December RA Group Run

I cannot get over how much I love my RA friends!  They make me so happy, and I feel like they are all family to me.  Even the ones I just met for the first time today!  We all just have this bond that is very real.  I'm not the only one who feels this way about this group.  We ALL feel it!  I know a lot of people don't understand it, and that's okay.  One of our sweet members wrote this yesterday, and I have to save it here because it means so much to me!

Looking through the photos of our run in Orem yesterday I was filled with Love and humility. How lucky I am to have been included with such a great group of friends! Honestly all my life I was a bit outside the great groups...partly my own doing...but here we are. What more can I say but you have each been a tremendous blessing in my life. I love each one of you for the goodness you have been born with and admire how much you've taken that and run with it-yes and no pun intended. Please take a moment or two and feel the gratefulness I have for you. If you are reading this-yes it means YOU and your future. Be well, be healthy and know you have touched someones life with your wonderful 'you-ness!'  -Gay Tregaskis

This month, the run was in Orem.  It was at a park that had a nice 1/2 mile loop around it.  I was extra excited to get there this morning because Susette and I had come up with a very special Christmas gift for Josh.  He has well over 50 race medals, and that number goes up every month.  He told me once that he hangs them all on a lamp.  Not acceptable!!  So Susette and I put our heads together, and she told me her husband could build him a nice rack with enough room for all of his medals.  It turned out gorgeous!!  She tied a ribbon on it, and we both signed the back of it.

We were so excited to give it to him.  He had NO idea what was coming.  I knew it was going to be cool, but seriously, giving him this gift ended up being one of the sweetest moments of my life.  I grabbed the camera and let Susette do the honors since she is our Mama Duck!

So excited!  What is it??

Ta-da!!  Surprise!!

Okay, this is hands down, one of my favorite pictures ever taken of anything or anyone.  Ever.  Susette's beautiful smile and sweet hug, and then Josh's emotional response of tears.  I LOVE IT!  He said it was one of the best gifts he's ever gotten.

It was a very emotional, sweet moment.  Okay, wipe your eyes.  Time to RUN!

The loop was perfect.  You could run a few laps, stop and warm up with some hot chocolate and treats, visit and then head back out.  Everyone took turns running with different people at different paces.  The chatting was nonstop, along with the chattering of our teeth!  It was FREEZING!

My dear pal, Robert Merriman, was there, and he ran almost all of my laps with me.  We had a great time talking.  I also finally got to visit with Cindy, Gay, Janet and London.  Such fabulous ladies!  I met several others for the first time, although we really already all know each other!

I managed to run 5.3 miles, which I was happy with.  My shoulder held out pretty well, along with the hip.  I am hoping to run 13.1 miles on January 11, so we'll see how that goes.

What a great morning!  Can't wait until next time!