Ragnar at Last!

Have you ever watched that show “I Didn’t Know I was Pregnant?”

Well I kind of feel like that was my life last week (minus the baby part). It was an unexpected journey.

On Monday, one of my friends on Facebook said that she needed another runner for their Ragnar teams that weekend. They had some of their team members drop out because of injury and other conflicts and they needed someone ASAP.

I’d always wanted to do a Ragnar Relay Series, but I’d never had the chance. Getting a team together takes a lot of time, money, and organization, and that’s just if you get in! The race usually sells out very quickly.

I jumped at the chance to run in the relay. I was nervous because although I had been running and exercising, I hadn’t been training for this race specifically. But I trusted in my body and the adrenaline therein and decided to take the plunge.

Before I knew it, I was in a van with five other people I didn’t know on my way to the starting line in Logan.

I was runner 6. My first leg was 6.9 miles and rated “hard.” But I was fresh and most of it was downhill, so it was manageable. It became hotter and hotter as I ran down into Liberty, but the view was amazing.

My second leg was 8 miles and I started around 8:30 at night. I was already a little stiff and tired, but I tried not to think about the journey that lay ahead of me. I knew it was going to be long and dark.

I wasn’t used to running with a headlamp, but I knew it was necessary so I wouldn’t get killed, or worse, disqualified.

The road stretched on and on...but it was one I’d travelled before on my way to Girls Camp. But as night fell, the road became less and less familiar and all I could do was follow the headlamps of the other runners ahead of me. My running playlist was starting to get boring. I tried not to walk too much, but the road was became so steep at times that walking was my only option!

My support van stopped about every mile to offer me water and food. (Those random ginger snap cookies were the best!)

By the last mile, it was all I could do from saying the worst possible swear words. This was harder than my half marathon! Just when I thought the exchange would be around the corner, it wasn’t, and a huge hill would be there instead.

It was during that second leg that I took a moment to close my eyes and thank my Heavenly Father for my body. I think C. Jane Kendrick said it best: “I exercise to thank my body, not change it.” I was moving for an hour and a half -- forward and upward, into darkness. Although I was heaving and my legs hurt, I was going. My body knew what to do. It knew how to run. I wasn’t the fastest runner, but it didn’t matter. I was moving.

One thing that kept me moving was knowing that Sam would probably be there at the finish line. I didn’t have great cell service, so I hadn’t talked to him in a while. But I knew he was going to try and be there to see me come in. Oh how I couldn’t wait to see my husband at the finish line!

My pants are really high up on my waist because I had to wear a little butt light. Don't give me crap about this.

I look like I'm drunk. I'm not, but you can give me crap about this part if you want. I also kind of look like a Native American. (Braids plus headband, anyone?)

The whole route is absolutely gorgeous. My camera’s battery died, so I just had to take in the views as memories. Rolling green hills, yellow and green fields, small towns of small cottages, towering rocky mountains... a dead deer or two...

My last leg was through Heber, and it was only 2.1 miles. Nice and easy.

Most of the time is actually spent in the van, supporting whomever was currently running. This is excellent bonding time. We were all Ragnar Newbies, so we didn’t have any crazy costumes or crazy sayings written on our van windows. I loved my team!

Some of the highlights from the van:

• Popping the “orange candy” (ibuprofen).
• Sharing water bottles willy nilly. We did not care about hygiene. All that mattered is that we were drinking water.
• Our dorky little cheer.
• That moan that comes out after you step out of the van for the first time after running.
• Getting really excited to see the “portas.”
• Noticing the same vans over and over and giving them nicknames. (Jesus van, dirty van, running buddy van etc.)
• Trying to find food with the most calories and carbs possible. (You need all the energy you can get during Ragnar)
• The enthusiastic, helpful volunteers all along the way.

Crossing the finish line felt so good!

Sam was so amazing at supporting me in this! I love him so much! (He took all the pictures in this post. Except the one his in in.)

-Meg

Breaking the boundaries of my fear

 I left a few tears along the grueling sunflower-lined 13.1 miles I ran on Saturday.

First, I was tired and cold. I knew something was wrong when I hopped on the bus and realized I was the only person who was without a jacket. I was in a tank top and my short shorts. (I expected it to be really hot!)

But it wasn't hot; I could see my breath once I was at the race start. They were serving coffee, and even thought I don't drink coffee, I just got a cup so I could hold it. It helped warm me up.

I was talking to a lady before before it started. She had run 12 marathons and this was her 12th 1/2 marathon. She said, "Not to scare you, but this is one of the harder halves I done."

Eek!

I was about to burst into tears, but as most of you know, I just can't cry in public. I just can't. Nope. My body does not allow it. So instead I just kept shivering.

