For those of you who are not familiar with the Ragnar Relay Race, let me tell you what it involves: There are 12 runners in one team, each runs three legs (ranging between 3-8miles), 185.1 miles to cover, two vehicles (6 runners in each), Repeating a pattern of running, driving and maybe sleeping within 24-30hours. So, we run through the night as well. The Race begins in Blaine, Washington and the finish line is on the southern tip of Whidbey Island in a town called Langley. Most of the runners will get to enjoy running through some stunning scenic routes such as farm country, along the coast and crossing over deception pass. This Relay is a bit demanding, physically and mentally, there's a variation in difficulty for each leg that each runner gets. There are hills and roads to cross, there is the heat to endure, the lack of sleep to overcome and whatever else each runner is faced with during the race. But there is an overall feeling of tremendous accomplishment and greater respect for runners of all ages and sizes. There is an intense amount of camaraderie that is hard to describe. You are surrounded by so much support and motivation. There is this grave sense of responsibility and attitude that you don't want to let your team down and so you give it your all and you run your very best and hardest. I could just go on and on about this as you can see...but one thing is for sure, I love participating in it with such exceptional fellow runners. I love meeting new people and becoming better acquainted with old friends. This year only Three of us remained from last year's team, I am the only one who has stuck with it for the last three years, and have enjoyed a new whole team each time. Cara Heiner was our team Captain this year. She did a fantastic job gathering an amazing group of runners. We all helped her a little by bringing a friend or two along as well. I managed to convince Rob to do it with me this year and then posted a message on facebook to find more fellow friends that run, and had a great reply from Rob's cousin Brent who lives in Utah. He joined our team without hesitation! Our team's name remained the same as last year's and the year before that. It is "Starting Slow...Getting Slower". We didn't live up to our name this year for we all ran faster than projected. Our team ran 2 hours ahead of schedule, pretty impressive! Our team consisted of 6 women and 6 men. In each van we managed to put one of the boys amongst 5 of the girls, and one of the girls (Me) amongst 5 boys. I didn't mind it at all, it was actually really fun, especially since I had Rob and Brent with me. The group in Van#1 enjoyed each other as well. Oh, one not so great thing about this race is the fact that we have to have two vehicles, and so we're not together as a team during the race as much, but we do get to meet up at the main exchanges when we are switching off from runner #6 to #7. It is just hard to get to know each other better as a team when we are separated like that. Anyhow, the boys in my van were amazing people. I cannot describe how blessed I felt to have been a part of such a positive group of men. I was surrounded by brothers and a husband that radiated so much joy, light-heartedness, encouragement, motivation, support, optimism, wisdom and willingness to sacrifice. In order to accommodate Rob's previous injury we switched around some legs amongst each other and offered Rob the easier runs (lesser hills). We also had a Personal Trainer (one of the runners) giving us some great advice and pointers that got us through the race injury-free and with a higher sense of confidence in each other and ourselves. This is definitely been one of the best years. It seems to get better and better each year. I am addicted and plan to run in this race for as many years as I can. I think that having Rob with me last year as the driver and then this year as one of the runners, just made this race even more special. It was an honor to be with him and cheer him on during his runs. I did tell him that he is "sexier" to me now than ever before, since he is officially a runner on my book (He needs all the motivation he can get and it works, since he is running it again next year, heeeheeee!). I did want to share one sweet spiritual moment...as I was running over Deception Pass in the dark, I struggled to stay within the path that was laid out for us. I had my flashlight at hand, but it was still hard to see all the orange cones. I even tripped once and got a bruise for it. I had a sense of frustration for a moment, but I quickly overcame that when I decided to turn and see the ocean instead of murmur about the path I was on. There was not much of a moonlight and the sky was partially clouded, but I was still able to see what a beautiful place it was. I was at ease and felt so much calmer. I thought how blessed I was to be able to run and have the opportunity to be a part of this gorgeous earth. I felt a lot of gratitude towards my Creator and thanked Him for the chance to have witnessed such scenery and to also have the healthy body that I have. I thought about my temporary time here on earth and about my part in it. We all play an important role in each other's lives...we forget that we do. We stumble upon crooked paths, not well lit, and lose our way at times. We forget why we even got on that path in the first place and why we are on it. The path that we started on is straight and narrow...as we go through it we tend to get distracted or discouraged and waiver. It is up to us to remember our purpose and proceed forth valiantly and in Faith. Faith in our Savior, Faith in God's Plan, Faith in ourselves to overcome the obstacles that we are faced with in life that temporary deviate/throw us off from the course. We are all here for a reason and we have a purpose. We have just forgotten who we are, where we came from and where we are going after our life here on earth. It is up to us to find out also who we once were before we came here and strive to become that someone again. I know I am a Child of God and that I play an important role on this earth. I may lose my way and trip over some stuff, but I do try to get back on track and try again to be who I need to be. I hope that all made sense. I have so many more feelings to write down, but it is hard to find the right words to describe them all in less time. I am definitely happy and pleased to have been a part of such a great team. I have yet to meet a runner that is not happy, or smiling, or that is pessimistic. I am not a full-time runner, like some are, I don't follow a strict regime of exercises or a specific diet, but the time that I do put into it, is rewarding to me and sufficient enough to call myself a dedicated runner. I love what this sport does for me and the feelings that it brings. I can't help but be an optimistic, smiley and happy person. I have developed the abilities to control my thoughts, my pace, my heart, my breathing and other things in order to run better and these things help me through my every day life as well. I can get through anything! I love running! I am truly blessed! Thank you Cara, Tara, Heather, Stacey, Laura, Travis, Tony, Mike, Jay, Brent and Rob for being such wonderful people to be with. I hope I get to run with some of you again next year. It was a pleasure and an honor to have been around you. P.S Thanks for putting up with my lengthy posting and the slideshow.
 |
 |
| Make a Smilebox slideshow |
I hope this lasts forever...James has been wanting to bake like crazy. I taught him how to bake cookies over a month ago and now he is just at it almost every night. I just love it. The other day I offered to teach him how to make bread and he just jumped with excitement at the idea. He was very 
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4048/4284255242_22a964d5f5_o.jpg"/>
http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee180/juliewuliee/Headers%202/meal%20planning%20magic/linkcopy.png"/>
