wind" to her friend. She was being so sincere and I giggled like a 4th grade boy. But honestly...that is some funny stuff!

Me, Gretchen and Leigh Anne

After lunch we hit a MAJOR headwind for a good 25-30 miles. It was completely demoralizing and we could barely maintain 14 mph for most of it while pushing hard. Drafting didn't help much because it was a cross wind but we just kept pedaling through it. Every time a gust would come you would hear Leigh just grunt - it was hilarious but definitely how we all felt.

The course was amazing and completely beautiful. It was so bright green. I just kept looking around me at the farmland and streams and the mountains thinking of just how beautiful it was. The downside to all this farmland beauty was the smell - it smelled like manure pretty much the whole ride.

Gretchen, Me and Leigh Anne
So excited to be done!

Kickin' it with the big bad wolf at the end.


It was a great ride and I will definitely do this one again. By the end of the race and the whole drive home I was so slap happy...I had way too many caffeine shots in my gels I guess.

Getting Ready to Ride

Tomorrow is my century (104 miles). I feel like I've managed to get in enough miles in the saddle even with the ride being so early in the season. I hope the weather is cool but not rainy. I've got my nutrition planned out (now I hope I have room to carry it all). I bought new gloves, bike shorts and knee warmers for the ride and I'm going to bed early tonight. Hopefully all will go well tomorrow.

No matter what else happens I am going out riding with 3 awesome girls (and a whole lot more I don't know) so it will be a fun day!!!

Out in Public

You'll never believe it. I took my family out looking like this Monday night to get treat for FHE. If you look closely you'll see the following:

• Todd has a mustache (it only lasted a day...but we went out in public)
• Tayson is wearing mismatch pj's with a superman cape
• Luke is wearing really small mismatch pj's with his batman cape
• Claire and Sophie are darling in their pink jammies

We love Macey's - ice cream and 25 cent donuts. Yummy!!!

Me I want a Hula Hoop

Tonight we had a mother's and daughters date for Relief Society so I took Claire with me. It was so much fun. There were hula hoops out - which Claire LOVED!!! She kept singing "me I want a hula hoop". I loved watching her try to do it. She never got it to go around more than once and at one point was actually spinning herself while holding the hula hoop. Here are some pictures and a video of her.

practicing

the contest

I love my sweet girl

On a side note: tonight Todd put Claire to bed. If we don't lock her door she keeps coming out over and over for hours. Tonight he forgot to lock her door and while I was folding laundry I heard her door open and I said to Todd ... "did you forget to lock her door?" but then she didn't come in our room. A few minutes later I walked by her room and saw that she had opened her door, locked it and gone back in to bed. She has done this one other time that I know of. She cracks me up.

Happy Birthday Dad

Today is my dad's birthday. I'm sad that he's living the good life right now on a very long vacation instead of hanging out with us on his b-day. He is the BEST! As you can see he is hilarious and put on a princess wig for Claire last year - which we caught on film. He is not only the best dad in the world he is an amazing grandpa. Claire calls him on her barbie phone all the time to talk (really she's just talking to herself...but she calls grandpa 80% of the time). I am so grateful for the example he is to me, Todd and to our kids.

Salem Spring Triathlon

On Saturday Todd did his first tri of the season the Salem Spring Tri. It was a sprint distance and he took 2 minutes off his last sprint time last year (the Provo Tri). He looked great and we had a blast cheering him on. I love being at the finish line and cheering. My kids are going to get so sick of watching races this year. Some additional details Todd posted online.

Friday night Luke's night prayer went like this "Dear Heavenly Fader please bless daddy to win his race nameofJesusChrist Amen". It was so cute and sweet.

Todd finishing the race strong

And this is what we do while we wait.....

Girls kickin' it in the stroller

Boys eating snacks on the grass

Things they did that I didn't capture on film: wrestling, running, yelling, fighting, getting time out, pulling over the stroller, then finally leaving and going to the playground :)

Way to go Todd! We are so proud of you!!!