Thursday, June 5, 2008

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.)

12 comments:

Jaci said...

Wow! good job guys! I love that you ran it together. Pls talk my husband into this idea ;)

Nicole said...

Fun! It's nice that you can run together. I hate that you've alerted people I know about the race photos they post online. Yeah, no one ever needs to see me racing.

melissa said...

HAHA! The jig is up, Nicole. I love that you were so determined to run you would have just joined in the race. Noah's Bleeker duds are pretty sweet, dude.

Kari said...

You DO look like Bleeker, Noah!

Travis said...

your still a winner in my mind. However I think that old guy was passing you ;) Thats ok though some of those guys are as tough as nails. I did a 5k where a 56 yr old beat me :(

Unknown said...

Wahoo! the run looked like fun in the wasatch mountains! And you definately got the best leg of the journey. I'm jealous!

Brandon and Erica said...

I am impressed. And, I believe it was you who once commented on my blog saying that you weren't athletic, but people think you are because you wear Nike's. WELL...you have just proved yourself wrong. Seriously. Even when I run 1 mile I start to feel confident that I could outrun anyone. Of course, I don't ever challenge anyone. That would just be embarassing.
Job Well Done. And, you even look like a hard-core runner. Seriously!

The Anderson's said...

Dude Noah... you look like a friggin' rock star! Rock it.. rock it!

Natalie Que said...

Congrats you little posers, that is awesome! Good to see you guys on webcam tonite! Hopefully we can catch you more often. Al, you look great, everyone looks like that running. Noah you make great as Michael C in Juno, it is just too close of a resemblance.

Amber and Zach said...

Hey Ali- WOW totally impressed with you BTW. Yes, I amber work in the OR, but not for LONG!!! I just got a job offer as an Intermountain Healthcare Public Relations Specialist- totally stoked! I will miss watching surgery--- Its life changing-really! How's your new promotion?

Skipper said...

Posers? I think not. Actually, if anyone is a poser it would be me. You see, I like to wander around the "sports apparel" part of the department stores just so I LOOK like I'm trying.

su-tang 3000 said...

Yep, that headband does look make Noah look quite a bit like George Michael.