Buffalo Run

I ran this race at the beginning of the month and haven't been able to write about it yet...I have to say this was so much harder than I thought it was going to be and I was sore for 2 weeks.

Me before the race out on Antelope Island. I had been to Antelope Island for field trips, to ride my horses and just for fun several times in my life. When I signed up for the race I thought that the race was going to be on the flat beautiful trail that circles the island along the shoreline. This is what I was expecting and had in my head. I thought I can run 16 miles no problem!!!

Look at me smiling...I did not know what I was getting into at this point.

Running up the first hill of the race which only lasted for about 3 MILES!!!! I kept thinking OK it will get better, We will have to go downhill at some point....There was not much down hill and what was downhill was absolute knee jarring. I still felt good though.

At this point in the race, I was just enjoying the beautiful scene before me. I kept thinking about how amazing it is that we have this beautiful world to live in. I kept praying and telling my heavenly father all of the things I was grateful for with every step...What a beautiful run this was at this point. Gratitude in every step for all of the big and small miracles and wonders that I have in this life.

I even saw Buffalo......

I was so excited to see my friend Spencer. I have known him since we were 11 or 12...We swam together as kids and teenagers. I just love him and have always been so grateful that he is my friend. Such a nice man. His wife ran the 25k too(but she was FAR FASTER than me) Spence ran the 50k and is just a machine. This picture was taken when I had ran about 5 miles and I was still smiling..He had ran about 12. He said to me well the next 5 miles are pretty hard but you will be ok. HE LIED!!!! The next 7 miles were so hard, Steep, muddy and just yucky!

I have never been so happy to finish a race in my life! It was beautiful and I had an amazing run but I learned my limitations. My stomach/side/pancreas gave out at about mile 13 and I mostly walked the last 3 miles. It is so frustrating when my legs and lungs could have easily run the entire distance only to have my side hurt so badly that I wouldn't have been able to run for anything.

I was very happy to have Joey there waiting for me. He was so patient to sit in the car the entire time I was running. I am now the proud owner of a mug that says I am a finisher for the Buffalo Run 25k!