Superwoman: Level TWO

Guys! I did it! I ran an 8K in Moab this weekend!

I was SO nervous because I didn't get to train this past week at all because I wasn't feeling well! And I've NEVER done trail running in my life and I was just afraid that it would be the worst thing ever and I would humiliate myself and blah blah blah.

It turned out so well! Honestly, it was by God's grace that I ran that race in such good spirits and time after this hellish week that I had. I'm so thankful! And I'm so grateful that I have really good friends who came to cheer me on! It was SO fun to have them there! We drove to Moab on Friday night and stayed in a hostel. We had this adorable little cabin and we all shared a queen-sized bed which was not very comfortable. Kristy and I woke up like every 30 minutes. But somehow I still had the energy I needed in the morning.

I was part of the 5th wave (like the movie coming out!) of race starters. So that's the last one, cause I'm slow and we ran into the mountains and it became this uphill sheetrock thing! I mean you could run if you were really hardcore but pretty much everyone in my group just walked. That was nice. I mean, I kept a SUPER quick pace when I had to walk and then I would break into jogs when I could. I got into a good groove and was around the same people so we got to know eachother's paces and when we should allow someone to pass or when we should try to pass others.

I discovered that my secret weapon for running is AUDIBLE! They should hire me as a salesperson because I just have this need to evangelize the way this app has changed my life! I can listen to books anywhere! I'm in the middle of this great book right now called Glass Sword and I was able to just go into book land and put my body on autopilot for most of those 5 miles. It was great! A definite life hack.

When I got to the finish line, Kirsten and Kristy were waiting for me cheering and hugging me and telling me how fast I was. It was so so nice and just what I needed. (I really wasn't that fast, just fast for ME which is what running is all about). I finished in about 1 hour 15 minutes...like 1 minute before the first half marathon finisher so...there's that.

After basking in the glory of finishing the race with my friends, we went to Dead Horse Point and walked around a bit looking at the scenery. It was such a great escape from Provo for the day and I'm just so proud of what my body can do. I'm not as skinny as I once was but I am so much stronger and that's an amazing feeling.

Our little cabin

pre-race. I look really happy but I was actually so scared

Also, it was FREEZING at the beginning of the race (8am)

As I started to run

Let's be honest- the real hero of this picture is that amazing white-haired man next to me!

Those shorts! Those socks! That hair!
Really though, one of the things I've noticed about these runs is 
that all sorts of people do them
-old, young, fat, skinny- it doesn't matter! I find it inspiring.

Coming to the end of the race

Look at that form!
I had to take my jacket off halfway through because suddenly it was SO hot!

It wasn't a huge event and since I was in a gap between runners, they called out
my name as I crossed the finish line which was kind of cool.

Then these little kids ran up to me and handed me my "Finishers" Medal.
I was so proud that I wore it to sleep last night.
I think there's a metaphor in that Finishers medal.
Sometimes just finishing is the biggest thing to be proud of

I had to take my bib off when I took my jacket off so I carried it the last half-ish of the race

My loyal fan club! I love them

Sister Hurst and Sister Crane take Moab!

That view!

Can you imagine discovering this place for the first time?

Just chatting on some red rock

The KrisJens are united again.
I love my Krusty Tung so much. We've been separated loads of times since we met our freshman year
but thankfully, we keep uniting again!
Who'd have thought when we first met that we would both serve missions? Certainly not us!

Red Rock

Victory pose!
I just ran (/walked) 5 miles!
Boo-YAH!

Good people. 

For some reason I just really liked this log thingy

As we drove back we saw a cowboy herding cows across the road.

Kristy and I were pretty much convinced it was the coolest thing we had ever seen

That night I huddled down in front of my laptop and ate a whole half pint of Ben and Jerries half-baked ice cream and watched Hidalgo (inspired of course by seeing that cowboy). It was a great way to end the day.

So yeah! I have now reached Super Woman Level Two! I never thought that I would be doing this kind of stuff but I love it! Next stop: 10K!

My Favorite Jew in the Mormon Heartland!

My great friend Stuart came to Utah a few weeks ago on a work trip! Because his work is handling medical policy for Senator Orrin Hatch because he's incredible! I'm so proud of him for living his dream and doing policy in DC! And the irony of Stuart being a very devout jew, working for the ridiculously Mormon constituency of Utah is not lost on us! Just for a little reminder of who he is:

Stuart's been my partner in crime for awhile....

We went to homecoming together....

He was the Harry to my Hermione....
As well as the vice president to my president of NHS....
clearly, we were nerds....

He let me hang with him when he was in college in Denver...

