Archive for the ‘races’ Category

• Vegas-Ragnar

  Date: 2011.10.20 | Category: foster, races | Response: 2

  Hey did you hear I am a two time Saint? But did you hear also, that I am a first time Sinner?

  What started out as a year long goal last year, is finally coming to completion this weekend. I am on my way out the door to travel down to Las Vegas to run as Runner 12 of Team Honey Badgers for Ragnar Las Vegas.

  The hope last year was that I could do Wasatch Back and Las Vegas in the same year, to become part of a special group of runners who get a special medal for completing Wasatch Back and Las Vegas in the same year. But Vegas fell through due to last minute team member drop outs. Some of the members that were going to do Vegas last year rolled into the my team for Wasatch Back in June of this year.

  Wasatch Back this year was a fun time. I enjoyed running with old and new friends. But I really struggled through my runs and ended up getting car sick twice which lead to a vomiting twice. Being Captain was an interesting experience too and was rather stressful. When all was said and done I wasn’t sure I would be doing it again. The Ragnar bug latched onto some virgin runners on the team and they were willing to take the Captain reigns for Wasatch Back 2012. Some of the veteran runners, however were not so sure they were up for another year and then Wasatch Back 2012 sold out in like two weeks after opening to the public. Which means no team run2100.com in 2012 for Wasatch Back.

  Then I got the call from our running ringer Zach, he joined a team for Vegas and they had an open spot. Yep, for some reason he wanted me. I guess he wanted to see me puke again. I thought about it for a bit, talked with the wife and finally committed to running Vegas. This running hobby sure is an expensive one, That’s for you wifey. =)

  So I have trained a bit over the last month or so. I did a 6 miler the other day up the hill behind where we live and think I am ready. My hope is for a fun time, solid runs for each leg, more exposure for the Utah Foster Care Foundation and that I don’t puke this time. Wish me luck. Vegas here I come!

• A list of firsts

  Date: 2011.08.12 | Category: foster, races | Response: 1

  I have been silent for a while on here regarding much of anything lately. But for those of you that have stuck around and have been anxiously waiting for a new post, enjoy!

  2010 was a very big year for me and the family. There were a lot of firsts, lets recap a bit shall we.

  • Our family grew by one – when we officially adopted our little man on our 10 anniversary in May.
  • I ran my first Ragnar Relay race with good friends and had a great time.
  • I committed myself to train hard for my first marathon to celebrate running with my uncle for his 100th marathon.
  • I was nominated for and won 2010 Foster/Adoptive Father of the Year for the Salt Lake Valley.
  • I ran, walked and hobbled through my first marathon – which made for a very interesting experience.
  • I participated in the inaugural Dirty Dash and had a blast
  • Our little man had his first birthday!
  • My beautiful wife strongly pushed through her first major surgery. An experience all on its own for myself, the little man and mommy.

  The list is brief, but full of a lot of emotion, experience and accomplishments and I am sure there is a bunch of other stuff I am forgetting to include. That quick trip down memory lane, takes us into this year…
  We are mid August already, and things are flying fast, me however not so fast.
  To carry over from all the running excitement from last year I have been quiet in my corner of cyberspace, but I have been out running here and there.

  I got to enjoy my favorite running event again with great friends wallowing in the mud. I got to witness a friend overcome a challenge that he didn’t think he could when he started out last year. I was captain of the run2100.com team for Ragnar this year. Tomorrow, I will be running my big official race of the year. Another marathon. No not a full one, just half. Do you think I am that crazy? The marathon bug didn’t bite me that hard.

  I have been training with the crew over the last couple of months and feel ready for this 13.1 miles in front of me. Aside from just getting over a very recent bout of bronchitis, I am ready. Nervous and excited, I know what I am doing is not only benefiting myself, but it is getting the word and exposure out there for the Foster Care Foundation. I hope, that with each step I take, each mile I run and each race I am in, that it is helping.

  Wish me luck and see you at the finish line…

• A big THANK YOU!

  Date: 2011.06.20 | Category: foster, races | Response: 9

  My fellow teammates,

  I wanted to congratulate and thank each of you for a wonderful, memorable time this year for Wasatch Back Ragnar. We were able to accomplish a lot as a team and individually. Be proud! The exposure we were able to produce for the foster system was amazing.

  Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!

  Scott – Without you our team would not be whole. A volunteer like no other. Thank you!

  Paula – Excellent support, excellent volunteer. Thank you!

  Derk – You lead us along the way and kicked it off for us very nicely. A true friend. Thank you!

  Shayesteh – A Ragnar virgin, provided us an excellent second leg. Even with a late arrival to the team, well done my friend! Thank you!

  Ali – Cluck, Cluck. Our third running over packing Ragnar virgin. You brought an incredible amount of determination with you. Thank you!

  Matt – Wow man, Wow! Another Ragnar virgin. You ran, until you couldn’t run much more. You accomplished a lot. Thank you!

