Handcart Half

Run Through the Lavender

This half marathon was very fun. The race started with a short bus ride into a canyon not far from the farm. From here we were to run around the Mona Reservoir until we were back at the lavender farm.

Here are the stats for the Half:

136

Marsha

Monson

Riverton

UT

56

F 55-59

F

3:02:43

3:03:07

13:57/M

208

139

3

25

Kim

Bevans

Springville

UT

58

M 55-59

M

2:28:49

2:29:14

11:22/M

164

63

3

46

Teota

Dangel

Salt Lake City

UT

49

F 45-49

F

2:26:25

2:26:48

11:11/M

155

93

7

69

Elizabeth

Gotter

Orem

UT

32

F 30-34

F

3:02:43

3:03:07

13:57/M

209

140

20

207

Dianna

Wright

S Jordan

UT

48

F 45-49

F

2:07:31

2:07:38

9:44/M

102

52

4

191

Diane

Teece

Salt Lake City

UT

72

F 70-99

F

3:00:15

3:00:47

13:46/M

206

137

1

5K Results

1340

Jan

Monson

Riverton

UT

57

M 55-59

M

52:49

53:23

17:02/M

815

212

7

471

Retta

Bevans

Springville

UT

62

F 60-64

F

52:53

53:27

17:04/M

817

605

9

Run to Overcome

Mebrahtom "Meb" Keflezighi  is an American athlete, specializing in long distance running. He is the 2004 Olympic Silver Medalist in the Marathon. He is scheduled to return to the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Meb and his family were refugees from Eritrea via Italy to the United States when he was 12.He began running while in an American Junior High School in San Diego, going on to win both the 1600 meters and 3200 meters at the CIF California State Championships in 1994 for San Diego High School.The distinction of Keflezighi's homegrown American running history differentiated him from other African-born elite athletes, such as Bernard Lagat, whose change of domicile and citizenship had been for largely competitive reasons.Keflezighi became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1998, the same year in which he graduated from UCLA. While at UCLA Keflezighi received numerous All-American awards and other accolades.He won four NCAA championships during the 1996-97 season, including the cross-country title, the 10,000 meters outdoors and the 5000 meters indoors and outdoors titles in track.

Thoughts From Connie Sokol

"I've been thinking a lot lately about God's timing. I love this quote from an article I just read: "The issue for us is trusting God enough to trust also His timing. If we can truly believe He has our welfare at heart, may we not let His plans unfold as He thinks best?"

Yes, we are to plan and love and live and enjoy, to move forward in the way we think best. But it always works better when we involve Him first, then embrace His timeline.

A dear neighbor was just diagnosed with breast cancer; another friend just emailed that she has survived it. Another good friend related how she had just spend the last days with another friend as this sweet lady was passing. We never know what life will bring, or why, but it's up to us to live it fully now, and plan full steam ahead for tomorrow. And then, when plans are changed, upgraded, or derailed, to trust in His timing.

Lastly, this same author, Carolynn R. Spencer, said, "My desire to alter the Lord's timing had been the cause of my anguish." Isn't that the truth? Isn't that the source of so much of our worries or angst, trying to push against what just isn't going to work? Instead, we can put our energy toward accepting and understanding our current situation, and allow ourselves to feel God's love and desire for our happiness now and for the future.

http://8basics.com/blog/thinking-a-lot-lately-about-gods-timing

"I often hear someone say I'm not a real runner. We are all runners, some just run faster than others. I never met a fake runner."  -Bart Yasso

Hobbler Half Marathon

This morning I had to get up early to make the drive to Springville. I laid everything out, so getting ready went smoothly. The key for me is going to bed early. Even at 8pm if I have too. Today I decided to run with my Half Fanatic gear, so I was all decked out in my HF singlet, visor and my new blue sparkle skirt. This course is run in Hobble Creek Canyon. It is mostly downhill and very beautiful. The last couple of miles are laid out through the city streets of Springville.

Last night Jan and I both drove down to Springville to the packet pickup at Trapnell Orthodontics. First Jan drove me by the start line so I would be familiar with where to go in the morning. Then off to the pick up my shirt and race number, 1377. As we were taking a moment to look at the vendor booths I spotted Andy Flowers who we'd met at the Bed & Breakfast we stayed at in Gunnison. Christy and Andy were both running the half. It was nice to see them. After that we headed to Orem to pick up Karlie and take her out to dinner.

The buses began loading promptly at 4:30am. Got a good parking spot in the area by the finish line and rode on the second bus. The bus ride up the canyon went well and when we got to the top the bus had to do a three point turn the because the waiting area was so small. They had music, porta-potties, not too much to do while we waited for 6:30am to roll around.

The race started about 5 minutes late, not bad. Off and running down the canyon. It didn't take long for the crowd to thin out and I was running mostly by myself. I was running 2:1.

I ended up taking it easy, just didn't seem to have any fast power for this run. I really enjoyed the scenery and the run. This is a race I would do again. It was fun to see Stacey out doing some advertising massage for her business Muscle Works.

Here are the stats for me and friends I saw at the race. Some took home age group placement medals:

1377

Marsha

Monson

Riverton

UT

56

F 55-59

F

2:49:56

2:50:46

12:58/M

697

421

10

1010

Diane

Teece

SLC

UT

72

F 70-74

F

2:51:32

2:52:23

13:06/M

702

425

1

1592

Andy

Flowers

Ogden

UT

61

M 60-64

M

2:45:40

2:46:48

12:39/M

688

275

6

1591

Christy

Flowers

Ogden

UT

66

F 65-69

F

2:29:58

2:30:39

11:27/M

645

383

3

Freedom Run 5K

This is one of my favorite runs. Last year I was invited by Liz to run under a bid that belonged to someone in her family who did not want to run. Since I enjoy being with Liz's family and I like running down the parade route I decided to enter Jan and I this year. The runners are treated so well and it puts us downtown Provo and then we can enjoy the Freedom Festival afterwards. Jan and I easily made our way to a parking lot near the finish line at Kiwanis Park.

After we parked we made our way to the restrooms and then began our walk several blocks to the start line. We arrived about 10 minutes before the start of the race. Liz and family were running a little late (pun intended) so since Jan and I were walking the course we knew they would catch up to us soon.

It wasn't long before we saw Jason run by and then we were joined by Liz's mom and sister who wanted to walk with us. Liz and her niece ran on ahead. We had a very enjoyable walk with Marilyn and her daughter, with a short run into the finish line for our "photo finish". Jan got out his American flag to run in with. It was really nice. We ate a few recovery snacks and then headed for the Freedom Festival booths to walk around and do a little shopping. This is a must do race now for us every year.

Jan and Marsha walking the 5K.

Jan finally flies the flag!!!

Marsha, Queen of July 4th

Liz and Jason Gotter

Marilyn Thomsen

Here are the stats from the race:

2808

Marilyn

Thomsen

Orem

UT

59

F 55-59

F

50:50

58:10

16:24/M

2854

1546

42

79

Jason

Gotter

Orem

UT

33

M 30-34

M

25:03

32:20

8:05/M

315

261

34

2198

Liz

Gotter

Orem

UT

32

F 30-34

F

36:55

44:13

11:55/M

1933

921

138

2716

Marsha

Monson

Riverton

UT

56

F 55-59

F

53:02

57:41

17:06/M

2923

1595

45

2715

Jan

Monson

Riverton

UT

57

M 55-59

M

53:09

57:49

17:09/M

2929

1331

31