Ogden Half Marathon

I ran the Ogden Half Marathon May 21st. The morning started a little crazier than I would have preferred. I could not fall asleep that night so I think it was around 1:30 before I finally fell asleep. At 2:30 Zack came in to our room and said he didn't feel good so in my grogginess I just pulled him in to our bed. I could not fall back asleep though because he snores so loud so around 3 when I went to put him back in bed I noticed he felt a little hot. After taking his temperature, he had a fever of 103, I had Aaron go and get him some Tylenol. Right after he gave it to him Zack threw up all over our bed. We hurried and got him and our bed cleaned up and then of course it took me until about 4 to fall back asleep.

I woke up at 5, which was 5 min after I was supposed to have left to make it to the buses. I freaked out and jumped out of bed, threw on my clothes, grabbed my stuff, and jumped in to the car. I ended up leaving 15 min after I was supposed to. I got to Ogden and found a parking spot and then ran to the buses. The last bus left about 2 min after I had got on. Nice adrenaline rush, huh?!

I was really missing my running partners at the beginning, it sucks to stand there by yourself. The race started and I was feeling pretty good. I was running at about an 8:30 min/mile pace and felt really great other than the knee pain that I have a lot of the time.

Then I hit mile 10. By then my knees were hurting a lot worse and my hips were hurting. I had planned on taking some Ibuprofen in the morning, but since I had to rush out the door I had forgotten to take it. Then I hit mile 11 and my foot started hurting. It has only bugged me when I've been biking so far, but it sends a horrible nerve pain throughout my foot and I can hardly use it. The last 2 miles were brutal! I kept telling myself that I would walk at the next rest stop, but then I would get there and would decide that I could keep going. I was running more like a 9 min/mile and I kept trying to speed up, but I would get up to an 8:45 min/mile and I could not go faster. I did not think I was going to make it, but I kept telling myself you can do hard things.

When I crossed the finish line it is the first time I have broke in to tears. The last 3 miles were so mentally tough for me, I couldn't believe I made it. I didn't walk at all. My final time was 1:54:23 so I averaged an 8:40 min/mile. Other than I was a little bummed to not be able to maintain my 8:30 pace I was so happy and proud of myself. Because of the last 3 miles it was my hardest half mentally and physically.

I could barely walk once I crossed the finish line and limped around the rest of the day. It is the most sore I have been after any of my half's which is crazy to me because I think I'm in the best shape now than I've been in for any of them.

I love the Ogden Half and I'm grateful for my body and health so I can do things like this!

Isn't my husband the best to wake all of our kids up and bring them to support me! He even had to deal with Zack throwing up in the car on the way there. Thanks also to my mom and dad for coming and cheering for me and helping Aaron with the kids!
Don't mind my flared nose
Just crossed, trying not to burst in to tears and so grateful to be done!

Can I still call him my baby?

These next posts are going to be very out of order.

Gavin turned 2 on March 9. How do they grow up so fast? I really wish I could freeze time and yes I know every mom says that.

We started off the morning opening presents which he thought was great. He has a stuffed frog that he sleeps with and always wants to take everywhere so of course I had to make him a froggie hat. Although I ran out of time so it has some more detail now.
Austin and Zack got bikes with helmets for their birthday and Gavin has been wanting one as well and gets so mad that he doesn't have a helmet so of course we had to get him one. He was a little excited!
He was so excited to get his bike and loved the Buzz Lightyear. Unfortunately we had to take it back and get a different one because he couldn't reach the petals.

For our little animal lover we decided to go to the zoo. I've heard for a couple years that going in the winter is the best and that the animals are so playful and there are no crowds. Well the part about the crowds was true, but we were quite disappointed with the animals. A lot of them we couldn't see and the ones we could were just sleeping. I don't think we'll go in the winter again, but we still mostly had fun.
The orangutans were our favorite! The daughter was so fun to watch with her dad.
The elephants finally came out to play about 5 minutes before we were leaving which I was very grateful for because they all really wanted to see them. We also loved seeing the giraffes, they were being so funny with their tongues and my kids were very entertained.
Have I ever said how much I love this little boy? Sometimes I feel like my heart will burst with love for this little boy of mine!
I love how his hair is the same color as Aaron's goatee.
Do you like that attitude spilling out of Austin?

Does everyone else know that the zoo doesn't have lions? My kids were so upset, it was the animal they were most excited to see and of course the bears were the second they most wanted to see which they don't have right now. I know I'm whining and really we did have fun, it was just a bit disappointing.

After the zoo we went to Ruth's Diner in Emigration Canyon, it was so good!

Then we came home and put him down for his nap. Of course my little twerp took off his clothes and peed and pooped in his bed (he didn't even get yelled at because it was his birthday) so he got to take a bath. He got to play in their for an hour by himself and loved every minute of it!
That night instead of his birthday cake I just made him snickerdoodle cupcakes.
He didn't eat any of the cupcake; just licked all of the frosting off, funny boy.

A few days later we celebrated with my family and I made him his froggie cake.
A few things about Gav:
-He is very adventurous and has no fear which scares the crap out of me
-He has a very infectious personality. Everyone who meets him loves him.
-He is very loving and will give everyone hugs. My extended family tells me all of the time how drawn they are to him
-He thinks he's four!
-He wants to be totally independent with everything which can require a lot of patience from his mom
-He already likes to go potty in the potty. He is very random about it though
-He is a red head and you can tell with his stubbornness!
-He loves his mom more than anyone!
-He didn't start really talking until December, but the second he started talking he was talking a ton and now he talks like he's been talking for over a year
-He isn't interested at all in watching t.v. or movies
-He thinks he should be done taking naps, I don't agree
-He has the cutest run. He shakes his head and doesn't really bend his knees, his legs go out and then back in.

He came at a time in my life when I needed his personality! He has such a special spirit that I felt like I connected with instantly (by instantly I mean within 2 days of conceiving him). He makes me happy just looking at him, unless he's covered in poop. :) I love you Gav more than you'll ever know! I don't know why I'm so lucky to be your mom, but I thank Heavenly Father everyday for giving me that blessing. I love you!