A record of 2013 races(Spring, Fall, Winter)
2013 has been a year of fast running for a couple of the Stevens Crew.
Scott has caught the racing bug, not the training and running daily bug, just showing up to races and being fast. He ultimately has large goals and a few fast races are giving him the confidence to make those goals happen.
After a very unfortunate Ogden Marathon experience (alarm didn't go off, didn't wake up in time) we drove to Utah one more time to try for a sub 4 hour marathon. Scott had taken a few weeks off after the disappointment of the race that should have but never happened. He maintained just enough cardiovascular to run the Utah Valley Marathon. He came in strong with a 3:52. He sprinted so fast at the end that we knew he had been saving some in the tank.
Scott keeps breaking the rules of our marriage, his thighs cannot be thinner than his wife's thighs. He is in big trouble.
In August we traveled to Mexico. The resort held a local 5k. I encouraged Scott to get in the race even though we had ran 20 miles two days earlier. He managed to sign me up 5 minutes before the start. So off we went leading the race. Scott naturally couldn't let his wife beat him. We ran past crocodiles, monkeys and through a beautiful jungle. We took 1st and 2nd just under 20 minutes. Scott set a course record. I guess normal people don't fly to Mexico to race in humidity on vacation...or something like that.
This local man is the cross fit champion of Playa.
Micah Boy is such a dedicated Awesome Kid. He rode his bike every morning this summer to Timberline High School to run with his brand new cross country team. He was very diligent and hoped it would pay off.
His first race of the season was run on tired legs. Coach Axeman believes that the team should run their hardest training run the day before a big race(10 miles and then sprints on the track). He wanted to have the element of surprise at Districts by tapering 2 weeks before. The problem with running these kids so hard is injuries pop up. Micah has been a regular in the training room all fall and only participated in two season races.
Running is family tradition. We keep it alive with the family reunion races. Uncle Jeffy led the kids in crazy stretches beforehand. We only had a few minutes on the track field but it was comical.
I basically took 5 months off of running due to injury, but when a neighbor lady invited me to join her a few days a week, I could not resist the temptation. I went to therapy once to remind myself of the strength exercises I should do and jumped into Jill's Marathon schedule halfway through. My first run with her was 10 miles at a 8 flat pace. I was super worried my body would not remember how to do that, but I slowly kept behind her and finished. 8 weeks later Scott and I found ourselves on the starting line of the Big Cottonwood Marathon with our good friends Dan and Jill Millward.
The Big Cottonwood sent me free pictures of the whole event. Here are several of them.
We felt this happy at mile 17. Jill, Sarah and I.
Then the work started and became a fight for 5 miles. We all tried our best to stick together and put one foot in front of the other. Sarah and I both took turns on the side of the road sick and losing everything in our stomachs.
Our band of three became one and I gave it everything I had to finish. I could see that I would be within seconds of qualifying for Boston and a PR. It was an ugly finish but a positive experience.
Scott and Dan ran together for the first 18 miles also, but then Scott brought it home running another fast PR 3:31. He Rocks!
Our watches after the race.
I stopped so sick at mile 21 that I lost several minutes on my official time, but at least my body is capable of running a 3:34.
Months and Months earlier we made the crazy plan to run the St. George Marathon together as a family. When my Mom was 37 and my dad 39, they ran the marathon together. Dawn (39) and I (37) replicated that this year running every step together all 26.2 miles. Dawn ran her PR and I enjoyed sharing it with her. Scott went out on his own and went too fast. He blew up half way and finished in 3:48.
Micah pre-injury, ran laps for a fundraiser. He ran for exactly one hour and finished 35 laps. He won the Spirit Award from the team and free a Timberline sweatsuit.
Micah ran Districts at the end of the season in October. He had taken weeks off and was still hurting. We were so proud of his effort. It was really painful but he still ran a 5k in 21 minutes. We found Emily Nielson (Uncle CJ's, sisters, daughter) at Districts. Fun cousins!
Danielle ran Cross Country for East Jr. High. She did well balancing practice and meets along with maintaining ballet and school. We told her it was a lot to pile on and if her sleep, grades or attitude suffered she would have to give up the running. She insisted on giving her best effort.
Well this driven little girl did it! She just finished her District race and accomplished keeping her near perfect grades, going to YW's, sleeping (occasionally), and still dancing four days a week. She loved her team and made instant friends in a brand new school. She ended the season with a 14 minute even 3K. Go Danielle
Thomas and Eliza are active in the elementary school running club. They worked hard all of 2013 and earned the highest ranking for runners. They were both in the top ten kids for miles in the whole school. That boy Thomas can run and run and run. He proudly wears his runners club t-shirt as often as it is clean.
