Happy Ninth Ellery and a Perfectly Pink Party

Ellery on her new Beach Cruiser.

A Perfectly Pink Party.

The girls went on a wild scavenger hunt all over the neighborhood.  Tasks included things like "touching a dirty boy," and "forming the number 9 with your bodies."

We opted for a very layered, frosting free cake.  It was dyed pink with beet juice and smothered in fresh raspberries and strawberries.

A few little personal notes on Ellery.  She... 

...has the poise and confidence to match many adults

...is learning intellectual integrity and courage by being unafraid to act and think and speak differently than her peers

...plays the piano with intensity and reflection

....loves to write poetry, especially poetry she considers extremely deep, romantic and metaphorical

....memorizes amazingly

...likes to be alone a lot

....has an intensely emotional connection with her physical body, she wears her emotions in her health

....drives her mom to jealousy because she favors dad

....worries incessantly over safety, which translates into being very responsible and very strict with her siblings

....is known to let out piercing screams when she feels something or someone is in harms way

....loves to perform and be in the spotlight, but wouldn't be labeled as outgoing

....perseveres through scary doctors appointments, and adamantly adheres to treatments, but is also very self conscious of coughing in public

....devotes herself to gymnastics

....loves to sew clothes, flowers, headbands, and pillows for herself and others, but doesn't love following a pattern

....watches and eavesdrops on her parents like a hawk

...loves fashion, dancing, pop music, and takes all of it quite seriously

....begs to sing solos in church

....has an uncanny, tender gift of connection with the elderly


We love you Ellery.  We are better parents because of you.  You've taught us how to love so much deeper.  A first child opens your heart in a way it never has been before.  Each year you grow opens our heart to more pain with an equal balance of love.  We've wept over your pain and struggles from day one battling PCD.  But your talents floor us in kind.  It's a risky game to be a parent but one we gladly take on.

Happy Mothers Day 2012

 I am so grateful to be a mother by choice.  I respect women for all of their choices.  God did not create me just as mother.  It is one of my roles, and one that brings me tremendous joy but also the burden of myriad menial duties and frustration.

 Emmett insisted on having a "dress" made for himself.  So actually both he and Brent got a homemade tie.  Brent was equally as adamant and actually the driving force behind his own matching tie.  We were a bit on the corny side at church but who cares!

My own mom and sisters.  We must have taken 150 pictures to get one we all approved of.  I'm not sure if this was one of them.

 I wish I could say I always have this big of a smile on my face, even when we are piano practicing...  But I do have this smile in my heart, even when I'm a bit grouchy.

Boston Triumph

On what was possibly, historically the most difficult day to run the Boston Marathon course, in record high temperatures, I ran in a personal best, by 3 minutes of 3:13.

I'll post a full race report later, but I must mention I was the 85th woman to finish the race today from a field of 10-12,000 women. Now that is something to feel amazing about.

Unfortunately I lost a very sentimental and valuable earring on the course and my iPhone. Two definite dampers. I will be unreachable for a time except through email.

It was a fantastic day. My legs aren't even sore!

Up the Maine Coast

Ladies and I headed up the coast line today. We browsed the shops and ate at a very legit seafood house.

My love of all things Colonial is solidified. My next house Colonial hands down.

I'm trying to put tomorrows temps out of my mind. Why don't they start the race at 8??? We keep waiting for the email to announce a changed start time. It hasn't come yet.

Heat acclimation

They say 10-14 days of heat acclimation for you to be safe running tomorrow. Do you think running in the sauna for 20 minutes will expedite the process??

At the Expo

Woo hoo! Josse, McKenzie, Erika and i had a blast posing at the expo. I will only post the tame ones :) You wouldn't believe the scare tactics going on out here. Race organizers are worried. We are sitting in our hotel room stewing over the 19 minutes they expect the heat to add to finishing times. Maybe this will be a training run.

It's gonna be hot!

Well all goals thrown out the window. It looks to be 78 degrees at start and almost 90 by finish. No PR's for this race. They are asking people to defer and not run. It's a whole new beast now. However nothing can take away from the excitement. I'm running Boston for goodness sakes!

The girls and I doing the "Duck Tours"

Why???

Why oh why does Utah not have a single restaurant which is organic vegetarian? I enjoyed a great first meal including mushrooms, beets, kale, brown rice, and tamari almonds. "Life Alive". You can't go wrong with a name like that.

Headed to Boston

Hoping for a great race!

Sign up to Follow the Race

Boston here I come!

