the big 5k, etc!

friday, july 4th
Las Vegas 4th of July 5K Blast
3.5 miles (race, plus warm-up)

Didn't know the course at all, thought I had ran a really fast 1 mile (then later realized that was only the first 1/2 mile. LOL!). Met a nice man about 1/2 way through. I was silly and told him to keep it up and he said that's what people said at mile 13 of a marathon. I told him I'd never run one before, so I wouldn't know. I kept running ahead of him and turned back and asked him how many he'd run. He said 100. Wow! So then he passed me about 1/2 mile later, then I caught up with him with about 1 mile to go. I made a comment about the weather and 90+ degrees not feeling that hot when you're used to the 110. I mentioned I was from Utah and we started talking and talked the rest of the race. His name was Stefen (spelling?) and I'm not sure if he is or every was LDS, but he grew up in Provo in the tree streets, where his mother still lives. He said he was a rebel when he left there and was glad to be gone from all of the Mormon stuff, but has since come to appreciate it more since he's gone. He said he doesn't like it when Mormons (even in Vegas) will bring up that they are Mormon in business dealings when it doesn't have anything to do with their business relations. I told him that made sense. Afterwards, I realized I could have said something more like--I think it may be hard for some members to not take their religion into consideration in everything they do, but that if they are flaunting it or expecting to be treated differently because they are LDS, that's not right. It really made me realize how careful we need to be so we are not alienating and offending people when what we need to be as Latter-day Saints is accepting and inviting to come to Christ and befriend people. We had a good talk the rest of the race and I finally kind of sped up the last few meters of the race when I realized the finish line was right there and I felt like I hadn't really exerted much effort the last part of the race! But oh well. It probably went fast and I didn't notice it because I was talking and not paying attention to how much was left! :) It was a good experience and I'm really glad I had the opportunity to talk to someone while I was in Las Vegas about the Church in this way; I'd really been hoping for that. Stefen invited me to come out to the Las Vegas Track Club's trail race the next day. I think I'd consider joining and/or running with some of these running clubs if I end up here, just to meet people and know where to run, etc. I am so glad we ran! Oh, duh! I finished then went running back a ways to find Chris. He wasn't that far behind at all--I am so impressed! He came in just over 33 minutes, pushing the boys, and wouldn't let me help. People were cheering and were very impressed to see the jogger. It was so fun and I'm so excited to do another one with Chris. It was a wonderful start to the day! P.S. I guess runners like to eat hot dogs and hamburgers after a race--even if it's only 8 a.m. Hey weird! But I gotta admit, the hamburger did taste good! :p Maybe I am destined to be a runner/racer if this what it entails!

Jenny: female 25-29 age group, 8th place, 28:52
Chris (pushing jogger): male 25-29 age group, 9th place, 37:50

saturday, july 5th
7:00 a.m.
3.5 mile walk (to park with Chris and boys in stroller)

monday, july 7th
3 miles
5 min warm-up, 30 min. run nice and easy
went west, back east, looped around back home in neighborhoods

tuesday, july 8th
3 miles
3 min warm-up, 30 min.

wednesday, july 9th
3 min. warm-up, 35 min.
3 miles

thursday, july 10th:
No run. We drove from Las Vegas to Utah today. I haven't been getting great amounts of sleep at night, since we've been going to bed late with Andrea being here and Coop up between 5 and 6. I'd thought about going tonight after the boys were down, but decided getting sleep and keeping this sore throat at bay would probably be smarter. It's hard for me to miss a day. I feel bad, like I'm being lazy or something, like I need to exercise 6 days a week or