A Few Races this Year

Well I might as well start with the most formidable race I have done. In my own defense, it has been several years since I've run a half marathon. The Thanksgiving Point Half Marathon proved to be my undoing. Firstly, it SNOWED the night before. And I'm not talking little flakes on your lawn, like actual piles of snow in freaking April. Ridiculous. I wore whatever I could to get/stay warm. At the first mile, I had to use the portable facilities which has never happened to me before. Then I lost my energy trying to catch up to my pace. Big mistake. By the eighth mile, I knew I was in for a fight and then by the last my body was so done my vision started to blur. 

My cheer leading section at the finish.

Here I am thinking I'm going to puke everything I've ever eaten. EVER!

Cute little blondies. Kels could fit in perfectly with the Lunt's.

Kelsie looking at her mom in wonder:) Me wondering if I'll survive the drive home. Which I don't. I had to stop at my mom's, take a shower, and puke a couple of times. My electrolytes took a dive basically and I felt the worst I've felt after a race.

Moving on to the best bike race in Utah! Well it's the only one I've done so I think it is.  I rode in Pamperfest which is put on by Rockwell Relay peeps. There were chocolate fountains, massages, mini manicures, facial, etc. It's for women, men, so don't get too excited.  Melissa, Kendra, Janelle and I signed up to do this relay race from Snowbasin to Provo. 

At the start getting blinded from the sun. Our sensitive blue eyes. Melissa knows what I'm talking about. Anyhoos.....

July, but still kind of chilly in the morning up at a ski resort.

This is Rick. Kendra's husband. We are such good bike riders that we needed an extra support vehicle. Rick volunteered with Rockwell to help along the race and so we pretty much saw him the whole time. He was such a gentlemen. Whenever he was there he would load and unload our bikes for us. Or maybe he was worried we would scratch his truck somehow. Who knows:)

Getting ready for the first leg. About 22 miles.

Everybody waiting around. We did a lot of this when we weren't riding.

Kendra getting in some nutrition.

                                   

The Beloved Truck. I'm actually still surprised Rick handed the keys over. If he would have talked to Chad before he knew I was driving I think maybe we would have had a chauffeur.

                                  

Melissa coming in off her first leg.

                                   

Me and my butt headed out on my second leg. 16 miles I think. Fitting pic since we did talk a lot about butts on this race.

Finishing strong around 12 hours. I thought it was so much fun and will for sure do it again someday.

I also did a 5k a few weeks ago. Intermountain Healthcare put one on that goes around Sugar House park a couple of times that was FREE! My goal was under 30 and I did it in 28:40! I asked Chad how I look when I run because I've been recently intrigued by minimalist shoes. They apparently help you to run properly. He said that I skoot. I don't think that's a good sign of my running technique.

Pioneer Day at Heritage Park

Continuing with my random order updates, here is July 24th at Heritage Park in SLC.

Waiting around for the Allen clan to appear.

Dad taking a million shots of his little stinker.

Not so sure about the pony ride.

Panning for gold with cousin Mary.

Sally soakin' her tootsies in the cool crick.

Waiting and waiting and waiting for the Candy Cannon to blow us some charbroiled taffy.

The Adventures at Zion

At the end of June, Chad and I went on a camping trip to Zion's with The Johnson's. Paul's nephew and friend came as well. We stayed in Cedar City at the Best Western the first night we got down to Southern Utah. To do a lot of the back country hikes in Zion's, you have to get a permit.  Chad and Paul woke up at the butt crack of dawn to get a permit to do a hike called the Subway. It's a super popular hike so we were pretty lucky they were kind enough to sacrifice some sleep so we could go.

After a little nappy poo, we headed out to do some rappelling at a random location. 

Getting ready to head up to find a spot to jump off of.

Paul instructing the rookies on canyoneering. It has been a long time since I've rappelled and the first step off is always a little sketchy.

We ended up camping that night at a reservoir. Notice the tent in the middle is Chad's two man backpacking tent. That pretty much translates into a cuddle fest tent. Woot. Woot. Don't be jealous.

We had to, and I mean HAD TO, take a picture of the first fire we have ever built together. It's pretty much a highlight of our marriage. The fire's still burning people:) Wah. Wah. Or it's a culmination of all the knowledge we've seeped from watching shows like Dual Survival or Man vs. Wild. It was such a good fire that the rocks were exploding and put a hole in our tent! Take that Bear!

So it is true. Backpacking packs flatter any body:). New fashion statement? I think so.

We definitely over prepared for the Subway because of a video we had watched earlier in the week. It was of the Subway in April when the water level was super high and people were getting stuck all over the place. Luckily, it was not as bad as the video but the water was still freezing cold.  I was wearing my swimsuit, then a wetsuit and then my clothes. Pretty hot. 

There were a few obstacles and canyoneering areas throughout but it was beautiful. Just incredible. I would totally recommend going from the top to the middle. The middle to the bottom, however, not so much.

A very famous picture spot in the Subway.  So, so, so amazing.

Here we are waiting for others to get down the last little obstacle before the treacherous hike out.  The whole hike took us about 7 or 8 hours. Not for the weak:) The last 3 miles out and then finally straight up were horrendous. Back and forth over boulders, sand and water. I was in such a bad mood and said I would NEVER do the Subway AGAIN!  I could not understand how people hike from the bottom up to the middle and then back again. They are crazy. CRAZY I tell ya. I have actually changed my mind about it though. If someday I get the chance to do it again I will go. I'll just have a helicopter drop a rope and pick me up in the middle.

