Ready to Run

Finally, that Riley woman rings in.

LOTS of updates. I know this. Let’s get started…

A few weekends ago, Noah and I (sorta) accomplished one of our New Year’s resolutions by participating in the Ogden Marathon. I must, must stress the sorta because I feel as much a poser with this post as I felt a poser in the actual race. My poserhood lingers still because my Dad stopped by the office yesterday with my poser medal that’s now hanging in my office. I know – how do I sleep at night?

We didn’t resort to poser status because we weren’t ready. No way, dude. We’ve been running fools for the past five months. This was the direct result of my procrastination. I can’t even say I wasn’t warned. Because Claire, dear, you did inform me of the ½ marathon’s popularity. Long story short – I didn’t register us in time! In my desperation, I joined the waiting list only to discover I was #268 or so on said list.

We contemplated just showing up, getting lost in the pack and running the 13.1 to the finish line regardless… which we may have done, but Dad’s firm gave us another, more honest solution. The Ogden Marathon relay team. One member of the team wasn’t available to run her leg of the relay – a gorgeous stretch between the Oaks and the Timbermine in Ogden Canyon, so we eagerly agreed. Our stretch was five miles and from there it was just another three to the finish line, so we passed off the chip and finished out the eight mile stretch. Add that to the one mile run it took to get in place that morning (hey! I’m giving us credit for every foot…) and it was a lovely 9-mile morning.

The day’s highlights:

Thinking we might be a little late for the relay chip, so hauling buns to our starting point just to hang out for the next two hours.

Not knowing what our relay team members look like, so creating a sign with her name on it and realizing after about 20 minutes I was holding it upside down.

Passing this old man.

Completing our eight miles (the ones without a pregnant pause in between) in 62 minutes.

Noah’s “Michael Cera in Juno” look.
Selecting an unsuspecting (and unknowing, still) woman and making her my “I will beat you” goal. Thanks, lady. Nothing personal. It's just that I needed to beat you. You were skinny.

Dressing like each other.Retiring my favorite pair of running capris. Apparently if you can't sit to tie your shoe without exposing your bright blue underoos you should probably bid the capris adieu. Or so Noah says. (Side note: I did purchase a new pair. They look hauntingly similar to this pair, but don't be fooled. They are much, much warmer. If you wear them on a run along the beach in San Diego, you'll probably be cooking by run's end. PLUS - there is no handy iPod pocket on the hip. I really loved that pocket.)This picture of Noah (and we're all pretending that isn't me in the background. So, I'm not a pretty runner. I've come to terms with it. We were racing, people. Racing.)