So this took me forever to write! Summer has been crazy busy. This post will probably be more pics than text since it’s been 2 weeks, and right now Connor is crawling all over me- so we will see what happens. Evan is watching Gnomeo & Juliet, Connor could care less- he just wants my iPad!

We went up to Bryce Canyon on Thursday before the race and stayed at Ruby’s Inn RV park. Love that place. We’ve stayed twice now. It’s only a two-hour drive, I can’t believe we haven’t been to Bryce more!

Ruby's Inn RV Park

Sean & Pepper came in their motorhome and this is Pepper’s first half! Tiffany, flew in to Vegas from her Hawaiian vacation, (FUN) dropped family off at home in Moapa and drove all the way to us. And followed gps and got lost. lol. (sorry Tiff). She stayed with us.

We stayed at Ruby’s Inn about a month before and we parked in the trees, just what you would expect. This time they parked us in the back- not one tree. I made my reservation in March and was a little upset there was not ONE tree. But I ended up liking it. lol The spaces were so big Sean and Pepper could park backwards so our doors were facing each other, it was flat and easy to see the kids. They could ride their bikes all around and I could see them. They rode and rode and rode their bikes. A month prior I couldn’t keep the kids to stay in our camp or out of other people’s camp, and couldn’t see them if they just walked off. So it all worked out for the better.

Our motorhome. =)

Our view- see no trees! We are in a National Park!

Friday night we had pasta and tried to go to bed early. Connor climbs out of his playpen now so that was a pain. Yes he’s in the 98% for height and weight for a 19 month old. He’s 30lbs and not afraid to fall out and split his lip, fall on his face, etc. So eventually I went to sleep.

Elevation is 7700' at the start and 5891' at the finish.

The race started at 6:am. I got up at 5 had oatmeal and we met outside at 5:30, I think. It has been two weeks. We stepped outside and it was FREEZING! Maybe 40, I have been used to the 75 degree nights. We jogged to the start, about 1 mile, and tried to get warm, my hands were freezing! I had my jacket and one for Tiff. It’s hard to think about cold weather gear when it’s been 100 degrees for a month! I didn’t have my gloves. At the start they had big Bon Fires, but it was crowded with 1000 people. It was dark and cold. But we turned our jackets into the UPS truck, stretched and headed for our starting position.

Just before the Race! It's Freezing!!

The start. Pepper & Tiff. =)

I took a couple of pics and then we were off! We run to the light turn right on hwy 12 and head down the road for 13 miles! It was beautiful.

I felt pretty good for about 9 miles. Once we got to Tropic it flattens out and there were a few rolling hills. I think this was my first stop. I stopped to take a pic of the town, while others stopped for water. And it’s also an excuse to take a tiny break. Tropic was a cute, tiny town with lots of people cheering for their friends and family.

Tropic- sorry blurry!

Oh the mile markers were the best I have ever seen! There were different poses at each mile.  And I guess one of the water stations had life savers. I missed that! But did see two kids dressed as life savers. That would have been nice. Oh well.

Mile Marker 5

I'm so glad I was not in there when that happened!! Had to take a pic. (my first stop)

At about 10 miles I was ready for it to be over. lol. I started to get a cramp or side stitch. I didn’t want it to get worse so I tried stretching my arms straight up. It might have helped. Mile 12 was my slowest with the most walk breaks. You would think I should just go fast and get it over with but I was tired. A few people had passed me and got farther and farther away. Then this guy, maybe 55, passed me with about a half mile to go and I decided to try and stay with him. I told him I’m glad he came to keep me running. So we were talking and he said only 200 yards. We were running a 7:45 pace, I told him I never run that fast, he said I was doing good, then we were running 7:20, then I passed that big group that passed me, we turned left to the finish and I sprinted as fast as I could- I actually ran 5:57 for a second. lol. And I beat the guy who made me run fast. Everyone was cheering because we were literally racing as fast as we could. It was great! I saw 1:54 on the clock. Then I about died!

The finish line pic I stole.

There were so many people after the finish, all I saw was water, then I went to the finish to look for Pepper and Tiffany. I stood there a couple of minutes then I was about to black out. I kneeled down to not pass out and that’s when Pepper must have finished! I needed to keep walking or something. I finally found the bathrooms. I wanted to wait to see Pepper and Tiff- but couldn’t. I did see you could pay for a hot breakfast of eggs, bacon, etc. I couldn’t believe they only had water. Then I saw a girl eating a banana and asked her where she got it. Since there was so many people after the finish, I never saw the food. It should have been organized a little better.

After the race.

Then Pepper and Tiff saw me and we stretched and talked and Tiffany had her blisters fixed at the medic tent. I got a band-aid case for my purse! Had an orange then we went to see our results. WooHoo 1:54:44.4. lol

Here a graph of the downhill and my splits.

Graph - you can see where my short walk breaks are starting at 10.5 miles.

Splits - I always forget to stop my watch- mile 14 was fast! =)

Then after the race we got on the bus and went back up the hill.  Mike happened to be out with the boys and we all went to breakfast in the hotel.  It was perfect because we were starving!

After breakfast a quick pose.

After breakfast and lunch we decided to not give the boys naps and went to Bryce Canyon for a little hike.  We went to Bryce Point and hiked it.  Very stroller friendly.  Connor cried on the shuttle the entire time and cried in the stroller and cried if I held him.  Oh kids.  lol  He finally was happy walking up this hill- but that was it- until he fell asleep! =)

The only time Connor was not crying.

So Cute!

Our family pic. lol Poor Connor was tired.

The Reddish Family- with niece.

We had the guys push uphill. =)

Finally! They fell asleep on the hike.

Well I think that’s all I can think of!  It was lots of fun and can’t wait to do it next year!  The weather was so perfect in the upper 70′s when at home it was in the 100′s! =)

Thanks for reading!

- Posted via iPad ~ Amber