My New Hobby (Addiction?)

To sum up in a picture -

And if we're friends on facebook, then you may have been subject to my latest ravings about this hobby.

I'm a trail runner now! (after four days in a row, am I officially a trail runner? or not yet?)

I love it.

And I'm pretty sure I look just like that person in the picture.

Except that I wear pants because I'm afraid that bugs and poison ivy will get me.

And I don't heel strike. (that was for you)

And my legs aren't that toned. Yet.

But other than that, I'm pretty sure I look just like that. (:

And it's sooooo much fun!

And I can say that the day after I came home like this -

that bump in the front shouldn't be there...

There's a pretty nice chunk of skin that rubbed off my left palm too.

But it's still fun!

I got right back up and kept running down. I figured that running down a mountain has certain risks, and falling down the mountain is one of them.

As a consequence of the fall... I took medicine for the first time in... a long time. I've never been a huge user of medication, and my job has made me even less inclined to be so, but I was grateful to pop four (yes, four!) advil last night. My body was aching and my knee and palm were throbbing. No tears, but I came close a couple of times. Especially when I had to clean it off. And then again in the shower. Ouch.

But again - still fun! Promise.

Oh, and an explanation for the fall - I've taken my dog, Max, with me each time I've gone up there. Yesterday I had him running in the heel position, and he moved just a little too close to me. I tripped on his leg and felt myself going down. I thought I caught myself, I worried that I didn't, I thought I caught myself and then, *BAM* I was sliding down the mountain flat on my stomach with my hands out-stretched also sliding flat on the ground. What always amazes me is that your clothing can be completely untouched and you'll have scrapes on your skin. My pants had nothing but dirt on them when I got back up, but both my knees were scratched. How does that happen?!

In other news... here are some videos - and other things - I've come across from facebook or blogs or otherwise lately that I really like.

This little boy has cerebral palsy and doctors said he would probably never walk. His dad comes home from overseas and is greeted with this...

I cried a little bit.


This next one is just cool.

I also came across this article on obesity that I thought was kind of interesting.

There are a few other things that have been mulling around in my brain but I'm afraid they each deserve their own post. Which means it might take a while before I actually post them...

Until then, Happy Friday!

Yep. I Did.

And I'll post pictures to prove it.

Soon.

Very, very soon.
(name that movie)

Yesterday vs. Today

Yesterday I was raving about breakfast as if it was something I had created. In fact, on more than one occasion I used the word 'discovered' when I was talking to friends about it. (I have a goal this week to eat breakfast daily.)

Today I woke up too late to make anything before leaving. My stomach was really not happy with me when I got to work this morning.

Yesterday I had more than 5,000 steps before leaving my house at 6:40 in the morning. (Another goal is to get 10,000 steps a day.)

Today I left the house with somewhere between 100 and 200 steps.

Yesterday my dog woke me up at 4:30, and planning to get up at 5, I stayed awake.

Today I woke up at 4:30 wondering where my dog was, and planning to get up at 5, I went back to sleep (after finding him) and didn't wake up until after 6.

Yesterday I watched this video and wanted to really, really do it.

Today I watched that video and wanted to really, really do it.


I guess not everything changes.

Fountain Show

Part of the awesome fountain show at my hotel - happens every hour on the hour

(i didn't catch the best part of the show unfortunately).

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I Did It!

#12 - go paragliding or hang gliding (or both) -- check!

practice flight -

flight number 3 or 4 (or 5?)

Soooo fun! I loved it. I almost always got nervous before take off (just a little) but I loved being in the air. It was awesome. It's way too expensive to become a hobby for me now (maybe at some point in my life...) but I would love to go on a tandem flight sometime. Alex - my instructor - offered to cut Annikki and me a deal if we ever wanted him to take us up. I'm probably going to take him up on it sometime.

Not all of my take-offs were as flawless as what's in the video. After that flight I hiked up the slope to go on one more flight. The wind was kind of picking up, but Alex said we could get one more in. I was all set to go, got the paraglider up, and the wind picked me up and threw me right back down onto my backside. It was kind of hilarious - and maybe just a little bit painful. He got me re-set up right away, and that time I got the paraglider up, and then the wind started shooting me way over to the left. I thought using the right brake might help compensate for that, and it kind of did... except I shot the brake down way too far, ended up falling down on my right side and getting dragged through the rocks and weeds a little ways until the paraglider decided to come down and join me on the ground. That one was a bit more painful.

Don't worry though, I did end up having a flawless last flight (after the two blunders) and it was awesome. It's not a sport for sissies, and I have the scrapes, bruises, and sore muscles to prove it. (:

Record-Breaking Week

This morning I found out that a guy I know was on Regis and Kelly with four other guys attempting to break the world record for the most front-flip slam dunks in 30-seconds.

Check it out -
Justin (my friend) is the next to last when they line up to talk to Regis and Kelly, and the one who helps Regis get in position at the end.

So Worth It -

For a possible free trip to Paris I will do almost anything you ask me to.

Almost.

Post a link to a blog? Most definitely.

Here you go.

http://ohhappyday.com/2011/06/goes-to-paris/

Check it out!

Rock Climbing!

Tess, my friend/rock climbing instructor, showing Annikki and me how it's done.

Last week while prepping to watch a movie with my friends Annikki and Tess, rock climbing came up.

A few days earlier, Annikki had told me how much she wanted to learn how to rock climb, but didn't really know anyone who could teach her.

A couple of weeks prior to that conversation, I had talked with Tess who told me about a type of rock climbing she had done that tears up your hands because you insert your hands into slots in the wall (mountain) and twist in order to pull yourself up, doing a similar thing with your feet - so I knew she was hardcore.

