October: First 10K

I can't believe that October is already half way over! Time flies TOO QUICKLY! Other than the usual work and school, Mike and I are still out biking in the mountains before it gets too cold. We also carved pumpkins the other night, and played a pretty sweet game of laser tag with his family.
Yesterday ( October 13th) I ran my first 10K race! I decided to run a 10K about 2 weeks ago since I had been logging so many miles in the gym. I picked the Oktoberfest 10K because it was close and I like the company Fleet Feet (American Fork) that was putting it on. I was pretty excited for the race, up until packet pick up on Thursday, when I learned there were only about 170 people racing. I figured that I would certainly get last place with so few racers, and because I did not have much training or experience in long distance races. My goal was to finish the race in 1 hour, and not walk at all. We had to wake up at 6:30 to get ready for the race and head north to Highland, UT. I went pee 3 times with in the first 45 minutes of being awake because I was nervous. Mike came with to cheer me on and take pictures. I told him that he should meet me at the half way mark, but I wasn't certain that he would be able to find it. The race started and off I went. It was about 40 degrees, which was a pretty chilly way to start the race. The temperature felt better and was refreshing after I had been running for a while. Just after I passed the first mile marker, I saw Mike standing on the corner of a street with a few other spectators! I got all excited and sped up a tad so I didn't look like I was jogging. Along that mile, we ran alongside a llama farm. One of the llamas started running alongside us the length of the fence! It was pretty funny. I made it to the half way mark, where I was starting to feel pretty good, was warmed up, and able to charge on. Mike's cute face also surfaced at the half way mark. Mile 4 I was still feeling pretty good, but once I started the 4th mile I slowed down to a jog. The elevation was starting to make my lungs burn. But sure enough, on the 5th mile, there was Mike to cheer me on and take pictures. So of course I had to speed up again so I looked more athletic. The 5th mile I ran a bit faster, however the race was starting to take its toll and I was getting pretty tired. I got excited as I started the 6th mile because I knew I was almost done. I was almost in pain at this point, but I tried to run on as quickly as my body would let me so that I could finish faster. I was able to sprint thru the finish line and the race was over. I finished in 53:43. I feel like it went by incredibly fast! I know running for an hour does not sound like it would pass quickly, but it seriously did, and I couldn't believe it was really over! About 5 minutes after the race ended, I started to get cold and my legs began to cramp up quickly. I made Mike run to the car to get my pants and jacket. Overall I thought the 10K was very fun, and I would definitely run another in the future!
     Later yesterday we went to the BYU homecoming game against Oregon State, and then out to dinner with LaRae, Alyssa, and Dallin to Brick Oven.

 Five miles down

Finishing quickly

and it's over!

-other pictures-

BYU VS Oregon State

Count Dracula & a creepy clown

BYU vs Utah State, night game!