Last month, I ran in the Ragnar del Sol relay race. It was an experience unlike anything I've done before. There are several Ragnar relays held around the country. Each is about 200 miles in length, split into 36 legs between 3 and 8 miles long. Teams of 12 runners rotate running around the clock until they reach the finish line. There were nearly 350 teams this year that ran in Arizona. In the end, participants have done a whole lotta running on precious little sleep. Each team splits up to travel in 2 vans. Team members in each van run 6 legs, then "rest" for 6.
Our van's worth of runners ready to get started! (L to R) Ben, Warren, Spencer, Scott, Jon, and me - all rookies to the relay.
The other half of our team had several members that had run the relay before.
Most of the teams decorate their vans and some teams ran the shorter legs dressed up in some crazy ways to go along with their team name.
Teams track their "kills" or number of runners they pass during each leg. The Fat Man Xtreme team also tracked their "got killed's"
Team Disco Fever
Team Fast Food
At each exchange point, the finishing runner snaps a slap bracelet on the next runner as a hand off.
Your team van can stop along the way to encourage you and keep you hydrated.
At a couple of points, the race crews let the drivers shuttle the runners through some flooded areas. Notice this team named the Ultraviolets. There were a few "ultra" teams of only 6 members that would run 2 legs at a time.
Apparently, this guy's van was AWOL.
I started my first leg (#12) of 7.1 miles at dusk and finished in the dark with a 7:19 min/mile pace.
The Town of Congress Fire Dept. had a pasta dinner waiting for us after I finished. We handed off to our other van, grabbed some dinner, and drove ahead to an elementary school that let us pay $2 to sleep - er, toss and turn for a few hours - inside. Around midnight our other van had caught up to us and we started up again.
Ben ran his 8+ mile leg (#18) and handed off to Scott.
During leg #19, tragedy struck when a runner from another team was hit by an oncoming car when he was crossing to give his teammate water. He was resuscitated several times before being life-flighted to the nearest hospital. He passed away shortly after. Our deepest condolences go out to the Mayasich family. Race organizers ultimately decided to bypass the next six legs and pick up at exchange 24 to allow emergency crews to do their jobs.
My second leg was 8.4 miles at a 7:26 pace.
I ran the last leg of the race, and after a missed turn, had the chance to extend the final 3 mile experience to almost 4 miles. I was SO happy to see my darling wife (and her best childhood friend, Ashley) send Carter out to finish the race with me!
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Ragnar del Sol Relay - Feb. 26-27, 2010
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Spotlight Saturday - Jeremy, Sheyann, & Andy
Please take a moment to get to know Jeremy and Sheyann and their little Andy, who hopes to be a big brother soon.
You can find out more about them and contact them by visiting their adoption blog:
http://miraclesthroughadoption.blogspot.com
Jeremy (nickname is JJ) grew up all over the United States. His father was in the Air Force, but he mainly claims Great Falls, Montana as his hometown. He is the second of four children in his family. JJ works at the Idaho National Laboratory as a computer technician. If it has anything to do with computers, he loves it. He also loves fishing, camping, hiking, and spending time with family.... wait.... he forgot to mention drinking root beer!! Shine thinks JJ is a very kind-hearted person and excited to watch him learn and grow as a father!
Sheyann (nickname is Shine or Shiney) grew up on a potato farm 30 miles outside of the nearest "town," in Taber. She moved pipe to irrigate crops, drove tractors, grain trucks, and potato trucks. Nothing was more rewarding than working year after year with her four siblings. Her nieces and nephews each hold a very special place in her heart. She loves the outdoors and wide open spaces. She also loves singing, playing the flute, guitar, and piano, and of course, building snowmen. Shine is a Registered Nurse, who has worked in an ER, extended care facility. She loves fixing and caring for people. Her favorite part of the shift is when she gets to tuck the patients in at night. Silly, but true. (Her favorite part is rocking Andy to sleep after his bathtime, bedtime story, and bedtime songs).
Andrew Justice came into our family via the miracle train! Andrew is truly our miracle-man. He is now 2 years old. His happy, sociable, intelligent, and bubbly personality keeps us on our toes and running after his next grand idea.... like re-decorating the bathroom with toilet paper. It was such a lovely shade of white too! When Andy is around his cousins, he loves to play cars, trucks, tractors, climbing on furniture, and give loves.... or just talk to them. Our happiest times are when we all wake up on weekend mornings and have family snuggle time in Daddy and Mommy's bed... then a big country breakfast.
We own our home in a small town in Idaho, close to most of our family. We've been married for five years. We love to laugh and have fun. We are LDS (Latter-day Saints or Mormon).
An interesting fact about our family: Sheyann has 18 adopted cousins total! Most of the cousins are from Haiti, two from Korea, one from India, and some from the United States. Adoption is very near and dear to our hearts, without it, more than half of Shine's family would be missing!!
After years of preparing and waiting for children, we decided our home, hearts, and our hands were just too empty and through the miracle and love of adoption, we were able to find our first child, Andrew (okay, he really and truly found US). However, we're finding he's such a social creature, he needs a sibling!
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Helaman Hall Honeys
I was blessed to make some amazing friends for life while living in the dorms at BYU my freshman year of college ('99-'00). We managed our first reunion in Texas in October 2008. Ever since then, we'd been saying we needed to get together again. We decided kind of last minute to hurry and get together before Emily's second son was born (he's on his way in the next few weeks!). We quickly pulled off another reunion, this time in Colorado, since Emily was so close to her due date. We had a blast chatting, eating yummy food, and laughing a lot! We already decided that our next reunion will be a cruise or rented beach house getaway. :)
All of us
(l to r: Cynthia, Me, Emily, Alycia, and Katie)
Alycia and Katie
Emily and Cynthia
On one of our days together, we decided to brave the cold and go out for lunch and window shopping on Pearl Street in Boulder. We didn't last long, though, as it started snowing down on us pretty hard. Here's Cyn with her sweet little guy Bergen (before the snow got going).
