Fun with Turkeys

If you want to see some fun turkey craft ideas done at the Juarez residence, click HERE

Another Marathon Story

During Nana & Bumpa's farewell open house I had the opportunity to pick Candice's brain about her marathon experience. Afterwards, I promised Julie that I would document my experience and share it with the world. So here goes...

I'll start by saying that training was far more frustrating than the actual marathon. I actually started training 3 years ago, but I kept running in to various obstacles. Whether it was injuries, not being accepted to the marathon that I entered, or grad school, I just couldn't seem to find the right training groove. This year I was finally able to figure clear the obstacles, and on October 14th I ran my first (and maybe last) marathon.

The race was on Mt. Desert Island, through Acadia National Park, near Bar Harbor, Maine. Everyone keeps asking why we went all the way across the country to run a race, but if you could just see this place, you would understand why. Everything that you picture Maine to be, this place is it (including the beautiful fall colors and rocky coastal waters). Hope and I left a week before the race and spent a few days in Boston, which we loved, and then a couple of our friends met up with us in New England where we rented a car and drove up the coast. I'll get to the race in a second, but I just have to say how beautiful our cabin was. We all pitched in and rented a cabin that sits right on the edge of a small lake. When we drove up, we couldn't believe what an awesome place we had stumbled across. Thank you internet!

OK, race day. Unfortunately, the conditions were not ideal. My friend Cody and I woke up to around 40 degree temperatures and a big Northeastern rain storm. Cody has run several marathons, and he's always talking about staying positive, so we took the weather in stride (running pun used intentionally, obviously). So we bundled up, put on some emergency ponchos, and headed for the starting line.

While we waited for the gun to go off, I sort of kept my eye on all the other runners, and tried to intimidate them all with my skinny chicken legs. This is one of my few opportunities to use those things to my advantage. During this waiting period I can also neither confirm nor deny that I used someone's front lawn bush as a liquid repository. 

So finally, the gun goes off, and we're a herd of crazy people running down the highway. In my first two miles I felt like such a rube when I passed some old guy and crossed in front of him too soon and nearly tripped him. Other than that, I was already having an amazing time. Cody and I had a ton of energy, and we were having a great experience. There are a ton of hills in the course, but I had been training by running all around the University of Utah, a place that is littered with steep and long hills, so that didn't bother me at all. 

Cody and I ran a really good first half. We had so much energy, and we were having so much fun with the spectators. I can't really express accurately how much fun it was. My first half time was about 1:50. Needless to say, I was really pleased with that. Especially because I inadvertently lost all of my GU (dietary supplement) by forgetting to zip the pouch on my running belt. Regardless, I was having a blast. 

But then a bit of tragedy struck. Somewhere in the back of my mind I had been worrying a little bit about my left knee. It gave me a little bit of trouble on my last long training run, just before I started tapering, but I had hoped that it wouldn't flare up during the race. Unfortunately, this was not the case. By mile 14 the pain in my knee was ridiculous. Cody gave me some Tylenol that he brought with him, but I couldn't keep up with him any more. I gave the Tylenol some time to do it's job, and walked until around mile 15 (during this time another guy who was feeling some pain decided to walk with me, but he was maybe the most negative person in the world, and I knew I needed to get away from him). 

So I started running again, and ran off and on until around mile 20. Hope was waiting for me at 18.6, which was a big boost to my energy. It was also a nice opportunity to give her my hoodie which, by this time, weighed an extra million pounds because it was drenched in rain water. 

Mile 20 to mile 26 was one of the most frustrating things I have ever been through. I could basically only run about 30 yards at a time. Otherwise I was walking. The pain in my knee was crazy, and it only got worse with every step. On top of that, I knew that the time that I was so proud of at mile 13 was quickly becoming something of the past. Moreover, it was freezing, and raining, and I just kept thinking that my stupid knee was going to keep me in that weather for 45 minutes longer than I should have been in it! Very frustrating!

However, I wasn't going to give up. That was never a thought. I just kept on walking, trying to run, realizing how painful that was, and started walking again. I did this for 6 miles. I met a lot of nice people along the way who all gave me a lot of encouragement, which was really nice. 

At mile 26 I decided that no amount of pain was going to have me walking across the finish line, so I started running. I probably looked like a wounded duck, and I doubt it even looked like running, but it sure felt like it! For the last .2 miles I listened to cheers from strangers, and ignored the pain in my knee, and honestly, I almost felt tears as I got to that finish line. Something about a bunch of strangers encouraging you when all you want to do is eat a bagel is kind of emotional.

So I did it. I finished. I kissed Hope at the end, and ate a bunch of snickers bars, and warmed up, and stared at my finishers metal, and drank a free beverage, and took in the whole experience. 