And even had the gall to think he could take me on in a wolly mammath fight!

Basically he's a great guy! And he introduced me to my now good friend Clayton who was doing an internship in DC awhile ago and met Stuart there. So the three of us finally got to hang this weekend which was a little surreal to have two worlds collide but very, very fun.

We got lots of good food and they came to see me perform and probably the highlight of the trip (or at least the thing we have the most pictures of) is snowshoeing! 

Stuart's smile is almost manic!

He was on a mission and led the way the whole time

I think I forgot hair pins....so I look like a who!
I said that and Stuart was like, "!!! I've always thought that!!!"
It was awesome.

We conquered this mountain.
I mean really. I fell down so much that Clayton had to bail me out of snowdrifts like every three steps

Jenz and StuP

I love him

beautiful view

Beautiful bros

Remember how I kept falling and having to get dug out of snowbanks?
At this point my foot literally slipped out of the shoe strapped to the snowshoe stuck in the depths of the snow.
Clayton was quite the gentleman and helped me out of this debacle. 

Our post-snow shoe "we survived!" picture back at Clayty's house

We took Stuart to the Provo City Center Open House tour

it was cool to get to show him something that is so sacred to me

So yeah! StuP came to Utah, perhaps the most religiously unique state in the union and he handled it like a pro! I just wish I got to see him more often... :)

My St. Louis Valentines

Since I didn't go home for Christmas and because I had a ticket voucher on Southwest airlines, I got to go home for a long weekend in February to see my family!

The view flying over Utah was spectacular!

And on both of my flights I got to sit in the first row with plenty of leg room which was heavenly 

It was so much fun! Plus, it killed two birds with one stone- I got to see my family AND I didn't have to be in Provo for Valentines Day! (Provo can become an unbearingly cheesy sweet/bitter place this time of year). As it was, I escaped to a weekend of little boys, high school friends and fun with family (and at least one person posting an engagement on facebook every hour).

I got to have my annual birthday breakfast with my Dad at iHop a couple months late and I got red velvet pancakes which were quite yummy! I hung out with Emily and her kids and got to go to Milo's soccer game which was pretty adorable. That night Alex came into town and we all had dinner together and cake (gotta have the Schnucks cookie cake every time I come home!) and after the boys went to bed I made everyone play Balderdash because its my favorite game and its so fun to play with my smarty pants family.

I do love my Papa

Hanging out with the Hankster

Milo's soccer game

look at that hustle!

I only meant to put a couple of these up but he's just so dang cute

My baby nephew is getting so old!

diligently goalie

On Saturday we all went to the city museum which was a bit crazy but so fun! Here are some pictures:

Playing with Walter

Walter insisted on wearing his Christmas onesie to the museum

Beautiful, gentle Yia Yia with Hank

Stormtrooper/Darth Vader clad Milo

Reaching out from the depths of the belly of the beast that is the City Museum

That little booty!

That sly smile!

Alex, Matt and I had some trouble with some of the small places.
It was a bit like watching a grown man being born at times. 

Into the dark depths

Brothers

We found these cool top-things that you could spin around in!

Ok, I'm obsessed. 

Al-Pal being the silly self I love 

Just hanging out there in the back

How is he so cute? HOW?

he's like an escaped toddler....

And Milo would not be outdone!

There was a skatepark that could be used as a slide

this stupid teenager accidentally stepped on Walter but then Walter got his courage back

Look at him go!

Hank was stalwart throughout all the shenanigans

After the city museum we went to this southern chicken place that Matt found.
The chicken was SOO spicy!

Walter was a little overstimulated

He's so funny when he's grumpy (in retrospect).
He's like grumpy cat. 

That night, I babysat so that Matt and Emily could go to the ballet and Mom and Dad and Alex came over and watched Inside Out and then Alex drove back to Columbia. Sunday was pretty chill. I helped Mom and Dad with their valentines-day themed lesson and we all ate together again. Monday came too fast and after hanging out with Emily and company Mom and I drove to the airport.

For Valentines Day my Papa performed a song for my Mom.
It was very sweet. 

On Monday, I took these little guys to Shnucks to get cookies.

And I must say, watching them play lego star wars is pretty adorable

They stand right next to the big screen and jump up and down as they play 

Anyway, I love my family so much. I wish there was more for my career path in St. Louis because I love being around them. In the meantime, it was a much needed semester break to get to go home and visit!

and a few more just because I can't resist

Silly

Walter's face

Milo made us headbands :)

I think we rocked them

We got a little drama practice in, pretending to be confused

So much love

These people are my valentines.