13.1 in 2:03

FYU pictures courtesy of The Jerusalem Marathon
I'm on the left in the blue

So heres the deal...The half is over! But it honestly feels like a dream. Everything

 went by so fast. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that I was running in a place I had

 never run before...AKA the city of Jerusalem! I decided I have terrible luck with 

running and races. Every single race I've run thus far has involved rain and hail. It's

kind of a bummer, but it makes you feel intense so it's a nice balance. 

As for soreness, I don't really feel any yet. We'll see how I feel in the morn!

Surprise!

I'm running a half-marathon tomorrow! The fact that this is the first time you are hearing 

about it shows how unprepared I am to run the Jerusalem half-marathon. The last time 

 I ran a race I didn't miss one training day and was much better prepared. 

This time is a different story. I've run like four miles max.

Imma die. 

straight up I might be dead tomorrow. 

It's a shame too because the day after tomorrow is my twentieth birthday,

 meaning I might never live to see my twenties. Either that or I'll just be extremely sore. 

My beautiful roommates came all the way to Logan to watch me run my last race...
hey guys, how about you come to this one too?

26.2 in 4:08

It's done. I did it!

And guess what...I liked it. A lot. Any person who can run 3 miles can run a marathon in two months. Seriously. Everyone at the finish line was every shape and size, an eighty year old even ran it. Unlike other athletic events I've participated in, everyone is all in it together. We cheered each other on and I made a couple of new friends a long the route.

The downside...it rained. it poured. and it HAILED! yeah. not cool. I began making a little list in my head of reasons why I should be thankful for the rain so I wouldn't be so bitter about the situation..

1. water in your shoes = extra padding

2. Your body is cool...no possibility of heat stroke

3. Free water. Just stick out your tongue.

4. When you get to a water station you can just open your mouth and chuck the water at your face...you won't be able to feel the extra wetness

5. You Can't listen to your ipod (for fear of it breaking) so you get to enjoy the nature

My roommates--I love them, best roommates ever--drove up in the night to see me run! They gave me extra energy at miles 14 and 24. They are great.

"Marathoning is just another form of insanity"

A little over two months ago I was in terrible shape. I knew I needed to adjust my lifestyle in a way that would be more active so I decided to run a marathon. Scratch that. I decided to try out the idea of a marathon. I knew I wouldn't actually run the marathon, but at least I'd force me to train for a little bit.

My alarm clock would go off at 5:30 and I would groan realizing that I had to get up and run five miles in the sticky DC air. I didn't want to do it, but my body didn't want to let my brain down so it kept waking up and running.

I'v kept to my training schedule faithfully and now I have only one more day to cross off: Marathon day. Tomorrow I head up to Logan for my Marathon I'll be running on Saturday. Although I keep having visions of people carrying my body off in an ambulance... I'm excited....here I go, 26.2!

That's going to be me...

"A Marathon is a marathon regardless of time. Virtually everyone who tries the marathon has put in training over months, and it is that exercise and that commitment, physical and mental, that gives meaning to the medal, not just the day's effort, be it fast or slow. It's all conquering the challenge."

--Mary R. Wittenberg

Mt. Vernon Trail

Today on my run I saw...

The Pentagon

The Lincoln Memorial

The Washington monument

The Roosevelt Memorial (I loved the location of this one)

This is the creepy half-mile-long underpass I jog on whenever I run to the Mt. Vernon trail

Some pretty nature

Returning to my apartment one last time.

The best part....This stuff was all I could think about

for the last 3.5 miles.

I say good-bye to DC and leave for the airport in three hours.

Too many emotions to post on a blog.

Three weeks in...

Nothing significant about this picture--I just love the houses here in the district

It has been three weeks since I started my marathon training. I've run a total of 55 Miles since I began. I would never be able to make it through my running if it wasn't for:

• A lot of positive self-encouragement I give myself on the mornings I have to wake up at 5:40 to run
• The scenery is gorgeous! Jogging right along side the potomac river in the morning is a beautiful sight. One day I'm going to bring my camera and take pictures
• The fact that I can eat what ever I want...kind of
• feeling healthy
• My running partner, Jacob! Even though he is on the other side of the country (hint hint brother...keep training..)
• discovering Virginia through my runs

There are some days I am exhausted all day because of the run and there are also some runs I have feared for my life (early morning, all alone, lots of trees and lots of homeless people- don't worry, I'll never run down that trail again...) I'm still not sure if I'm actually going to do this race, but so far so good!

Also...shout out to my homeboys-the pioneers! I had the oppurtunity to go to winter quarters in May and my gratitude for them grew immensely. Today is pioneer day in Utah. so of course there was catered cafe rio--in Virginia--to celebrate the holiday at a nearby park for all Utahns.

Again, my appreciation for the pioneers grew immensely.

"Freeeee Meaaaaallll" literally.

In other news. I spent all day cooking. I made...

oreo cheesecupcakes! Incredibly addicting and surprisingly easy to make.

I also made...

Carrot Cake cupcakes..okay tasting, but not as good as the cheesecake.

And remember my Quinoa obsession? I made some Quinoa patties for dinner..

They were SOOO good! Every one should make them right now!

Overall, I have a baking addiction. And I blame it on pinterest.

Am I crazy?

I am in the worst shape I've ever been in.

I will have no time to train.

seriously though.

The most I've run is a half-marathon.

I was so happy when I saw the finish line I cried.

The race is in three months.

I want to run a marathon.

October 15.

Who wants to join me?