I'm really happy I did it. I'm really proud that I finished. I'm really frustrated at my body for making it so difficult, and a little disappointed in my time (4:47). All in all, it was an amazing experience, and now it's someone else's turn to take on the torch and write their own marathon story.

The Eagle has ALMOST Landed

Quinn has finished his EAGLE project!

This is a building at a city park. He was asked to paint it.

This is how it looked before we started:

Here is the WORK in PROGRESS:

orange pants...Jackie Vercillo/Moore; her daughter, Jillian right by her and Jeanie Vercillo in the white pants. Jeanie only came to watch, but it looked so fun she asked for a paint brush!

 Ron and Barbara Rossiter

Jayna worked hard!

Mike Miller spent an hour painting in the Men and Women signs

The Finished Product!

It was a lot of hard work, but the building looks GREAT now!

We served Hot Dogs, chips, watermelon and S'mores to all workers.

I think it was fun work!

Quinn was even written up on an Arcadia Patch Blog! Here is a link:

http://arcadia.patch.com/blog_posts/arcadia-boy-scout-and-an-outhouse-makeover

As I told Quinn...he is only at the Top of Mt. Everest. He still has to come down and people are known to die on their way down. In other words, he still has his paper work to finish and turn in!

Do You Read?

Looking for a GOOD BOOK to read??
I have just updated my book blog!

Booksred.blogspot.com

It has been around for a couple of years.
Maybe you forgot about it.

I think it is a great place to find great books and some not so great books to avoid.

You'll also see what book I am currently reading!

Juarez Family Journal

I've started a new blog to put photos up of my family.  It is a work in progress.  I have only just begun and already have spent WAY too many hours on the computer.  My eyes hurt and I am going to bed.

If  you'd like to view my new blog,  you may go to www.juarezfamilyjournal.blogspot.com

So long, Farewell!

Zak entered the MTC on Wednesday, June 20th.
So far, so good!

You can keep track of him by visiting his blog:
elderzak.blogspot.com
He would love to hear from you too!

OK...I've just added Zak's picture. It was NEVER sideways until it appeared here in this blog. How odd! I tried two times; both times it came sideways. Just turn your head to look at it. I like the picture.

Engaged

So here it is! Justin and I went to Disney World and he proposed! I just wanted to put a short post on here so that everyone can see it and plan for it because I'm really hoping to see everyone there!
May 11, 2013
here in utah.

The Problem with Exercise...

The problem with exercise is the aftermath…it is not positive.  It’s negative.  Lungs hurt.  Body is shaking with weakness.  Mouth is dry.  Muscle soreness sets in. Takes a long time be able to breathe normally.  Feel exhausted, not energized.  Feeling sweaty is gross.   Why on earth would I do it again if these are the immediate consequences?  On the other hand, eating bread and chocolate has instant gratification.  I immediately feel good.  Endorphins are up.  Energy is up.  Brain is happy.  Of course I will do it again when I feel empty 2 hours later.  Who wouldn’t?  What is wrong with this picture?   AAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!

Happy Birthday Teo!

This Teo on his 3rd birthday. He and Momma went to the store to buy a cake mix for his birthday cake. We got sprinkles to add to the cake when it was done cooking. So while he waited, he started to shake the sprinkles. Joining in, Momma and Daddy began singing the Mexican Hat Dance song (you all know it!)

Da dut da dut da dut . . . da dudu da dut da dut

More shaking!

Sing it again!

So excited to eat his cake. Especially to put the sprinkles on.

Finally the time has arrived.

"I think I want that big piece in the middle."

Happy Birthday Teo! We love you!

It's impossible to get a picture these days with everyone looking at the camera.

This is Gil's video of Teo discussing his birthday cake. Very much a three year old!

26.2 Miles!

Yes, I ran 26.2 miles and here's the photo to prove it! Of course it was a completely different experience than what I imagined, but I learned many lessons, and I would do it again. I finished in 4 hours 56 minutes. Here is my story.

Here is my breakfast the morning of my race. I ate Cream of Wheat with toast. I packed a little lunch, you can see next to me, to eat before the race. Once the race starts you've been waiting there for an hour and a half, so usually you're hungry, and need a little extra something to start you off. I could only eat the banana when the time came - I just didn't feel like eating. But I made myself eat the banana for potassium (leg cramps).

Ok, I think it's 5:45am and we have arrived at Dodger stadium. The race doesn't start until 7:30am! We are so early because we have to fight the crowds of 25,000 people all coming to the same place. Better early than late. Last year I heard of people leaving their car from the freeway and running to the start line because there was so much traffic. I did NOT want to do that. I love our faces - so happy and excited. Gil dropped us off and then drove himself down to Santa Monica (the finish line) to find a parking spot. He said by the time he got there, all the parking lots were full! Good thing he used to live there so he could find a place off the beaten path.

