Antelope Island Training Run

Today our crazy crew (Teresa, Bob B., Bob K., Skyler, Franz and I) headed out to Antelope Island for a practice run in preparation for the Antelope Island 25k/50k.

We kind of figured out where we needed to be by a really bad course map and headed out on the trail. It was cold when we started, but it warmed up quickly. The first 2-3 miles of the trail was uphill so we went pretty easy. Once we got to where the trail leveled out, Teresa decided to drop a layer (we thought we were doing a loop and would pick up her shirt on the way back).

Me on the trail

Teresa on the trail

The ground was frozen and rough. Where there wasn't snow, there was frozen buffalo tracks. Teresa and I made it to mile 5 when we caught up to the guys. At that point we realized that we were not doing a loop back to where Teresa had dropped her shirt. Being the nice husband, Bob B. offered to run back and get it for her. The guys decided to join him. Right then we ran into a few other runners that were also training for the Buffalo Run. They gave Teresa and I directions to get back to our car, so we could continue on the trail. We went our separate ways, and agreed to meet back at the car.

The Guys

 

As Teresa and I started down the trail about a mile, we saw an entire herd of buffalo. They were all standing right next to the trail. The closer we got the more nervous I got. They were huge and if they stampeded, we would not be able to out run them! We decided the best and safest thing to do was to climb the ridge of the mountain and run, then make our way back down to the trail once we passed them. It worked.

Teresa and I with the Buffalo!

We headed back down the trail for about another mile. We saw a herd of antelope and were having a great time. Then we realized that we were no longer on a trail. We were lost. We joked about wishing we had watched more "Man vs Wild" episodes and kept running (who knows where)! When we finally saw a gate that led the paved road, we were relieved. We took off down the paved road expecting to see the car anytime.

The Great Salt Lake

 

We thought we would be back to the car at 8 miles and we were already at almost 9. We decided to text the guys. At that moment, a park ranger stopped and asked us if we were lost. We said "yes". He offered us a ride back to our car. At this point Teresa said "Thanks, but we can run if you tell us about how far we are?", expecting him to say a mile or so. "7-8 miles" he said! We got in the car.

When we got back, we saw the car pulling away. The guys had received our text and were coming to find us! Priceless was the look on their faces when Teresa and I pulled up in the ranger's car! We started this run looking for adventure and we found it!

We all headed back laughing about our adventure and were rewarded with IHOP! I am so lucky to have such a great group of friends to run with!

Thinking of Daddy Today.

24 years ago today, I lost my father Clarence Karl Whitworth. No matter how much time goes by, I still miss him. He was a great dancer and super funny. I love you Daddy.

Utah Marathon Maniacs

In case you didn't know, I am a member of the Marathon Maniacs club. This international club is unique as you have to qualify for membership. To attain the lowest level of membership (1 star) one must run 3 marathons in 90 days (training runs do not count). There are over 3,000 members of the Marathon Maniacs and out of that 3,000, 23 are in Utah. 8 of those 23 are not only in my running club, but they are my good friends! (From L to R) Bob Baker #1974, Teresa Baker #1916, Bob Karlick #2031, Teri Pastorino #2021, Jim Levy #1976, Kevin Emery #1829, Me #1975, (front) Franz Kolb #1753.

If You Have a Dog- Read This!! Zoe Hospitalized!!

On January 2nd, David and I gave our pups what we thought would be a nice treat for them, a ham bone to chew on. Toby chewed for a while and came inside, but Zoe stayed out a little longer chewing on hers.

Later that night we had friends over for dinner and all seemed normal except Zoe started scratching at the door to go out minutes after David had taken her out. We thought she just wanted to play, then she pooped on the floor in front of the door. We felt bad for not taking her out again.

David went in and went to bed when I heard one of the dog throwing up. I thought it was Toby because when I turned on the light the vomit was near him. I cleaned it up and went to bed leaving the pups out of their crates. In minutes Zoe was up on the bed with me. With in seconds she jumped down an thew up. I got out of bed and woke up David. I turned on the lights again and noticed that she had thrown up all over the bedroom! The vomit was dark in color and that worried me. I decided to sleep on the couch with the dogs so I could monitor her. When I woke up Sunday morning, it looked like a massacre. There was blood everywhere! Poor little Zoe had vomited and pooped blood all over the house! After a few minutes of hysterical crying, I called two animal hospitals and both told me to get her to the ER ASAP! I scooped her up and flew, barely able to see the road through my tears.

