CLS 5K Fun Run!

Hey, hey! Ya, check it out, this past Saturday, October 10, 2009, my friend Amanda (in the green jacket) found out about this 5K from a friend so we decided to do it. I received bib number 1! Now how often does that happen to someone in their lifetime! Not very often, so to say the least, I was pretty stoked, as you can see from the picture below! Yet, the fun part was that it benefited the Christ Lutheran Church and School. Sweet! The run started outside of the church/school, down some neighborhood, into Murray Park, around Murray Park, and back down the neighborhood to finish in front of the church/school. The run was actually a nice one, it was a beautiful day besides being freezing cold at the beginning. It had hills, downhills, flat wooded areas, trees, and a cute bridge to run over in the park. Amanda's friend Annie, who she met in the MTC, joined us and I came to find out she's in my ward. Yeah, a new friend! She's awesome and we all had a great time!

Bib #1 baby! Oh yeah! And we also had police escorts down and across the streets. I felt so special, never had a police escort before! Sidenote, I got bib #1 because of my name was the highest alphabatized name, but I try not to think of it in that way, I am #1!

The crew after the run! I was pretty warm through the race, but I didn't want to take time to shed the layers! I knew I could place, since there wasn't that many people in our age group. There was probably 10 or so, and we knew we could take them!

Top Female Winner overall goes to..... Amanda! Way to go girl!

Here's a shout out to all their sponsors. Really we just thought the shirt was funny! We figure it will be a great pajama shirt. The front was actually cute, but we just love that we ran for the Community in Christ & Christ in the Community!

Post-medal ceremony! Annie won first place in our age division, Amanda took first place female overall, and I took second place in our age division. Go us!

Here's the statistics! I came in 25 out of 100+ at a time of 31.32.694! At the very end, I had been running with this lady who I came to find out was in the 40-44 age group. She kept passing me, then I'd pass her, and I was determined to beat her in the end. Finally, I saw the finish line, flags and all, and I just got this surge of energy like I've never known before. Usually at the finish of races, my sprint is a walk, but I was actually sprinting. As I flew by her, literally, she grunted! Oh, it was beautiful to behold and as I passed the finish line ahead of her, I breathed victory! I may not have won the race, but I beat her! Haahaaha! And I don't feel bad, she was decked out in all the latest running gear, fanny pack, water bottles, and everything. She appeared hard core, and I was just thrilled to be able to beat her. :)

Here I am, second place finisher in the 20-24 female age division!

The front of the medallion!

And the back, got to love the engraving! CLS 5K 2nd place!

Snowshoes - Atlas Elektra 9

Yes...I did! I bought snowshoes for my enjoyment this winter! I've had the idea for a while and it finally seemed like a good idea to buy them. This picture is exactly what they look like, cute huh! If any of you own snowshoes, let me know, cause I'd be delighted to go with you. Listed are a few features that I've come to love about them compared to the other snowshoes I've worn.

1. Spring loaded suspension (SLS, they call it) allows the foot to naturally lift up and doesn't drag the end of the snowshoe behind.
2. It has woman-specific wrapp bindings...I guess meaning that they are easier to get on and off. It has one strap that you cinch up and you're in, and then you unloosen it and you're out. So much easier, I can't wait!
3. The woman-specific 6061 Aluminum V frame is narrower at the back to facilitate a woman's stride. Hopefully, I won't step on the back of the other shoe as much anymore.
4. They have a lifetime warranty...and
5. They're just plain cute!

St. George Marathon 2009 - 26.2

Dad and Neal after finishing the St. George Marathon! The first weekend of October is a family favorite. When us kids were little, we didn't understand what we came down for, other than swimming in the hotel pool, free breakfast, and watching dad walk around funny for the next few days. :) Well little did we know, it was in our genes, and soon we would be participating! Sadly Emily and I didn't pull out for the lottery this year, but next year we're crossing our fingers. I reserved my first hotel room ever! I decided that if I'm going to do this race again, I want a better nights rest than the first time! Neal was a beast and ran faster than we thought he would, he got 3 hours and 20 minutes. I was at the finish line at 3:27, I just barely missed him. Dad got 4 hours and 30 minutes. Way to go Dad and Neal!

Dad coming down Snow Canyon! Mom, Emily, and I drove and hiked up the road to meet them. We missed Neal, but cheered Dad on!

Here's the beast, what a man! He is very sore though, just thought you might be wondering!

Enjoying all the goodies after the race!

Dad racing to the finish line in bright yellow! He came up to us and said he was tired, I don't blame him, but he took off again, and finished strong! It was so easy to spot them this year! I want to get a lime green shirt to wear next year! :)

My new roommate...Gil

Here's my new addition...isn't he cute! His name is Gil, a male betta fish! I came to inherit Gil from my brother after he was asked to a dance by a girl with a fish. The saying went something like "Out of all the fish in the sea, I choose you to go to the dance with me." However, my brother doesn't really care to keep him, nor do my parents, so I said I'd give him a home!