I leave tomorrow morning.  Really, there isn't anything I am not excited about.  I even yearn for the pain of the last 6 miles.  My toe healed perfectly.  No runny noses or strange afflictions.  I'm ready to go.  One clove of garlic a day has warded off any illness headed my way.  It is a miracle prevention.  The first and only natural cure that has worked without fail for me since I began 3 months ago.

If you are interested in following the race on Monday you can receive text or email updates at the 10k, half, 30k, and finish line.


My bib number is 8109.

You may do any of the following:

Text the word RUNNER to 345678 and follow the directions.

Sign up on the website by clicking here

Email or text me, and I can set it up for you.


I've finally honed in on my strategy.  After getting thoroughly freaked out about the toughness of the course, I've decided to go out very conservatively.  I feel very confident in my ability to run a 3:10 which is a 7:15 pace.  I can come in at the half at around 1:34-35.  Then depending on how I feel I will stay consistent or turn it up and finish really hard at 6:45-7:00 pace.  If all the stars align and the weather and muscles... I will come in sometime after 3:06 (which would be a very aggressive finish).

Here is a little table I made up to study.  Not that anyone cares, but I need to have it to access on my trip :)

1st Half Time	1st Half Pace	2nd Half Pace	Finish Time
1:33	7:05	7:04	3:05
1:34	7:10	6:57	3:05
1:35	7:15	6:52	3:05
1:33	7:05	7:05	3:06
*1:34	*7:10	*7:04	*3:06
1:35	7:15	6:57	3:06
1:33	7:05	7:10	3:07
1:34	7:10	7:05	3:07
1:35	7:15	7:02	3:07
1:33	7:05	7:15	3:08
1:34	7:10	7:10	3:08
1:35	7:15	7:05	3:08
1:33	7:05	7:20	3:09
1:34	7:10	7:15	3:09
1:35	7:15	7:10	3:09
1:34	7:10	7:20	3:10

I think the best plan and most realistic is the one I starred.  I'm going to save the crash and burn, break 3 hours, all out marathon for St George in the fall.

Certainly there are countless variables when running a marathon.  Strange pains, strong winds, down pours, cramps, bathroom issues...But those are out of my control.  I'm excited for a great race!  Brent flys in on the redeye just in time for the race.  Keep the cheers coming!

Favorite Quote of the Weekend: 

Dieter F. Uctdorf's quote:

"Don't judge me because I sin differently than you."

So true.  We all have our own struggles.  What right do I ever have to judge anyone else?

Blasted Toe!

If I could somehow make my big toe look demonic I would.  It is a true source of evil in my life.  It doesn't look swollen, painful...really it looks quite innocent.  But somehow on Monday, to the best of my internet research knowledge, I must have strained a muscle.   The pain is right at the joint where my toe meets my foot, kind of on the inside between it and my "royal" toe (you know it is sign of royalty that extra long second toe).  

Who knew the big toe joint is one of the most important in the entire body, and receives some of the most strain?  Now I know, and now it is causing me problems.

I've been running 70 miles a week for 2 months, training my "Olympic Qualifying" schedule, I've run at least 8 runs over 20 miles, and three weeks to the day of the big race I get hurt.

I pushed through the week, thinking it would go away.  I finished my last long run Friday morning.   17 miles.  The workout included two 5 mile intervals at 5 seconds under marathon pace.  Josse and I ran a flat loop and I finished both intervals with an average 6:54 pace.  I was in my brand new marathon outfit

Side Note:  I am addicted to Lululemon running gear.  Yoga brought me to the brand, but the running clothes are heads and tails better than anything else I have run in. I am pretty certain I will run faster in my new clothes, wink, wink.  On Thursday Brent and I visited the store at Trolley Square.  As I tried on potential fast running gear, I had forgotten to bring a sports bra.  In a non-supportive top, having nursed 4 children, no padding or pushups, 70 miles a week with a few extra pounds gone (from my chest that is), it wasn't a pretty sight.  The thoughtful saleswoman rushed to find me a sports bra to help my rapidly dropping womanly self esteem.  Sigh...



The injury is possibly connected to my new shoes.  I love the kinvara 2's.  A couple weeks ago I went up a half size.  I was having a bit of pain on the balls of my feet.  I thought a little extra room in the toe box would be helpful, but possibly there was too much movement leading to the strain?  Who knows.

I didn't run today hoping that 2 days off, icing and ibuprofen may help.

Mentally I am so excited for this race.  I have never run like this in my life.  I don't know what April 16th will bring.  It may bring lots of toe pain, but it will not stop me from going as hard as I can.  If I fall apart, it will only be from trying too hard.