  Rhianna – Runner 5 and you are still alive. Our dusty trail running little lady. With your energy and smile, Avon calling. Thank you!

  Travis – Your humor, your style, your running. El Sombrero. Thank you!

  Sheldon – Ragnar virgin? Yes. Quitter No! It has been awesome to witness your own personal journey to this accomplishment. Thank you!

  Gina – Indeed a great woman. Your spirit and compassion. Thank you!

  Tiffany – Your speed, your laughter and your excitement. Thank you!

  Katie – Our final Ragnar virgin. Conqueror of RAGNAR. Amazing. Thank you!

  Zach – What a pleasure to run with you. You bring speed and dedication to the team and the sport. Thank you!

  My little man. Ian, Thank you! Your hugs. Your kisses. Your giggle. Your smarts. Your defiance. I love you!

  My beautiful wife, Thank you! Your behind the scene support was and is greatly appreciated. I would be lost without you. I love you!

  Thank you for being a part of this journey with me as my final big bang as I passed my crown to the next well deserving foster/adoptive father.

  I will cherish the memories.
  THANK YOU!

• Dirty Too!

  Date: 2011.06.10 | Category: races | Response: 2

  I can drone on about this in text and you can read it, but this explains it so much better!
  Thanks DirtyDash!
  
  You don’t see or hear that at a marathon!
  This is why I am Dirty!
  More pictures to follow

• Dashing on the Dirty…

  Date: 2010.09.27 | Category: races | Response: 2

  Saturday afternoon was spent running with four friends in what has to be one of the funnest races around, The Dirty Dash. Our team was “The Dirty Thugs”. Our attire – long baggy shorts, tank tops, bandannas and a couple of squirt guns finished it off quite nicely.

  

  2010 - Dirty Dash - The Dirty Thugs

  The first mile or more was uphill switch backs and started with an incline hill run in mud. Mass chaos ensued when the race started. Slipping, shoving, pushing, falling and throwing mud just to get to the top. I don’t think many participants made it to the top of the muddy slope without getting dirty.

  

  2010 - Dirty Dash - Start

  The herd of laughing, smiling people trotted along the dusty switch backs up to the top for a hairpin turn back down the trail with large hay bail obstacles. One by one we made our way down climbing, hopping, hurdling over each hay bail as they came along, giggling the whole way. There were long pipes to crawl through, others climbed over them. Still with giggles and smiles on our faces. We wound our way up and down the switch backs which led us to the hardest obstacles in the race, coined “the Pig Pen”. We had to climb over flat walls surrounded in mud, while family and friends threw water balloons at us. Let’s just say the walls would have been difficult enough without the mud. The mud just made it that much more fun. Hop, climb, slip, fall, repeat through several of these wall obstacles, until we reached the top of an open hill. At the bottom of the slippery muddy slope, one last wall obstacle remained. But why not add a little more fun to it? I did a belly slide from the top all the way down to the wall. Have I mentioned yet? So much fun? =)

  We finished out the remainder of the downhill and wrapped around Solider Hollow towards the swampy edge of Deer Creek Reservoir. Here we were faced with a long run through very thick, black stinky mud. It ended up being a lot of crawling and a big mud wrestling pit with not much running. Everyone that came out of there, that was not too prissy, (by the way it is called the Dirty Dash) was covered from head to toe.

  We were in the home stretch now, but we had two more obstacles to go. A hill run back up the hill we had just slid and ran down, only to be rewarded with a huge air-filled slide being soaked with fire hoses.

  

  2010 - Dirty Dash Slide

  We got advice from race volunteers for the best way to make it all the way down. The five us lined up and on the word, “go”, we all darted down toward the slide leaping together into the superman body slide all the way down and popping out into another hill of slippery mud. Laughter filled the air. We had a short jaunt down the hill to our final obstacle near the finish line. This was a 2-3 feet deep pool of muddy water. My approach? Belly-flop, of course.

  

  2010 - Dirty Dash - Belly Flop

  

  2010 - Dirty Dash - Belly Flop Aftermath

  

  2010 - Dirty Dash - Belly Flop Aftermath too

  I don’t think I have participated in a race where so many of the participants had a smile on their faces and were laughing and joking the entire way. Lets not forget that this was a 10k race, which equals 6.2 miles. 6.2 miles full of mud, dirt, obstacles, laughter and fun. Definitely a race to be repeated again. Just be prepared for the very cold, hog wash showers afterward for a quick clean up.

  

  2010 - Dirty Dash - Finish

  

  2010 - Dirty Dash - Finish - The Dirty Thugs

  

  2010 - Dirty Dash - Wanna hug?

  

  2010 - Dirty Dash - Finish Say Cheese

  

  2010 - Dirty Dash - Finish I'm Dirty

  

  2010 - Dirty Dash - Finish I'm Dirty and Smiling