I don't think I've ever seen snowflakes that actually look like the pretty little graphics in books and cartoons. In Boulder, it apparently does snow perfect little crystalline snowflakes. Just check out the flakes in Katie's hair!
We were pretty amazed by them and took lots of pictures of each others' hair. :)See more pics of the reunion here, here, and here.
We've had quite the...
ROUGH morning.
Carter has been waking up earlier and earlier, and fighting bedtime later and later....
this does not equal any kind of fun.
EVER.
After CJ fell back asleep while in time out this morning, and Miss R went down, I found these pictures hiding in February's file and thought I'd share them in honor of better days --
those rare great days,
when everything seamlessly falls into place and everyone is happy and polite all day long. Motherhood would sure be boring if all days were that way, but we need them every once in a while so we don't lose our minds! LOL!
pictures taken 2-9-2010 by Shane (also the maker of the coolest diaper box car ever!)
Carter has been waking up earlier and earlier, and fighting bedtime later and later....
this does not equal any kind of fun.
EVER.
After CJ fell back asleep while in time out this morning, and Miss R went down, I found these pictures hiding in February's file and thought I'd share them in honor of better days --
those rare great days,
when everything seamlessly falls into place and everyone is happy and polite all day long. Motherhood would sure be boring if all days were that way, but we need them every once in a while so we don't lose our minds! LOL!
pictures taken 2-9-2010 by Shane (also the maker of the coolest diaper box car ever!)
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Spotlight Saturday - Todd & Karine
Please take a moment to get to know Todd & Karine and their beautiful family.
You can find out more about them and contact them by visiting their adoption blog:
http://familyjourneyintoeternity.blogspot.com
Todd & Karine, Virginia, Kalene, Cally, Taylor, & Jaden
We are a couple who have been married for a long time and have a strong marriage...
We met in church when I was 16, became best friends first, then dated... fell in love and married when I was 18 Todd was 22.
Todd and Karine have been married now for 19 years. Our love is only stronger and our relationship is only better today than when we first fell in love!
We are a big family! Our next child will have lots of love and siblings...
We are a family that loves animals... We own 2 dogs, 2 cats, 2 birds and 2 bunnies.
We are a family that loves music...
We are a family that likes Camping...
We are a family that takes family vacations...
We are a fun, talented and creative family...We are a family that takes time to spend qaulity time together!
Saturday, March 06, 2010
Spotlight Saturday - Josh & Kenna: Looking For Their 'Little'
Please take a moment to get to know Josh & Kenna.
If you know an expectant mother who is considering adoption, she can find out more about them and contact them by visiting their adoption blog:
http://shumwayadoption.blogspot.com
Update: Congratulations to Josh & Kenna who recently adopted a baby boy!
Josh & Kenna
When we got married almost four years ago, we thought we would have the life we’d always planned for. We dreamed of finishing school… working and saving our hard-earned money… having kids. Little did we know what was in store for us. Fast-forward to present day: two miscarriages, one perfect, still-born child at almost 20 weeks, one brain tumor and an infinite amount of heart break later. We have waded through life’s trials and have sought to see the light at the end of this horrendous tunnel. But it’s hard some days. Most days. You see, the one thing we desire most in this life—a child—is the one thing that we have been told we cannot have. At least not the way we always thought we would.
Josh Says. . .
I am a student at Utah Valley University studying biology and chemistry. I am striving to get into Pharmacy School. I enjoy learning new things and being able to teach others. I have always liked the outdoors as well as sports. Sometimes I even take time to relax and play a few games on the Wii. I feel that I work hard to get what I want. I am patient with people and am very slow to anger. I like opportunities to help others in whatever way possible. Most important of all, I can't wait to be a dad to my own 'little.'
Kenna is a very caring person. I have always enjoyed watcher her do secret acts of service for others. She'll write beautiful notes to people to lift them up and help out in any way possible. She has a great sense of humor and can always bring a smile to my face. I am always amazed at how strong she is. Kenna is very determined. She knows what she wants and will do everything in her power to accomplish her goals. She is very smart and loves to learn. This comes in very hand for me because she helps me out in school. Kenna is very organized and keeps things in order. She is tender and calm and she is going to make an amazing mommy to a lucky 'little.'
Kenna Says. . .
I am a sassy music junkie who often expresses my feelings through the lyrics of a song. It is something that I connect deeply with. I relish the quiet, calm moments in life. I love my family and friends deeply and am fiercely protective of them. I am passionate and driven so when I put my mind to something, I accomplish it. I love to write, whether on my blog or my book. In turn I also love to read. My true love, other than Josh of course, is the ocean. I am looking forward, and want nothing more, than to being a mommy to a sweet 'little' through adoption.
Josh is the most loving, strong and calm man I have ever encountered. This is, of course, why I snatched him up before anyone else could get to him. He has been my stability through the trials we have faced. He is my best friend, my sounding board, my partner in crime. Josh is a disciplined, proactive worker & leader. He has a tenacity and drive that I have never seen in an individual. Josh also has a gentle, soft side, especially when it comes to the 'littles.' Children adore him and are drawn to him. He is playful and patient. Josh wants nothing more than to be a daddy to his own 'little.'
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