He's a beautiful red color, with purple shimmer streaks along his side, fins, and tail!

He's bonding with the rock, a sea turtle, named Crush!

Gil looking at the camera! Smile!

This is Gil's new home! I bought a plastic plant, the sea turtle rock, and the black rocks for the base. He loves his new home!

Keith Urban concert! Sept. 9, 2009

Keith Urban! Oh yeah! My friend Kat, who I work with at Primary's, called me the day before the show and asked if I liked Keith. I said, yeah! She then asked if I would like to go to the concert with her! I was stoked! So here I am, spontaniety is the best!

I'm here... at the ESA! I just recently heard it shortened to that, genius, I like it! It's almost like the EAC, which is near where Keith is from anyways!

Check it out!

Kat and I in front of his tour bus! I think he just finished speaking when they took this picture. It's not his best, but still cute nonetheless! Kat and I are escaping together, just like his tour name, girl's night out! Oh yeah!

It's just me and the bull, wearing a hawaiian palm tree shirt of course!

Got to love it!

Now this is a great picture of him!

I'm really here, sweet!

Smile! The concert is starting any minute!

My Keith Urban concert ticket!

This was at the very end. I have respect for Keith. He thanked all of us for being there last night, especially with this economy, he said it was a huge crowd! And after his last song, he put up his guitar and took time to shake hands and give autographs. I was very impressed by this, he really appreciates his fans!

I had fun with my black and white feature on my camera again. Keith walked out to the middle of the arena to another stage setting to sing a few songs. On his way there, some fans got way too excited and pushed one of the railings over, causing a huge group to fall flat on the ground. He noticed and asked if everyone was ok, he's so awesome!

He had this huge screen behind them with all different pictures! I love it! You can see him on the far left one, him and his guitar in the middle three, and him again on the right! I just wish I was closer down so I didn't get the speakers in the picture. Oh well, it's still cool! And I had a great time!

"Bah ram ewe...to your fleece be true!" Sheepdog Festival 2009 at Soldier Hollow!

Oh, so cute! I wanted to post a picture of a sheep, which were the main focus of the festival besides the dogs, yet this was the cutest one I could find! It was hilarious to watch the sheep at the festival. The dogs guided the sheep across the field, through the gates, and eventually into the gated box.

These border collies hardest job was to separate five sheep with red collars on from the one with no collars. These sheep with red collars were then guided into the gated box. The collie had to keep the sheep from wanting to go run off to their friends, it was interesting to see the collie just stare the sheep down and keep them where they should be.

Many dogs and handlers came from all over the world! We watched some compete who had come from South Africa, Scotland, and Norway! It's an international competition, and the winner received $7,000. It's one of the richest competitions of its kind in the nation.

My parents enjoying the dogs, sheep, and the sun at the competition!

Here's the course! The border collie would run up to the far left, bring down 8 sheep through a gate, leave them, and return to the farthest left corner to get another group of 8 sheep all with red collars on. The dog would them bring them through the gate, around the white post, back up the field through a gate and another, and eventually back down to the post where the handler would then separate five red collar sheep from the 16. The handler, and with the help of the collie holding the sheep from running, would then carefully guide the 5 sheep into the box. But man are they stubborn! They would be right in the opening to the box and they would still resist going in! :) Bah ram ewe!

Here's a handler with his collie trying to separate the red collared sheep.

I love how the border collie is off in the left corner lying in the grass keeping a careful eye on the sheep. He kept them at bay!

Oh, and the Splash Dog competition was fun to watch! The handlers would throw the dogs toy into the water and the dog would then run after it jumping as far as it could into the pool. Some were able to jump pretty far!

Oh yah, you better believe it! I bought 25 cents worth of feed and fed this camel! It was awesome! I quickly washed my hands after, ewww!

They had a bunch of wild animals on display to see. Here's a cute fox! Amongst the fox were small ponies little kids were able to ride! Too bad I'm a little too tall or I would've been all over it!

And check out the massive turtle! He's not as cute as my sea turtles, but a turtle still the same!

I bought a few new books!

If you haven't read this book, seen the musical, or heard the music, you need to do atleast one of them! I read the book a few years ago, but I'm excited to read it again. I saw the musical at the Hale Centre theatre here in SLC a few weeks ago and loved it! The music was amazing, and I'm currently trying to track it down! He's so elusive, that Scarlet Pimpernel!

So I love the Count of Monte Cristo movie, and although I've heard the book is very different, I'm excited to read it and find out. My sister just finished reading this book and raved about it! I am excited! Both are classics, which I hope to fill my collection of more in the coming years! P.S. I'm also currently collecting the Harry Potter series, yeah! I bought 1 and 2 the other day, so slowly I'll get them all!