Volunteering at the Salt Lake City Haunted Half 10.18.14

Friday 10.17.14
This past Friday and Saturday, I volunteered with Runtastic Events to help out with the SLC Haunted Half.  I wanted to run this race, but I'm still on a bit of a lazy streak from running.  To be honest, I've been exhausted since my half ironman, so I haven't really wanted to do anything besides lift.

Anyway... after work on Friday, I headed down to Memory Grove to help set up the race course for the half.  Unfortunately, the race director and his some of his staff had to go back to Utah County to pick some stuff up.  So I headed over to packet pickup to help out with everything over there.  I helped put together the age group awards for both the half and the 5k.  And then I went on a food run for everyone.  My shift was supposed to be from 5-10pm, but I agreed to help set up the course, so I stayed way past my shift.  After dinner, I helped update registration/race entries, and then we finally headed back to Memory Grove around 11pm.

There was so much left to do!  We had to set up the finish line area, kids' area, and Spook Alley.  I met a new running/hiking friend there too.  Her name is Erin.  She's from Ohio, and ended up here after a successful internship awhile back.  We set up tents, barricades, and other miscellaneous things.  I finally went home around 1am.  I needed a few hours of sleep if I was going to come back to help at 8am on Saturday.

Saturday 10.18.14

I got up around 6:30am to go pick up my Bountiful Basket this morning.  I dropped it off back at home before heading back up to Memory Grove.  As I walked down to the park, I took a moment to take in the surroundings - the fall colors were rich and gorgeous; and the sun was just starting to kiss the mountain tops.  So picturesque!

I was originally supposed to be at an aid station for the race, but when I found Megan (one of the race directors) at the finish line, I got assigned to do random jobs to help finish up and prepare for the race.   I ran around here and there doing different tasks.  There were members of the Fear Factory cast that came to help out at the race.  Their costumes were pretty creepy!  Some of them helped to hand out medals to the racers when they crossed the finish line, and others were stationed in Spook Alley.

 Closer to race start, I ended up over near the kids' area helping to set up bag check.  I spent a lot of time with another new friend I met, Denise.  We took all the bags that were collected at the race start, and arranged them as best we could.  There wasn't much time before the racers started coming in.  Wow!  This job was no joke!

It was kind of fun volunteering back at bag check.  I didn't get to see my friends cross the finish line, but I did catch a few of them when they came to pick up their bags!  (I saw my friends: Natalie, Sonja, Heather, Monte, and London).

As we were helping people find their bags, I noticed Joshua's drop bag!  He was sweeping the course, so I knew he'd be one of the last ones to pick up his bag.  So I decided to grab it and bring it over to him when there were only a few bags left.  As I picked up his bag, Denise said he knew Joshua too!  I asked her if she was on the Run Aways, but she wasn't.  I was shocked!  Joshua always adds new people to the Run Aways!  So I got her number (also to text her the picture we took after organizing those bags), and I told her I'd add her to our group!

We met Joshua at the finish line area as we took the remaining bags to the race directors.  His costume fit the part he paced!  Sweeper!  And he totally carried that broom with him the whole way!  I love it!!!!!!

Joshua, the "sweeper."

I had so much fun today being, once again, on the other side of the race... behind the scenes.  It really does feel great to give back to the community as a way of showing my gratitude for those who volunteered at the races I ran.  It isn't an easy job... especially when you get yelled at for something you have no control over.

And you meet new, fun friends!  I found out later, as I went to add Denise to our group, that she not only knew Joshua, but my brother-in-law too!  Small world!

Now... do I run the Haunted Half next week?  Or do I wait until the Thankful 13?  Decisions....

The Off-Season

My triathlon season has been complete (well, maybe... I might have one more sprint to do in November, but other than that, it's done) since my half iron on September 13th.  I've kind of been itching to do more, but then I took a step back to reevaluate everything going on at the moment.  I've decided to take a little bit of a break.  I mentioned on my "Joyce's Journey to Ironman" Facebook group that I won't be running Vineman next year, like I had originally hoped to do.  With so much on my plate, I needed to re-prioritize. 

