Wasatch Back Relay #7

So the Wasatch Back Relay is over and I could not be more relieved.  I had a great time don't get me wrong.  I just had anxiety about it for the entire week following up to it.  I was nervous about leaving the kids, especially Ellie.  Even though I knew she was in great hands I just struggle leaving them for such a long time.  Our team had the glorious start time of 5:30 a.m.  Which means we left at like 2:30 a.m. or was it 3:00, yikes my memory is bad.  Anywho, what it boils down to is we pretty much get two nights of no sleep.  I really don't sleep much at all but no sleep is just insanity.  I went to bed at 12:00 a.m. Friday morning and quickly woke up at 2:00 a.m.  We drove up to Logan and got ready to get started.  The race has changed A LOT over the years that i have done it.  I have done it every year except for the year I was pregnant with Sam.  I was on one of the first 20 or so teams to do it the first year.  It was much smaller, a lot less rules, a lot of fun actually.  The mass amount of people is fun as well but I liked it more when it was smaller.  I digress.  Anyway, so every runner is suppose to have a reflective vest, a headlamp or flashlight and an LED light.  We get up to the starting line and what did I forget, ALL THREE THINGS!  I really didn't even think about it when I was packing.  I think the teams that I have done it with since it was a rule always had all that stuff so I never had to get it.  Needless to say I felt sheepish and luckily ran into a friend and borrowed hers so our team could check in.  I have no brain I tell you.   Moving on...

I ran my first 5 mile leg at about 8:15 a.m.  The weather was beautiful and the time was awesome.  Here I am about to run my first leg.  Can I just say that those running sleeves may very well be the best purchase I've made in a long time. I love them!

Our team name was 'Baby Got Swack'. You know you love it.

Our van finished our first leg about 12:00 or 1:00 ish, the details are all a blur.  We only got a couple hours to rest in between these runs and we talked to each other the entire time so we got no rest.  Dumb I tell you.  Here we are as Kari (our first runner) just took off for us to start our second runs.  Let me just say Kari is amazing.  She had the hardest and longest runs, she is amazing!!  

Some of our team members made these cute tank tops for our team.  They all look really cute in them but let me just say, they are not made for nursing mothers or for girls who just had babies.  They ran a little small and it was pretty snug on me so I opted to wait until I'm done nursing to flaunt it. :-)  I did put it on at the finish line but you'll just have to wait to enjoy that picture in a minute.  You don't really get to see your other van very much but it sure was fun when we did.  Fun girls I tell you.  

My 2nd leg was probably the hardest.  It was only 4 something miles but it was a little warm so I struggled through it.  It's always hard to tell if you're eating enough, drinking enough, etc., especially when you are nursing.  I swear I hardly ever saw my teammates eat and I was eating like a pig. I had big pb & j sandwiches, trail mixes, fruit, crackers and I felt like I was constantly eating.  They did tease me a little bit but I was a hungry girl.  I don't know how they did it.  

The scenery was absolutely beautiful as was the weather.  We really lucked out.

Me and amazing Kari Brown.

That's right skinny chick, I'm passing you.  I love this picture!  I probably shouldn't admit this but I am very, very competitive when you get me out on a running course.  It was my fuel for this entire race.  I'm not in the best shape yet (seeing Ellie is only 3 months old).  So there were many times I wanted to stop.  However, I just kept telling myself you have to pass that person, you have to pass that person.  And if there wasn't anybody to pass I made myself run faster so I could find somebody.  And then once you pass them you have to keep your pace up so they don't pass you back.  My team teased me about that b/c I was so competitive out there.  I didn't count but I probably passed 40-50 people throughout the race and didn't get passed once.  Thank you very much!  I'm proud of that, can you tell?  In fact if I don't feel like working out at the gym, I make myself get next to somebody on the treadmill that looks like they are running at a good pace.  I have to get on and not stop until they do.  Should I be admitting all of this?  It's motivational fuel I tell you.  Try it out, you just might like it! :-)

After our 2nd leg we went to one of our teammates parents house to sleep.  Well, it just so happens that our 2nd van had awesome runners in it and they ran way too fast.  I think I got about 2 hours of sleep from Friday to Saturday.  We were up at about 1:00 a.m. getting ready to run our last leg.  Poor Kari who had to go first, it was dark, it was cold, it was long, she did awesome.  I ran my last leg at about 4:30 a.m. or something like that.  Love, love, loved it! It was only 4.2 miles and most of it was downhill, it was cool, it was beautiful and it was my last leg so I was a happy girl.  Our van finished at about, oh gosh I don't even remember 6:30 maybe.  We were all happy to be done.  I love changing my clothes when I'm done.  It just feels so warm and comfortable since I'm in running clothes for so long.  However, this year it led to an awesome outfit for the finish line.  I had already put my garments on and I wasn't going to change back into running clothes so I put the team tank top on over my outfit.  I know it looks hideous but I was comfortable so I didn't care what anybody else thought. 

I got home around 2 pm or so but I had gotten no sleep so I was a huge grump.  Dan was awesome and took the kids out of the house for me for a couple of hours so I could get some sleep.  He is great.  Thank you to Dan, Mom N and Mom S for watching the kids for me.  I couldn't have done it without you.  Thank you!  Until next year Ragnar, until next year.