I suddenly realized that I did not want to run this race. I didn't want to do it.
It was like a rollercoaster ride where as soon as you sit down, you realize that you don't want to ride the ride. But this I wasn't strapped in a cart that was going to take me on this journey whether I liked it or not.

I was 13 miles away from home, and I needed all my will power to get down.

Then the race began! The first four were all uphill. Grueling, knee-scraping uphill. But at least I was fresh, right?

I don't want to recount every one of the 13 laborious miles, but I would like to say that it was pretty long and boring. There were moments when I felt so great, and so powerful. But most of it was enduring and trying to push through.

It was strange to be at say, mile 6 and think: "Man, I just did a 10k. Now I need to do it again."

My nose was doing the same thing as my legs. I seriously considered asking one of the random people on the side of the road for a tissue.

My knee wasn't hurting like it had a few weeks ago (and subsequently caused me to cut back on training.) I hurt everywhere, but that was more just exhaustion.

When I came out of the canyon, I saw my dear sisters there cheering me on. Then they joined me and pepp-talked me through the last 2 miles. I'm so glad they were there!

There was chaffing (ya, it's awful) and nasty. There were, what should we call them? We'll call them "adverse  bathroom side effects," (And by the looks of the portopotties, I wasn't the only one...) and emotions that would put a pregnant woman to shame! All of these I did not quite expect! But it's all part of the experience, right?

Today I have been so stiff. I do feel accomplished, even if I am hobbling around like a lame pony. 

Yesterday I also saw Mary Poppins. That was magical. I didn't know what to expect, but I was well pleased. 

It was also the last time I'm going to see my cousin Katelyn before she goes to BYU HAWAII! Yes, she's super lucky. Next time we'll meet is Christmas time!

Kristen is going to BYU I and so I'll see her a bit more often... but not much.

My sister is going to Weber, but I hardly ever get to see her either. Ugh. Why must life separate me from my most beloved cousins? We have all picked different Universities, but we stay close.

-Meg

Exhausted at 3:12 a.m.

I stumble in my room after getting home from work. It is three a.m. and my alarm is going off. For a moment I can't figure out why my alarm is ringing at this hour.

Then it hits me. Last Monday morning, my alarm was set at 3 a.m. so I could wake up by 3:14 a.m. for my race. I never turned it off.

It was just Monday--although it feels like so long ago--that I was racing my 10k, which is the second one I've ever done. This year was much better than last. Right now I'm so tired and brain dead that I can't remember what it feels like to be energetic and ready to pound out 6.1 miles, but earlier this week I'm sure I felt that way.

The race was fantastic for me, I finished in 52 something and was 18th in my age division. 18 is my lucky number, after all. It was hard, too. Hard and glorious.

I ran with Adriana most of the way, but she sprinted ahead during the last half mile. She pulled out at a 51 something. We were in disbelief when together we passed mile three, and according to her watch, it was faster than the fastest 5k we've ever done. The race is mostly down hill, but we still felt proud of ourselves.

Lindsey did her usual quickness. She did a 45 something. Super awesome.

Our parents didn't come down to SLC to watch us race, but that's OK. It was a great way to start the week that was to be long and stressful. They had a lot of things to do.

It's over, though. This long week of rehearsals and Chrony are finished. These wee hours are Friday, and Friday means freedom for a few short hours. Then it's back to work. I can do this. It's like the last mile of the race. Every bone and muscle in your body is screaming and sobbing and all you can do is focus on every minute aspect of your stride. You know your face is awful and red and all the people on the side of the road who are watching you are probably really glad they're not you because you look so ghastly and agonizingly winded.

But you run anyway, and push your body and find there is strength untapped in reservoirs deep within your will to survive. The pain is to be embraced, taken in and basked in.

Now I just have to gear up for the weekend. Which I expect to be equally as grueling as the days before.

-Meg

Thoughts on living

This morning I went horseback riding. Then I went to a aerobics and weightlifting class. Then I went to yoga. Then I ate some really unhealthy food, so after my nap and my laundry, I rode my bike. When I came back from my bike ride, I watched Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition. Yup, I'm kind of bragging.

I am tired of thinking about weight and fitness all the time. But I know it's important. I want to work hard now and never let myself go, so I can be strong and powerful my whole life.

When I can't run another step, or lift another weight, I repeat my mantra.

"I am strong.

I am fast.

I am beautiful."

Notice how I don't use the word "skinny." I am skinny. I don't need to get skinnier. And "thin" is negative. That word connotates loss, hunger, and unrealistic magazine models.

