13.1 - What a blast!

Well, I survived the half marathon. And I must say that I enjoyed it. It was tough and kicked my butt! Other than waiting 10 minutes for the disgusting port-a-pottie and that adding at least 10 minutes to my time, I finished in the time that I was aiming for. So all in all, it was a great morning. Here is me and Nat crossing the finish line, she finished before me, but came and ran the last bit and crossed the finish line with me, it was fun. We sprinted the last 30 feet, it was a blast.

This is one that the SLC Marathon people took, this was at like mile 11 or so running down State Street... Running fro 9th South to South Temple was tough... the hardest part of the run it's mile 11 and 12.

Here are the girls that ran, Ang, Nat, my co-worker Anna, my cuz Maria and me. My dad and Denise came and got us all flowers, it was so great to have everyone there supporting us! THANKS Seth and Aaron and Blake for coming to support me too! I loved seeing you as I ran up to the finish line!

Here are the sisters, I'm still trying to get Beck to commit to doing the Moab Half next year. That is the one that me Nat and Ang want to do.
It was such a great experience and so glad I did it. Next year the goal is to do it with out stopping. Just running straight through the 13.1 miles.

MARATHON UPDATE - TIME CHANGE

An addendum to the finish line time:

For those of you that feel so inclined to greet me at the finish line, I was mistaken by the time. The race starts at 7:00am so will be crossing the line around 9:30am-ish (or later if it really kicks my booty). So be there by 9:15am-ish.

This has been a public service announcement...

4.18.2009 - A day to go down in history!

Well, I did it. I done gone signed myself up to run/walk/crawl/cry the Salt Lake Half Marathon. A blessed, beautiful 13.1 miles. Not sure how I got suckered into this one - man peer pressure is not a good color on me, I give in way to easily.

Actually, I'm excited to do it and I am doing for me. To see if I can actually finish something that is hard. I have wanted to give up about 15 times a week since the end of January when I dedicated myself to this. But, all in all, I am really proud of myself... Let me preface why I'm so proud- I hate running - I'm generally a very lazy person by nature and at all possible times, I will find a seat and sit down and not do a thing. So what better way to get back at my lazy arse in shape and run a measly 13.1 miles.

It has been a trial, I'm not anywhere near where I really wanted to be by this date, but nonetheless, I ran (with a couple of walks in there) 10 miles last Saturday and it didn't kill me and I have managed to drop 15 lbs. I may keep this exercising thing going. And maybe next year, I may do it again with the goal of not stopping at all - a constant running pace the entire time, we will see about that...

This year, as I crawl over the finish line in just a hair under 12 hours, I will be so proud that I finished. If you feel the urge to come and pull my dying body over the finish line and cheer me on, it is Saturday 4.18.09 at the Gateway. I'm hoping to cross the finish line in about 2 and a half hours, so be at the Gateway Mall no later than 10:15am!!

My sisters Nat & Ang, and coworker Anna, and my cuz Maria will all be running! GOOD TIMES and GO OMERS!!

Family Fun Time

Natalie came into town a little bit ago and Gar, all by himself, with no help from me, put together a family photo shoot with this great photographer, Kami Snarr. She is great, very non-triditional and we all love how they turned out.

This is just the sisters...

I could not love this one more. These kids are adorable!

The fam-damily

I just love these two of me and my lovah, and it is SO very rare that I like a photo of me. This Kami girl is good!
Beck's fam - those are some gook looking kids
Ang's good looking troupe!

Long Lost Friends

I play around on a website called Facebook. It is a social networking website and I love it. I tend to waste a ton of my time on Facebook. I have gotten in touch with some long lost friends that I thought I would never see or hear from again. Some friends from Germany, elementary school, middle school, and high school....

Well, a hundred years ago, when I moved back from Germany, I made a great friend, Jenn Horn. We became instant BFF's in 9th grade and were inseparable from the moment we met. Well, 11th grade hit and I became a brat and Jenn and I went our separate ways, all my doing and I have felt horrible ever  since. I have always felt like I lost a great friend due to my stupidity. Well we recently became facebook friends and chatted here and there about life. She lives in Atlanta and to make a long story short, I was going to Atlanta on a business trip in February and we decided to do dinner. It was such a blast. I was so glad that I got the night to see her and apologize for being a bad friend and asked her to forgive me. It felt so great to mend that bridge and to have her friendship again.  Here we are 13 years after we graduated from high school...

Jenn, thanks so much for dinner, it was such a blast! Can't wait to see you again!

A funny thing...

"A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum"

is the show that Garrick is opening tomorrow.

It is playing at the Egyptian Theater in Park City. He is playing Miles Gloriosus..

It plays from Feb.ruary 13 thru March 21
Performances Thursday through Saturday at 7:30pm; Sunday matinee at 2:00 p.m.
Tickets $16-$30, Cabaret tables available—call box office
435-649-9371

Don't miss this one! Break a leg my sexy greek god!

Pittsburgh, PA

Last November I went to Pittsburgh for work and was not too excited to go to Pittsburgh. Just thought it would be a bunch of steel mills and all grey... I was pleasantly surprised with this town. I rather enjoyed myself. It is a pretty city. They city of bridges, I did not know that. I also learned that McFeely from Mr. Rogers is huge there, ketchup is from there and they have the biggest sports fan base I have ever seen...

Anyway, the convention was great and I got to see the city. It has lots of rolling hills and one is a large hill, well, really a cliff and they have what the call the "Incline". It's a trolley car that is pulled up the cliff. At the top is a great town that I am in love with. Mount Washington is the little town on top of the incline. Here is us going up the incline.

And me in front of the trolley...

This is the view from my room. It's the Steeler's Stadium. The Heinz Stadium. While I was there there was a football game and a hockey game. The city was CRAZY in all the gear for both teams. We were looking for a lunch place on the Steelers game day and the stores were blaring the Steelers fight song... "Here we go.... Here we go... Pittsburgh going to the Superbowl". It's a super catching tune and still can't get it out of my head and sang it the whole Superbowl game and was glad when the Steetlers won it!!!
This is a view from on top of the incline and Mount Washington. It is a great city. I recommend it.
Since Pitts is the city of bridges I had to get a pic of one. The 2 rivers run together and connect into the Ohio river. That is why there are so many bridges.

The last day we had some time so we went to the university area. It is a huge college town and the university area has a lot of the older architecture. I went into a Jewish temple, it was so beautiful. Saw the Torah... and saw one of the greatest non-denominational churches. I could have sat in there all day. It had 50 foot stained glass windows with all religious pix as well as great people from history and events from history. Anyone can use that chapel. I just loved that idea, one chapel for everyone.

Here are some of the 50 foot stained glass. Beautiful huh!

These are the Torahs...
The pic below is the main study hall of the University of Pittsburgh. Isn't so beautiful! I would love to go to school in a building like that.
I really enjoy Pittsburgh and would lovef to go back one day!!!! Go Steeler's!!!