Random Update Order Starting with Anniversary!

On August 2nd, Chad and I have been married for 3 years. Or as Chad likes to put things, we are now in our fourth year of marriage:) We decided to go to a Bees game since we haven't been to one in forever. Baseball games are always a great reminder of my Dad and how much fun we would have when he would take us to them. It was so much fun and the starlight mint ice cream in the 7th inning was amazing! Love it. I'm pretty sure I downed most of it by myself.

Random update calls for random wedding day pics!

It's been a wonderful 3 years! And I love being married to my best friend. It just is a great thing to have someone that is totally yours and who you are totally theirs. I couldn't ask for someone better. I don't know how the garage would ever get clean, the grass ever get mowed, the house totally cleaned while I was gone to Boise, or Kelsie played with after 3:30 everyday without him. Even though sometimes we can butt heads,  we still manage to have so many more moments of laughter. I love ya Chad.

Who is Justice Beaver?

....He's a crime fighting beaver.

Sorry. It's kind of an inside joke. It seemed to be the theme of our Girls Vegas Trip 2011. If you want to know more about it just watch some of The Office. It's mentioned in one of the episodes from this season. I can hear Chad reading this right now at work and saying "You make no sense." Oh well.

Anyways, a long time ago, (let's say March) I went on a girl's trip to Las Vegas. We had a couple bumps in the road to overcome but we got passed them and headed out. Kira was not really sure they would have the funds and Kinsly's kids were sick the day we were supposed to leave. Not to be stopped from having serious amounts of girl time, I persuaded  (well maybe I forced) both to come.

Kira and I drove to St. George in what seemed like minutes. We could talk the whole time without any children screaming at us. Man, it's nice to have a conversation with someone without having to appease a child. We picked Kinsly up and headed to Vegas to find Trish. Trish was nice enough to let us stay at her house.

Basically we ate food, watched movies, went to the spa and chatted it up like old times. It was a good reconnect with some of my college girls. I'm pretty sure we need to start doing this annually. Maybe everyone needs to come to my house next. Huh? Huh?

Getting pampered up at the spa. Love it!

Justin Bieber! We may or may not be kind of dorky in these pics. So fitting to see him as he was the theme for our trip:)

No. I did not post the same pic twice. The above picture is one taken in Vegas in front of Cheesecake Factory. Kinsly sent it to me and I thought it looked familiar. I scrapbooked the bottom one while at Dixie. That is why the picture is not so clear. Look at us? Is that not hilarious? I had a good laugh even if you did not.

And this is the child I left for a few days. She had a good time with her Dad. I'm pretty sure her Dad was excited to give me my motherly duties back and to start planning a trip of his own.

Another Impel Clothing 10% Discount Code!!!

Woot! Woot! Another chance to score some cute stuff for 10% off! Go check 'em out at http://www.impelclothing.com/. The code is:

BNOP713

It's only good for today Wednesday July 12th so go on over!

Massaman Curry

Last week, I went to a Cooking Group in my neighborhood and learned how to make Thai Curry. I made it last night. It is sooooo GOOD! It tastes just like the Coconut Curry at Royal India that I get every time.  Such a simple recipe. You just have to find the right ingredients. Or close to anyway.

Ingredients:
2 C. Cubed Chicken Breasts
3 C. Cubed and Peeled Potatoes (I used yukon gold but I bet you could use anthing.)
1 C. Carrots
1 Can Coconut Milk (Chaokoh brand)
1/3 C. Massaman Curry Paste (Mae Ploy brand)
1 1/2-2 C. Milk
1/3 C. Brown Sugar
1 Tbs. Oil (I used olive oil.)
1 Tbs. Fish Sauce (Tiparos brand)
1 Tbs. Peanut Butter
1 1/2 Tbs. of Fresh Lime Juice
1-2 Tbs. of Crushed Peanuts

Directions: (serves 4-5)

Combine 1/4 of the coconut milk with half of the curry past and stir until smooth. Place mixed sauce, oil and cubed chicken in large pot. Cook on medium heat until chicken is tender; stir frequently.

Mix together the remainig coconut milk and curry paste until smooth and then add to the pot with the chicken.

Stir in fish sauce, brown sugar, peanut butter, lime juice and 1 cup milk. Finally, add the carrots and potatoes, bring to boil and then let everything simmer on low for about 20 minutes or until the veggies are soft.

Curry paste will thicken while it simmers. If you want to thin out the curry you can add 1/2 to 1 cup milk after it is done simmering.

Before serving, mix in the crushed peanuts and serve with Jasmine rice.

I used Thai Kitchen coconut milk and fish sauce because I already had those brands at my house. I got them at Smith's. The girl that taught the class got the recipe from her mother-in-law who is Thai. She recommends all the brands in the recipe. She also recommended we get the Jasmine rice in the big white bag with deer heads on the label. You'll know what I mean when you see it. Ha.

There is a Southeast Supermarket here in Salt Lake on 422 E. and 900 S. They had everything there that I needed. I'm sure if you went to a similar place where you live you could find these particular brands. I definitely would go for the rice and curry paste.

Enjoy!