I won't have this much time to spend on my body when school starts again; I'll be exercising my brain instead of my abs. I love the summer because I can work out and really enjoy it. It's taken a few years to build up to where I am, and I still have a long way to go.

This is the body God blessed me with. I am happy with it, but I'm not content. I can be stronger, more flexible. I need to get better at resisting temptation. I want keep my body fit so I can be helpful and healthy.

It's sad that "active lifestyle" is a separate idea from just plain old "lifestyle." Moving and living is what it's all about.

There's no one perfect body, or perfect lifestyle. I just never want to be caught lazy and careless about life. It's precious.

-Meg

Scenes from my epic life

I am writing more, and that is bountiful. I am running off my jealousy that I did not get to run the Ragnar relay this year.

But I was clever, and I dragged my whole family up to watch a hand-off in Huntsville. We brought a printed-out list of the funky team names and read them on the way up. When we got to the park, it was early enough in the race course that everyone still looked really happy and healthy. It was an inspiring sight. Now my family is all pumped about getting a team together for next year.

It was my goal to run the Ragnar this year, but I didn't find a team, so I couldn't do it. I am sad about that, but I want to run with my family, and now they're excited because they've captured the vision on how wonderful it can be. Hard, but wonderful.

Watch for my article about Ragnar later.

Between the rain and the sun, life has been pretty epic. Mostly because my family and I have been watching Lord of the Rings Special Double Extended Version on Blue Ray. Well, the dvd on our new Blue Ray player. Man, I can't wait to get the actual Blue Ray disks. It will look so crazy fantastic... We've seen them countless times, but on Blue Ray... my oh my. Orc teeth and hobbit feet in Elven-eye detail is a precious thing to behold.

Take care of yourself.

-Meg

p.s. This be my 200th post. Say "yay!"

Running in the rain

I keep saying I'm not a journalist, but I always find myself behaving like one. I am interning at a paper this summer. The Islander is a kinda-sorta legit paper. A young little thing that everyone is Syracuse reads because it is mailed to them as a community newsletter--no charge.

I cover Track and Field because my sister Lindsey is the bomb.com at that, and my other sister is a up-and-coming freshman star. Lindsey runs the 400-meter and Adriana is liking the 800-meter. I like the meters on my camera.

This weekend is the state championships, which are held at BYU. Today was so rainy and cold. We had an umbrella, but it was useless in the torrents of rain and wind. I actually started crying at one point. There was misery in the humid, cold air, and our clothes were soaked.

I can't even fathom how hard it would be to run in that, and yet so many did.

Eventually, the sun came out, although it was never quite as warm as it could have been. Luckily, my mom and I brought a few extra clothes and blankets that we kept in the car so we could change between events.

We're headed back down tomorrow for the finals! (Today was the trials) I'll probably be donning my U of U hat because it feels really good to wear it down there amongst all that blue. And I hope to see some of my besties that live down in P-town.

And I'm going to take more pictures with an intimidating camera which I am borrowing, so I only sort of know how to use it. And I'm going to interview people, despite my dislike for that. It's going to be great and sunny.

-Meg

p.s. I have exciting news about what ELSE I'll be doing this summer... stay tuned. I can't wait to share! (Unless rapture happens, then I guess it won't matter anyway...)

Super Heroes

The past few days I've been thinking about super heroes..

NaTasha had an awesome super hero themed birthday party. As if I'm not nerdy enough, I went as Grammar Girl.

I think I'm going to refine my costume for Halloween. (Except I really want to be Amelia Earhart too... decisions, decisions.)

I love these girls. They are my heroes!

Cat Woman, Super Girl, Grammar Girl

The real Super Heros are serving missions right now.

Super Heroes are moms who run 5Ks with their daughters.

I ran the U of U alumni 5K. It was so tough, I'm not quite sure why. Actually, I do. I haven't exactly run very consistently the past few weeks. (I'm not being a very good super hero.)

Super Hero Fuel

I had do my geology assignment at the museum of natural history. Notice the boy wearing the BYU shirt. Hmmm....

But I learned not to judge people by their outward appearances! President Monson is amazing! (And he looks like my bishop... maybe that's because my bishop is his son?)

The General Young Women's [EDIT: Relief Society (I'm still way young at heart.)] meeting was so fantastic. I'm glad I skipped out on the game to go. I feel so blessed to know the women in the ward. I'm so thankful for Visiting Teaching. I'm so glad I'm a daughter of God.

I am so happy.

And a letter is coming... I can feel it. Any day. Any day. (He just passed his 3-month mark!)

-Meg

Count Your Blessings!

Hola! I have the urge to write in Spanish, but I'm not even close to being competent enough.

Today is a happy Tuesday! My classes were alright. Choir was fantastic, as usual. That always ends too quickly.

