Park City Half-Marathon

Jorgen and me before the race. It was really cold so we were "hamming" it up to keep warm!Our Cheer Squad! Amy, Grandma, and Robin

Linda at the finish line.

Jorgen and Mom, the race is over and we're smiling!

Okay, let me tell you the gory details! I felt nervous all week in anticipation of running 13.1 miles at 6500 ft. elevation on a course I hadn't seen. I trained during the week in Provo at 4500 ft. and felt ok. I tried really hard to make sure my nutrition was on target during the week for running, too. The race began at 6:45 a.m. so it was cold, below 50 degrees. My hands and arms were frozen until about mile 2. The course meandered through farmland on trails, footbridges, and paved walkways to gain nearly 400'. Not a bad climb at all over 7.1 miles, and it was downhill the 6 miles back. Really a beautiful, idyllic course! I felt strong, not tired until about the last two miles and that was ok because for each mile I ran I dedicated the run to certain people or group of people. The last two miles were dedicated to a son who is doing a very hard thing right now and I needed to do something hard as well so both of us will know that we can "endure to the end." Statistically, I came in 312th out of 500 runners; 199th out of 299 women, and 2nd in my age group. Of course there were only three women over 60! My time was 2 hours 26 minutes, an average of 11 minutes/mile. I was hoping for 2 hours 15 minutes, but I think the altitude played a part in the slower time. It was so fun doing this with Jorgen. He did really well, 9th overall and 1st in his age group! I was so proud of him and of me! Now I start training for a sprint triathlon. All new territory for me!

Fun Pictures from My Week

One of my favorite places in the whole world, Brigham Young University CampusThere used to be a beautiful building standing right here called Knight Mangum Hall, home of the Language Training Mission for missionaries. This was a very special place because I began working here when I went back to college, I met many spiritual giants (courageous missionaries), and I met my handsome husband Nick (Spanish teacher of those courageous missionaries) in these hallowed halls. Where once stood a learning institution now stands a graded pile of dirt. And they call this progress! At least I have memories.

Robin, Jorgen, Amy, and me hitching a ride to the Sundance Shakespeare Theatre.

" Midsummer Night's Dream" at the Sundance Theatre up Provo Canyon

I just wanted to share a few of the fun times I had this past week in Provo.

BYU Education Week

Robin Shipley, Ethel Goodman, my mother-in-law, and me attended nearly 70 classes between the three of us over the past five days. I learned a variety of things from service to the lepers and children in India to the importance of being a life-time learner from Elder Hales, an apostle. It was a wonderful experience for me and I'm ready to face the realities of life with renewed strength when I get home.

And that would be the reality of a kitchen torn completely apart because of the damage from the storm! I appreciate Nick taking care of "business" alone while I was gone. I might get a new kitchen out of this, and that's not a bad thing! I guess the water damage was much more extensive than we thought. I will post some pictures after I get home--Nick took more.

Robin and me in front of our favorite eating spot!

This is Ethel facing the sun, sorry. (Notice the famous "Y" in the background.) She loved all she learned and was a real trooper going to many classes with her son Matt. She is an amazing 90 year old woman!

A Tornado Hit Us, Really!

On Saturday night about midnight we got hit by something fierce. A fourth of our roof was torn off by the wind and because it was raining buckets of water, the ceiling in our kitchen caved in. We could not keep up with it, and actually started laughing it was so ridiculous!

Nick is relieving the pressure in the ceiling.

Trickle, trickle

It's going to fall!

There it goes!

My, Linda looks a little weary!

On Sunday I left for Utah on an already planned trip (BYU Education Week). Nick had to deal with the mess on his own. The roof had to be secured because the storm clouds were gathering and of course there was clean-up. At 3:00 in the afternoon carloads of Tortolita Ward church members showed up, about 20 men and 4 women. Within an hour they had tarps and boards nailed to the roof, the front and back cleaned up of all the roof and ceiling trash, and that was loaded in a truck and hauled away. Remember it was Sunday. I believe these are true followers of the one who teaches us to love our neighbor. They saw a need, didn't flinch, and came to the rescue. Thank you Larry Shipley, Gary Clark (HT), and all the rest. Another tender mercy of the Lord!

