Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Moab 1/2 Marathon

Som and I SPRINTING in!

The final stretch with the four "commies" **Anne...that one was for YOU**


My BIGGEST Fans....you may not be able to see one of them (Jackie) ...he was on my right side or was it my left?? encouraging me every single step of the way! Wish I could have seen him cheering me on at the finish line with my favorite boys in the whole world! I know he was there. I like to imagine that he had that BIG cheezy grin on his face and that his hair was a little crazy (think of kid from "Meet the Robinsons") He was there...I know it!

Whit did AWESOME! She finished in just over 2 hours! Not too shabby! Way to go Whit!




Anne ROCKED it too! Her IT bands gave her a little trouble, but look at that smile! She DID it!




There's my baby! Ya, he has crusty snot stuck to his face...but he's happy! :)


Here's cute little family picture...minus me!



The "infamous" bike ride!


Corbin was bummed that he didn't get to go on the "ride". Maybe next time...next time as in 12 years from now!!
Back in January Anne Hansen talked me into running the Moab 1/2 marathon. I am NO marathoner...that's for certain, but I needed somthing to train for...so finally after alot of convincing...I agreed. I've been training for months now. It hasn't been easy...but I've learned that my body can handle a lot more than I gave it credit for. My cute sister Sommer immediately stepped up to my request (demands) of entering the race. She didn't give even a second of hesitation. She has stood...well ran by my side for the last 3 months. Never once complaining...even when she couldn't walk. She sucked it up and continued to encourage me for every single LONG mile through out training and especially during the race. She listened to "Wicked" the entire time and had a few cliff shots and was literally LEAPING with energy as she motivated me to keep going. She would remind me that Jack was with us. She would help set mini goals of passing people. She even had words of kindness as she'd tell me how much I have improved along the way. She even put up with my endless supply of excuses as to why I HAD to stop. I wanted to quit...believe me. Getting a stomach bug the morning of the race MAY have had something to do with that! It's a little known fact that running 13.1 miles and stomach bugs...don't mix very well! So, I took a few more potty breaks than I had intended...but hey I finished! I may have finished about 1/2 hour longer than I had originally anticipated...but I crossed that finish line. I did it! I don't know that I'll EVER do it again...but I feel good. I have learned that my body can handle the run as long as my mind says it's possible. I've learned that I don't want to be a long distance runner! 6 miles sounds just about right! :)
I've learned that when I pray to my Heavenly Father for help...He sends it! It may not always be in the way that I want...but He never leaves me alone. Even in our darkest hours we're NEVER alone. I wonder what it would look like if we could really see all the help He actually sends. If we could see just how often His hands are constantly part of our daily lives. I bet we'd re-think how we handle some situations. I met a woman a few months back that at the time was dealing with a situation in which her child was at Primary Children's. It wasn't a life-theatening situation and her child was going to recover. She asked me if losing Jack brought us closer to the Lord. I told her that it not only brought us closer as a family, but that our relationshiop to the Lord was stronger than I think we could have ever imagined. She went on and on about Primary Children's and how "awful" it was. Then she asked me how long we were there with Jack. When I told her only a few hours, she replied with "LUCKY...we've been here for over a month." LUCKY???!!!...did she really say that I kept asking my self as she rattled on and on and on!!! She told me that her ordeal really shook their family up and that they really struggled with even going to church. Their faith was obviously shaken. But what I couldn't understand was that her child would eventually come home. Her child never went into a irreversable coma. After she left, of course I had a break down. But after it was over I thought about it...and realized that I WAS LUCKY! Lucky because the Lord gave us a trial...a trial that I hope no one we know has to yet endure, and we held on. We clung to the Lord and relied on him. We finally we able to truly understand just how important the Atonement is. And just how much we need Him. He's been there every single step of the way. But especially when it's been hard...harder than we thought even humanly possible. He NEVER left. I feel for this mother, because the Lord gave her the opportunity to come closer unto Him and she decided to go another direction. I often think of her when things get tough. When I miss Jack so much I can hardly breathe. I think that while we lost something that can only be compared to losing a limb, we chose and continually choose to gain something amazing from a loving and kind Heavenly Father.





17 comments:

Lanae said...

What am I still doing up? I don't know - but I just checked your blog and saw your latest post. Love it. Love it.
Love your run, you're awesome, bebe!!! You're a special one and I'm sure Heavenly Father (and Jack) smile upon you daily. How could they not?
And I still can't believe the audacity of that ungrateful girl that you had the misfortune of meeting. So sorry you had to listen to her go on and on. Some people always look for the bad in things; drives me nuts.
I love ya; call me tomorrow and let's play!!!

Kim said...

Tiff you are amazing! I love ya!

Colleen said...

You don't know me, but I have been following your blog. Thank you so much for your post today. Although I would rather have my son back at any moment, I am so grateful for the trial that I have been able to endure to become so close to my Heavenly Father. Thank you for sharing your strength with others. And way to go on the race!

Anonymous said...

Tiffany,
you are so amazing as Kim has said and Lanae, you are so special to Heavenly Father and such a special Mother and wife you are, Heavenly Father loves you so much, I was so blessed to have you and your sisters as your Mother to you all, you have taught me so much and have been such an example to me and I too am still learning to be a good mother and will never stop learning until the day I die to go back home to Heavenly Father if I live right to go back home. I love you babygirl so much, Thank you for being such a wonderful daughter to me and sharing your wonderful family with me. Love ya lots, Lady

Melanie Bingham said...

Great job on the run to all of you! loved the pic of Coby and the boys and baby Jades he looks so happy. As for the lady at Primary's I've had many interesting conversations there. How awesome of you to not judge her (even though she's obviously pretty ignorant) and how astute of you to see that she didn't take hold of the miracle of the attonement and you have. Based on some of those conversations at Primarys I was often in awe at how the Lord does know us, deal with us and give us the opportunity to come unto HIm on an individual basis.
love your skinny buns!

The Rich's said...

You dud awesome. It was so fun to be down there with you. I just love ya!!!! Way to go!
Whit

abbyandcompany said...

Proud of you! And I love it. Love it all. You have done well.

and did you really run that whole thing in those pants? I would have ripped those off and ran the rest in my underwear at about mile 6....

Brittni Schroeder Photography said...

Good job Tiff! Glad you didn't poop your pants!

Lots of Love!

Brittany said...

That was AWESOME!!!! I didn't know you were training. I wish that we could do St. George.... but alas my last marathon training injury is STILL kicking me in the big fat BUTT!!! So maybe next year?

Sommer said...

I just like to say for the record that it is NOT possible to be beautiful while running even if you wear a skirt and make-up!

Amanda said...

Wow! I am imprest. You are awsome!!!!

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Anonymous said...

hey tiffany! I thought of you so much yesterday during conference. I thought i would check in today and see how you are doing. you are a rock star! Congrats on finishing your 1/2, even with the scoots:).

Your sentiments at the end were so beautiful and encompass what life is all about for each of us. during the big stuff and the little stuff, we all have a choice to draw closer to Him or farther away. i forget that sometimes so i appreciate your sweet reminder. you continue to inspire:)! thank you, thank you!

Amy said...

way to go Tiff, you look sensaional!!! I'm so proud of you. YOu rock. great pics!

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