Once there the doctor looked at her and diagnosed her with Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis (HGE) and suggested that we admit her into the doggie hospital, which we did. They gave her an IV as she was severly dehydrated. David and I went back later that day to see her. I held her in my arms for a few minutes. Then I looked down and blood was dripping from her little butt. Hysterical crying began again.

She stayed in the hospital until Monday night (mainly because our bill was $800 and we could not afford to keep her there longer). She was tired but doing much better. I stayed home with her the next day to make sure she could go out (as she still had diarrhea) and get her 4 medications on time.

By Monday night she was doing better and by Tuesday night she was back to her old self eating, playing and torturing Toby. The doctor said if we waited an hour more she could have died. Thank goodness she is OK.

Happy New Year 2010!

Las Vegas Rock & Roll 1/2 Marathon

OK! It has taken me forever to post about this. I was waiting to get my race photos back, but since funds are a little scarce right now, I needed to wait.

On Sunday, December 6, 2009, I met my sister and dear friends Jone (from San Francisco) and Jim and Jen (form my running club) in Las Vegas to run in the inaugural Rock & Roll Las Vegas 1/2 Marathon!

I flew in Saturday morning, met my sister and friends and hit the expo at the Mandalay Bay to pick up my race number. I was again running with the Running Elvi and I brought my outfit with me as we were all meeting at 2:00pm for photos at the finish line.

Rockin' the Expo

All the Running Elvi at the finish line!

Call me Elvita!!

After finish line photos, we paraded through the expo for more photos!

After a great pasta dinner with the Team Challenge Georgia folks, I went to our room and got things ready for the race.

At 3:30am the alarm went off and I got up, got dressed, had a little breakfast and headed out to meet the other Elvi and the 100 wedding couples who were getting married in the run through wedding. The weather felt cool but not to bad as I walked over with a few other runners. I had a blanket and some hand warmers to keep me warm, but since it wasn't to cold I went ahead and beat the rush at gear check and checked my stuff. BIG MISTAKE!! We were inside for about 30 minutes and when we came out, the temerature had dropped about 20 degrees! It was FREEZING!! There I had all my warm stuff checked away and I froze.

The starting line was quite the spectical! 2 showgirls and 2 white tigers were on each side of the starting line as well as the fireworks, and the Flying Elvi skydiving out of the sky! There was a bridge crossing over the starting line which has the Blues Brothers totally swinging out!! I danced across the start!

The race was super crowded at the start even though they tried to stagger the corals. I was running with Jen and she was going pretty fast. I had to stay with her though because my Garmin decided to freak out. Crowd support was not what I had hoped for, but I understood as I was freezing and I was running. I would not want to just stand out in that cold! Running up and down the strip was a blast. I felt good for the first 8 or 9 miles then I felt like crap. My legs were so cold it was hard to get them moving. I slowed down my pace and kept Jen in my sights in front of me. When she would walk, I would catch up. In the last 3 miles Jim jumped in to run Jen in.

The last mile there was a little more crowd support. I saw a TV camera and ran over and gave a Whoo Hoo!! to it! The newscaster then said "This would not be the Rock & Roll marathon without Elvis!" I cracked up and went on my way. These distractions were helping me forget how tired and cold I was, but I looked up and Jim and Jen were gone! I picked it up a little in hopes to catch them, but I when I saw the finish line I just went for it. Waiting for my medal, I saw Jim and Jen cross the finish line. How the heck did I get in front of them? I finished in 2:17:20, not a PR, but not bad considering the cold and that I was in full a Elvis costume, holding a blow up guitar the whole way!

I got my post race photo with a show girl, picked up my food and gear and headed back to the hotel for a nice hot shower and a nap before I met up with my sister and Jone for dinner. Jim and Jen headed back to SLC after the race.

We had a great time! Next year I hope it is a little warmer though.

Me and my sister and me and Jone!

The bling!

We Are No Longer Newlyweds!

Today David and I celebrate our 2nd wedding anniversary!