Cal-i-for-ni-a

This past week we were lucky enough to escape life, and enjoy a relaxing, well needed, vacation. Destination: Palm Desert, CA. I know...Southern California...mid July...we must be CRAZY! Yes, it was hot, like 110-114 degrees hot, but the best thing about the west, it's dry heat. Unlike the east, where it is humid and miserable. The heat was actually not bad, and for the most part we enjoyed it, soakin in all that Vit D!

My parents have been very generous with their timeshares, so the accomadations were fantastic. We were in a condo, so we had 2 bedrooms, a living room, kitchen, laundry, balcony, you know the drill. We enjoyed cooking our own meals, and didn't have to eat out. We were surrounded by multiple pools, golf courses, and great desert views with lots of palm trees.

Most days went like so: I would get up around 8-8:30 and go exercise for an hour or so. I would get back, Tyler being still asleep, and get ready (put my swimsuit on), then read my book for about an hour until Ty finally arose. We would then spend the rest of what was left of the morning and early afternoon doing this:

Once we would get hungry we would go eat some lunch, and spend the hottest hours of the day in the AC. This usually involved reading, taking a nap, whatever. After about 6 or so we would usally go out to local shops, or just spend time out in the city. Then eat dinner, watch tv, more lazy stuff like that. My favorite part of the day was around 10 when we would dish up some pineapple sherbet, and eat it out on the balcony. I could definitely get used to this schedule!

Highlights:
Of course we couldn't come to California for the week and not meet up with miss Shanny Panny. We decided on Venice Beach for the day, that was about half way (little more for Shan :) I had been to this beach once before about 7 yrs ago for our girl friends senior trip. I loved it then, and I knew I would love it again. We spent the day just being with each other, laughing, laying in the sand eating ice cream, people watching (beach people are so entertaining), Shan even treated us to this personal concert from this Johnny Cash guy for $1 which was awesome, walking the boardwalk, swimming in the ocean, ending the day with an amazing mexican meal at this restaurant we stumbled upon, and hugs goodbye. I wish we could have spent more time together, it went by way too fast.

Thursday nights in Palm Springs, which is the next town west, they have this little street fair. The streets are filled with vendors with local fruit, food, art, jewelry, etc. I love these things, especially in other states, because you get to enjoy the local flavor, which is always different. We ran into this vendor selling Guatemalan food so I had to snap a pic for my little bro, who is in Guatemala serving a mission. For you Ben:

My mom bought this cute wood carved frog with scales on its back and it has a wooden stick thing that you roll down the back and it makes a sound like a frog, pretty cool. I gave in and bought some earings made out of malachite, sucker for jewelry.

All in all it was a great way to spend a week off. Hard to go back to reality.

13.1

Yesterday, 7/10/2010, I ran my first half marathon! It was the Hobbler Half down Hobble Creek Canyon. I ran it with two of the most amazing girls. First, one of my best friends, Allison Duncan, who just had the cutest baby boy 2 months ago, and is always someone who I have looked up to and has always pushed and motivated me. Second, her mother, Kim Chapman. She is in her 50's, and I was so impressed by how strong she ran. I hope I can do that in my 50's! It was a first for all of us.

My personal goal, was not for time, but for endurance, to do it without stopping. I did it, but it was not easy. The longest that I had ran ever was about 11 miles. The Saturday prior to the race, we did a training run down Provo Canyon from Big Springs to the mouth. This run was not bad at all, we started around 8 or so, and the majority of it was down hill, and we had the shade most the time as well. The actual race, was not as comparable as we thought it would be. It was down a canyon, but it had a lot more up's and down's than Provo. Also, the sun was beating down on us starting around mile 8 or so, which is very draining. Our saving grace was the sprinklers and the drink stops during the last few miles. At mile 12 I hit a wall, and the rest of the race was pretty much up hill. I had to talk myself through the last mile and made it without stopping! For me, running has always been more of a mental thing. If I can talk my way through it, I am golden. I have never been motivated by strangers, or friends cheering me on, but only by myself and the mental game.

It was the best feeling to see the finish line, and Tyler waiting there too. I have always respected marathon runners, but this experience definitely increased my respect. Even the thought of only being half way done if I were running a marathon, made me sick. Running a marathon has always been a lifetime goal for me, but half  sure is satisfying for now!