A Window Was Opened

This is my friend Jessica Morgan, a young woman in my California Ward. She is opening her mission call letter! Jessica invited me to come to her home and share that special moment with her and her family. I am in California to get our house ready for new renters and to take care of some stressful unfinished business. Taking care of that stressful business was like having a door slammed in my face, but when Jessica stopped by and asked me to come to her home where her family and friends were gathered I could feel the comfort of a gentle breeze coming through a window that had just been opened. It was a window filled with joy at being able to participate in such a sweet occasion with my young friend. Thank you, Heavenly Father, for blessing me with an open window. (Jessica is going to the Italy Catania Mission.)

THE TIDAL WAVES

WATER AEROBICSWHAT BLACKMAIL PICTURES LOOK LIKE!

SISTER HILLMAN COULD GET USED TO THIS

LOVELY BUNCH OF FISH, OOPS I MEAN LADIES

The "Tidal Waves" (name given by Zeno Pfau) met at my house today for a rip-roaring hour of exercise and frolicking fun! We had a gaggle of women thanks to Maryn Hillman and her family who are visiting our desert country to welcome her home from the 18 month LDS Spanish mission she served in San Francisco where she probably left her heart, for a short time anyway.

Water aerobics instructor Mariah Maskey cracks the whip every T, Th, and F trying her best to get us in better shape. We are working on qualifying for the 2028 Summer Olympics--we heard they were going to open a new event in water aerobics. I think we just might be ready by then, but we might be a little over the age limit--well at least the other ladies will be. Watch out world, here comes the tidal waves!!!

COOKING WITH CACTUS

MESQUITE BEANSThis is a picture of mesquite beans before being put into the blender and after. We were trying to make mesquite bean flour, but the pods must have been too moist, although we did put them in the oven for over an hour, because all they did was gum up the blender. Have you ever tasted a mesquite bean? I hadn't before we did this, but the directions said they are very sweet and taste a little like graham crackers. Guess what, they do! I was so surprised and that may be another reason for the "gumming" because of the high sugar content along with moisture. Anyway in the fall of the year we can take our gathered mesquite beans to a milling event in Marana and have them professionally ground into flour. I think I will try it.

PRICKLY PEAR JELLY

Shaila and her friend, Lane, picked a bagful of red and ripe prickly pear cactus so we could make jelly. Unfortunately we used liquid pectin which I had never used before instead of the powdered stuff so the jelly was more like very thin syrup. We also experimented with using honey instead of sugar in one batch and less sugar in another which could have compromised the jelling of the jelly, too. Oh, well ... there's plenty more prickly pear to be picked! They are holding two jars of the finished product.

So, we worked on two desert cooking projects that didn't turn out exactly like we wanted them to, but are we going to give up? NO!!! Just like anything, you've got to pick yourself up and try again.

I DID IT!!!!!

I just have to let the thousands who read this blog know that I RAN 17.8 MILES TODAY as part of my training for the half-marathon race in 20 days. I knew it had to be a long ways because it took me 4 grueling hours. I ran to Catalina State Park via Lambert/La Cholla/Overton/La Canada/Lambert/Oracle. Actually, I didn't begin feeling really tired until about mile 13. I did walk mile 16, but ran (slowly) the rest of the way. Not too bad for a 60+ year old woman, mom of 5 kids, grandma of 4 1/2. Sorry to brag, but I am darn pleased with my accomplishment, because I feel like I am now prepared for the race in Utah. And guess what, Nick Jr, my trainer, told me to make sure I eat lots of protein, carbs, and other good stuff today. I have been given permission to EAT. Yay!!

Now for the rest of the day, Shaila and her friend Lane are here so we are going to make prickly pear jelly and grind up mesquite beans for flour to make some healthy goodies. I will take pictures and share the recipes.

Wow, I feel good!

You want to hear something funny--some of my motivation to keep on running was because I wanted to be able to write this blog and say I DID IT!!! Blogging is good for runners!

She's Hot, she's hot!!!!

Look at that killer form!!

Robin the super tennis star!!!

What a day for tennis at the El Conquistador Tennis Courts for Robin Shipley. She and her partner won both of their matches. We are so proud of her, and we actually learned some things while watching the games. There was something about love, but I didn't see any of that out there. Fierce competitors those women are! Go Robin and Marilyn, good luck tomorrow!