Right now I'm working at The Chronicle. So ya, that's a hint to check it out. We're pretty much the best student paper out there. But I'm not bragging or anything.

I ran on the indoor track today at the field house. It was so refreshing to just run and run and run until I could hardly go any longer! I didn't keep track of time or distance. I was simply running because I can. I am lucky to have a body that can be mobile and working. That is a blessing I don't want to take for granted.

Another blessing: I will be able to pay my tuition bill all by myself. No student loans, and only a little scholarship. I'm proud of myself. All that hard work really paid off!

Another blessing: Institute is so uplifting. I'm taking two classes, and I don't regret that for a second. My LDS history class is so inspiration and informative I just might retake it! And Book of Mormon is just a classic feel-good class.

Anyway, today I feel especially blessed, and I just had to share with the world! Life is good! The good Lord loves me! And He loves you too!

-Meg

Champion!

Well, I did it!

On Saturday I ran my 10k in 56:29.6. I was 66th out of 165 in my age division and 1286th overall. But the most important part is that I finished! My pink lunagliders made their racing debut!

I'm so sore, I think my leg is going to fall off. But my joy is so full that I hardly mind.

My sisters and my "mom" did great as well! Actually, my mom's toe was too bruised to run, so my dad ran for her.

-Megan

Here, there, and everywhere

{edit} Internet is Working, so here are some pictures!

Behold the Sego Lily. The State of Utah's flower. They are beautiful, and edible, but I've never tried them. Legend is that the pioneers ate them to survive on the prairie.

My mom being so brave! Her horse, Society, stepped on her toe. She's soaking it in cool stream water to keep the swelling down.

Me wincing after getting stinging nettle during a photo shoot of some flowers. I always get into trouble when I go into the wild brush to take pictures of rare foliage.
My daddy looking so swell in his ostrich cowboy boots and cowboy hat.

My beautiful sisters! We made a music video, that will be uploaded shortly.

Me, Megan Many-Faces. We relearned the meaning of that nickname this trip. ;)

The deer that came up right by the deck!

Cowgirl sisters!

Ah, the view is beautiful! I love riding horses.

Okay, now the blog post:

I just keep wondering if I'm ever going to be sorted out quite right.

I'm here,

and there,

and everywhere.

I wanted to post some lovely pictures of my vacation but alas, my laptop isn't getting wi-fi today. It's like Peter Pan, lost its shadow. After 4 days of no internet, I'm DYING to get on! I'm such a tech nerd, and I'm so addicted. Right now I'm on my grandma's computer, which somehow is blessed with internet connection.

I left my make-up and brush and scriptures up at the cabin. Luckily my family is bringing them down for me. I'll see them on Saturday, we're all running the 24th of July 10k.

Everything is crazy, and I can barely keep up with everything. Looks like I'm not going to be failing my English class after all, though. I have a lot of work to redeem myself though.

I love the cabin. It is so romantic. I want to take the love of my life up there someday, and we'll ride horses here and there and everywhere, all around the valley. Now that I'm back in SLC, I'm bitter about all things love and romance; I'm back to normal! I just don't know what I want, actually.

Okay, now I'm going to go make myself some avocado toast.

-Megan

My New Mission!

Well, Mr. Hill, I mean Elder Hill is off to the Missionary Training Center! (The empty sea hehehe)

I thought I was going to much more upset than I actually was. Well, that's not particularly true. The night before he left I did have a MAJOR breakdown. That was a dark night. {shudder}

But the past few days have been superb. I just keep busy doing homework and work, and I have actually been quite productive. I was just thinking... wow, the time is going by so fast! This isn't hard at all!

Then I realized it's only been 2 days... oh. That felt like a month! A fast month, but a month! {sigh}. I just need a musical montage and then BAM! He's home! (That would nice...)

I was insane before, but I'm really crazy now. So sometimes random passions take hold of me and I get these drives to accomplish something. My next mission: TO RUN THE RAGNAR!

If you know me well, then I know you've just burst out laughing. But I'm dead serious. I'm really going to do it next year. I'm making my whole family do it too! They're all much faster runners than I am. We just need to find the rest of a team. (you need 12). We might not get in, because it's really popular, but we're going to try.

I'm doing this. This is my new quest. I'm a goal oriented person, so if I have a set race I want to accomplish, I will do it.

What brought this on? Well people have been talking about it because it was just last weekend. I was so inspired and motivated by their stories. It sounds so hard, but not too hard that it is out of my reach.

Yay! I went running today to start training right now. My first mini-goal is to run the 4th of July 5k. Eeek! I'm so excited.

This will make 2 years go by so quickly!

-Megan