Knowing that this could be a match made in heaven (in case you don't understand the math -> teacher+student=heaven), I brought up this topic of conversation on Friday. Little did I know that I would be dragged into coming invited to come along.

I was a little scared of the idea, but excited too.

I got there a bit after they had started the lesson/demonstration, and then they didn't have their phones with them when I tried letting them know I was there, so I waited around for a bit and watched crazy-rock-climbing-people do crazy-rock-climbing-things.

It was pretty cool.

And then it got even cooler.

They came out when they were ready to try the 'real' wall - they had been bouldering in the back to practice. Tess gave us a run-down on the harnesses, ropes, protocol, etc. (because she's certified and can do that kind of thing), and up we went.

Well, up Annikki went.

And when she got down,

Up I went.

So much fun. I love it. I didn't quite make it to the top, but the distance I did go up had my arms and legs shaking.

After that, we went back to bouldering because Tess had to leave, and bouldering is something that Annikki and I could do without supervision.

And that was a bunch of fun too.

So Many to Choose From!

I picked up my packet for the Thanksgiving Point Half Marathon tomorrow (less than 9 hours to go!) and just now looked through all the handouts of upcoming races. Here are a few more I'm interested in...

• 5 May - Cinco de Mayo 5k Fiesta run/walk - I'm Mexican, I feel I have a duty to do this
  
• 21 May - Live Your Dream Charity 5k
  
• 30 May - Run of Remembrance - you pay for a shirt if you want to, it's free if you don't. they accept donations that all go to afflicted war heroes. I'm definitely doing this one. Read 'Unbroken,' and you'll want to do it to.
  
• 11 June - Utah Valley Half Marathon
  
• 25 June - Lehi Round Up 5k/10k
  
• 30 July - Timpanogos Half Marathon
  
• 10 September - Little Grand Canyon Half Marathon
  
• 8 October - Love Your Body 6k/10k - did this one last year with a friend, women only!
  
• 15 October - Chick-fil-A SoJo Half Marathon

Some of these conflict with others on my previous list, so I'll just have to make a decision about which one to do. I'll tell you this though, as cool as I think the State Capitol Half would be, I'm definitely running the Run of Remembrance instead.

Some races found here. I'll have to look through the website more to find others.

Things I Hope To Do This Summer

• 30 April - Thanksgiving Point Half Marathon
• 7 May - Komen 5k Race for the Cure - a friend asked me to do this one with her
  
• 14 May - Volunteer @ Girls on the Run 5k Fun Run
  
• 21 May - Armed Forces Day Challenge Course - I need a partner for this one, interested?
  
• 30 May - State Capitol Half Marathon
  
• 4 June - National Trails Day Dog Run - if I can talk someone into doing this with me, I may bring both the pups
  
• 2 July - Dirty Girl Run @ Wheeler Farm - mud runs are the best!
  
• 4 July - Freedom Run 5k or 10k (maybe because I'll be mud-running it 2 days before I'll stick to the 5k)
• 16 July - Bryce Canyon Half Marathon
• 29-31 July - Garlic Festival in Gilroy, CA - the garlic capital of the world

I'll most likely be adding (and possibly subtracting) from the list as the summer progresses. Stay tuned for updates (but only if you're interested). (:

Most races found here.

Not Seen on Above List:

• Finish my thesis. I walked in last week's graduation, now I just need to wrap everything up and I'll be done!
• Find a job.
• Hike. A lot.

Fun

I love dancing in water. I think it looks really cool.

Sweet

I saw this on my brother's facebook page and loved it -

"I Have Got to Get Me One of These!"**

Those were some of the first words in my head after finishing my mountain bike excursion yesterday (on my niece's bike - that's why I need to get one). This was only my second time doing it (the first being one year ago), and I loved it again. Even though - once again - I ended up pushing my bike up a lot of the time. But the downhill ride... so very much worth it!

heading out

don't worry - I wasn't about to fall - I was just riding off the driveway

some of the scenery on the way up:
Draper temple

the group

lots of trees

reaching the top
definitely worthy of a victory lap

some of the scenery on the way down:
waterfall

Bethany and trees

Draper temple

there were a few spots along the way (up and down) where you could see all three temples in the area

I could really get into this. I just need to do it more frequently than yearly...

**one million points if you can name that movie

I Saw...

(can you see who it is? -it's Mitt Romney-)

... and heard him speak last week Saturday in the Salt Palace.

It was pretty neat.

With the ticket came a signed copy of his book.

Woo hoo!

Do You Know These Men?

How about now?

And now?

Do you know these men?

Now?

And now?

Don't feel bad. I wouldn't have known any of them either. And if you did know who they were, then you may have enjoyed being where I was Saturday night more than I enjoyed being there. Don't get me wrong, I definitely enjoyed it, I just wasn't very familiar with who they were.

A few of their songs did sound familiar (more so with REO than Styx), and it was somewhat entertaining to see all the drunk people and be worried that beer might be spilled on you as the people sitting next to you kept getting up and down to get beer refills again... and again... and... you get the idea. That happened until one of them did spill beer on a guy sitting in front of him. That guy went and complained and they got moved. Down to the grass (we were at Rio Tinto Stadium). With all the drunk people. That's where they should be.

Anyway, it was a lot of fun. At the very end of the concert Styx came back on and sang a song that REO and Styx had written together. There were 8 guitars on stage playing. It was pretty sweet.

I'm glad I have friends who get to do cool things for their job and invite me along. (:

Don't you just love this video?


It reminds me of how much I love this one:

Which I think is absolutely brilliant for having been made years after it was "supposed" to have been made.