Gil said he saw many crazy people running the race. Here is a picture of some of them. I did not see any crazy people, I was too focussed. I did see some fun signs that made me laugh. One said, "You've run longer than Kim Kardashian was married." My favorite was, "Worst Parade Ever!" The best one was around mile 20 which said, "Pain is temporary, Pride is forever." That one was very timely as mile 20 was really a breaking point. By the way, mile 2o was the LA Temple. It was a great marker and something to look forward to.

Gil had his bike with him so he could ride up and down the path (on the grassy medium). Here is a picture of the runners coming by. The crowd never faded out, I was constantly running with people next to me. There were so many people! Gil said it was a little nerve racking trying to find me because he had to scan so many people in such a short time and didn't want to miss me. Our plan was to meet at mile 23 so he could give me that final push the last 3 miles. Oh how I needed him at that point!!!

Look at that poker face! Here I am at mile 24 (Gil found me) and it's all I can do to hold in my sobs of pain. My problem was at mile 14 my legs started cramping, and once they start cramping it doesn't go away - it only gets worse the longer I go. This is why you do training runs so you can work all this stuff out before the race. I did EVERYTHING I was supposed to do. I hydrated like crazy, I drank electrolytes, and ate calories during my race, I paced myself correctly, but even doing all that, I wasn't prepared for the impact 26 miles was going to have on my body. I've come to accept this and know that if I want to run another marathon, I have to be prepared for the pain.

By mile 22 I started looking for Gil because I really needed to see a friendly face. I was really struggling. By mile 23 I hadn't seen him and at 23.5 I thought I had missed him. Oh so sad! But luckily at mile 24 I heard him call my name. Here is the video he took of me. Kind of funny, because once he started talking to me he forgot all about the camera and started filming the ground.

The last two miles were, by far, the hardest thing I have ever done. WAY worse than child birth! My goal was to run the entire race, not walk, which I did. I'm not sure that was the smartest goal, but nevertheless, that's what I did. I kept running even though I wanted to stop so bad. So by the time I finished, I didn't feel relief, I just felt beaten up. I wanted to be happy at the end of my race, but that just wasn't possible. Now I can look back and be proud that I actually did it. I proved that I am no quitter. Yesterday, during conference, Pres. Monson said, "the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, but to he who endures to the end." That was me. I endured to the end. And for that, I can be proud.

I next time, I think I will not be so hard on myself. I will walk if I need to. I will stop and stretch. I will run longer with my friends. We started out the first 6 miles together and then I went ahead of them. It's always good to have friends around to help you. I will say that the spectators were really fantastic. From mile 1 all the way to 26.2, the streets were lined on both sides with spectators cheering you on. They had bands playing and cheerleaders cheering. That part was fun. It wasn't all bad. The first 13 miles were really great! Maybe I am just meant to be a half marathon runner!

In the end, I know Heavenly Father was watching over me, because my trainer was able to find me in a sea of people, with a blanket over my head, crying on the ground after the race. I was a little confused, scared, I knew I was never going to be able to find Gil in the crowd at the end, and somehow, my trainer saw me. She gave me a hug first, then she gave me her long sleeve shirt (she was wearing!) since I was starting to shake. And finally, she called Gil and told him where I was. Without her I don't know what would have happened to me. That was certainly a blessing.

Gil found me, I finally got my hug from him, which made me feel so much better. And then we got to walk the distance to the car!!! I know there are many life lessons to be learned from running a marathon. Tatia has a whole bunch to share. I'm sure you can think of some too. I'm glad I did it. It was a goal of mine for a long time. I do feel like a stronger person because of it. Next time, I will try and be a little smarter, a little more experienced, and a little happier. That's my story.

26.2 Miles!

Haley's Mission!

I just created a blog for Haley's mission experiences!  Check it out!

http://haleysmissionexperiences.blogspot.com

And The Oscar Goes To....

Will you be watching Sunday?

Have you made some picks as to who will win?

Here is a link to PRINT out your own ballot!!

http://www.moviefone.com/oscars-academy-awards/nominee-winner/printable-ballot

PRINT out your ballot.

Mark it up.

Come back Sunday night and report back how many you got correct...well, only if you want.

Christopher Bought a Dog...or two?

Living alone has its ups and downs. I finally decided I wanted at least something to greet me when I get home for the day. My neighbor owned a french bulldog that I thought was a great dog. So I got one!

Then I felt bad that my one puppy was all alone with nobody to play with. So now I have another.

Meet Gaston (get it? french bulldog, he's the frenchman in Beauty and the Beast) and Chancho (she looks like a pig, and that's pig in spanish).