Ogden 26.2: Week EIGHT (A Runny Birthday Party!)

Aaahh, well that is more like it!  Awesome week!  Monday and Thursday were just runs.  Nothing special. On Wednesday, Ashley and I did a long trail run on Bonneville.  It was gorgeous, and it made me so happy to get up on those trails again.  Planning weekly runs there from now on.

This morning was my "Very Runny Birthday Party".  We planned this a few months ago, so I can't believe it's already here and over!  Nate's mom took the kids overnight, so Nate and I enjoyed a relaxing, QUIET evening last night.  But we stayed up too late!  I was so tired when I woke up.  I left at 7:00 and ran down to Liberty Park.  Nate drove down and met me there.  I was completely blown away by how many of my dear friends showed up.  These people mean the world to me.  I love them so so much!

(This was Joshua's logo for the event page.  Awesome!)

Here is the group, minus a few who had to leave early or arrived later.

Can you believe that?  Janet, Nicole, Galen, Susette, Kasie, Louise, Joshua, Robert Merriman, Merideth, Elvia, Monnica, Cindy, London, Jill, Mark, Jonathan, Monte, NATE (Yay!), Jarom and Vince.  LOVE THEM!  Katheryn, Christy and Jerri sadly missed the photo, but I love them, too!!  This is my family.  They love and support me like I have never felt before.

We had lots of yummy food.  I waited until after my run to pig out, though.  I ran 15 miles today!  The furthest (farthest?) I have EVER run at one time!  It HURT.  But I did it!  Ogden is going to be so much more difficult than I imagined, but I'm also learning that the reward and satisfaction of accomplishing it is going to be SO much sweeter than I imagined.

Nate ran 8 miles with me.  Such a treat!  I love running with him, but it rarely happens.  I got to enjoy a few laps with Robert Merriman.  How I adore that man!!  Seriously.  I can't praise him enough.  Joshua, Kasie and I had a blast, as always (the inside jokes are out of control).  I got to know Jarom and Louise a bit better.  London and Monte are sweethearts, and they gave me a 26.2 charm for my necklace.  Everyone sang to me, too.  So SO sweet.  I was extremely touched by everyone's kindness to me.  I tell Nate that sometimes I don't know how to handle it all!

Nate went to go pick up the kiddos, and I'm going to go eat a salted caramel/pretzel/Snickers Rice Krispy Treat (Joshua's bday gift to me!) and then go crash on the sofa.  These legs are dead!