Napa Valley Ragnar, San Francisco Trip! September

*This was back in mid-September!

NAPA VALLEY RAGNAR:

Lyndi started us off. She got to run on the Golden Gate bridge (but due to construction she only got to run part way and then back). We all felt super excited and really good on our runs!!

I have to give a shout out to my hubby! He was going to go and be our driver, but when the other team member backed out he was asked to fill in. We all offered to help out on his legs, but he wanted to try it. So, he thought he'd just do the first one to see how he felt. He did 3.1 miles. So, he tried the second one (then feeling empowered, and not wanting anyone else to have to suffer and do his leg or part of his leg for him) -he did 5 miles!! So by his 3rd leg, he's thinking he'd already done all that, he can do 3 more.

Mind you: He has not ran in 4 years. He is not a runner, nor built like one, lol. He has a knee that bugs him. He had a week's notice. He did not get to train for this.

His total was about 11 miles, and he is super fit in general, but this was no easy feat! I am SO proud of him!!!!

It was SO fun having him there. This is my first relay as a co-ed team. The only other guy in our van was Clint, Lyndi's husband -our really good friends. And then Mickey and Shelly.

We had such a fun time!! Such a good team, and pretty non-eventful in terms of injuries and difficulties. We all came out feeling pretty good!!

I opted for an easy run this time around -each relay before I was willing to do harder runs. This time I did about 13 miles, and not many hills. My 3 mile run that I wanted to bust out and actually be fast ended up being full of stop lights where I had no choice but to wait... that was no fun.

The other van had a little harder time with being the later part of the night, and dealing with heat at the end. We all finished and everyone came out feeling pretty good!!

We want to make this our annual tradition. Since Shawn was there I didn't feel as guilty leaving for two days, and we had fun supporting each other and Shawn always has fun being loud and goofy. I loved having him there!
Here we are at the finish line. Mickey and I.
Shelly and I.
Lyndi and I.
and my Shawny!! Wondering why I'm wearing a giant, ugly white bra?? Ya, we thought we'd do something at least to represent our team name,which was 'Doin it all night' (*because we are running all night). When I had to walk in PUBLIC at the end and get a bunch of stares and comments, I started having second thoughts, lol, but its JUST a bra on TOP of clothing, lol. What's the big deal?! ;)

To sum it up, we had a blast!!! Most fun Ragnar ever, in terms of the entire package -scenery, level of difficulty, being with my hubby, and the group!!

Of course we had to have some fun while there after the race! Here are some pictures:

San Francisco!!!

'The Stinking Rose' restaurant. Garlic, garlic, and more more garlic, But, SO good!!!

Mickey, Lyndi and I.
Uhm, ya!! Ghiradelli! We all got ice cream, and I bought a few bars. Much earned after a lot of running and walking!

Pier 39
Golden Gate Bridge. At the end of our tour, we got to see the fog rolling in. So cool!
On the boat to Alcatraz. This was what we were hoping to get to do. I love anything history (boring, I know), so I ate this up. Prison life history, however, is not the glorious history, like early American history, that I love, hehe.
Shawn and Clint, prison buddies :).
Kinda freaky, but entertaining skeleton guy near fisherman's wharf.

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This was truly my year of relay races and races:

January - 1/2 marathon, London's Run, Queen Creek, AZ

February - Del Sol Ragnar relay, Wickenburg to Tempe, AZ

March - Run Wild 5K, Phoenix zoo

(April & May none)

June - Wasatch Back Ragnar, Logan to Park City, UT

July - 1/2 marathon, Smithfield, UT

August - Epic Relay, Logan, UT to Jackson Hole, WY

September - Napa Valley Ragnar, San Francisco, CA to Calistoga, CA (Napa Valley)

*October and November... let's just say I have not had much of an interest in running, lol.

Actually, I knew it would be good to take a break. Then, mid way through November I sprained my ankle (dark, slippery stairs, full laundry basket, deliriously tired, tile... bad combination). After being on crutches all last week, and now fully walking this week I am NOW feeling ready to run. Got all my gear, and even an early Christmas present (a road bike), so next week I'm hitting it!! I was doing boot camp and yoga while taking a break from running -so taking almost 2 weeks off from working out has been... not as bad as I thought. It must mean I needed the rest. I'm a big fan of rest ;)

I signed up for my first Marathon - the Ogden Marathon, in May 2012!!! I guess now I have to take it serious, lol.