I've decided to go on a different "iron" journey and take up lifting again.  I still want to do some fun runs and shorter distance triathlons here and there, but I want to work more on getting the excess fat that I've had trouble shedding. 

I am following a lifting program, and have noticed in the past 4 weeks that I'm starting to tone up in places, which really excites me!  My arms don't jiggle as much, I'm losing the back fat and bra bulge, and my love handles don't pudge out as much as they used to!  I've changed my eating, and though I indulge in some junky foods every once in awhile, I've really started to cut out a lot of unnecessary sugars and carbs.  I've been feeling a lot stronger and much better! 

But it's been no easy process... and sometimes it's discouraging not seeing the results you want right away.  I've had to exercise more patience with myself than ever!  In another couple of weeks, I'll be taking an indoor cycling class, now that my friend Gemma is back at work!  :D 

Here's to a fun off-season!  :)

(be on the look out for progress pics soon... not that I want to share them, but more of keeping myself accountable!)

Revelation Still Exists

As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, I am afforded the privilege, twice a year, to hear from our beloved prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, his counselors, and numerous other leaders of our church.  These two time during the year take place the first weekends of April and October, and are know better as General Conference.  It is in these meetings that we are able to hear inspired messages as relayed by these men and women, called of God, to relay what God would have us know in this day and age.

It is comforting to know that revelation is not dead.  It still exists.

I heard a talk from Elder Clay Christiansen in May of this year.  He touched on the subject of the Dark Ages and brought up a point which I hadn't considered before.  He mentioned that the Dark Ages came about because people stopped asking questions of God -  because they thought they had all the answers.

Let's think about that for a minute... do we know all the answers?

If we did, why do we tend to find ourselves amidst chaos and uncertainty?  Why do some people find the need for a career change after obtaining a degree?  How do we know the person we want to marry is the right one?  How do we know if the move you're deciding on is right for your family?  Or whether to take the interstate versus the business route on an incredibly rainy day?  etc etc etc... and the list of questions goes on.

I know that revelation still exists in this chaotic world because I've heard that "still small voice" that many people tend to talk about in our church.  I've heard it many times before, more so in a prompting felt within my heart.  I want to talk about one particular experience I had at the Salt Lake Temple back in February of 2012.  We had just moved to Utah at the beginning of February, and I had been submitting job applications since December.  I had applied to every job I could possibly qualify for; and even some that were part time and/or in retail.  It didn't matter at the time.  All I knew was that I needed a job, and quick.  Ezra was lucky enough at the time to have a connection in the ward who helped him land a job.  I was just baffled that with as much experience I had, I wasn't hearing back from any of the positions I applied to.  With a lot of stress and worry, I made my way to the temple to offer up my worries, and hopefully receive answers to my prayers.

Most of the time, I don't get the clarity of a voice telling me exactly what to do or giving me instructions, but more of a burning within my heart (like I had mentioned earlier).  But this time was different.  As I sat in the celestial room, pouring out my heart to Heavenly Father, I heard him tell me "Don't worry, Joyce.  Be patient, my child... I have everything lined up for you.  All you have to do is give me some time."  It was as clear as a conversation Ezra and I would have on any given day.  But that revelation was meant just for me, and only me.  It was a blessing to finally have a confirmation that I could have that kind of experience, and that I need not fear.  It turned out to be true.  A few weeks later, I had my interview at the Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah.  After weeks of waiting, I was hired on in May.

That experience I had in the celestial room that day affirmed that Heavenly Father does know me and knows everything I'm going through.  He does hear me and listen.  And He has a plan for me to succeed, if I but listen.

An important part of being able to hear His voice is to listen.  And often, we let life and the background and static of the world drown out that still small voice in which He uses to communicate with us.  It's so important that we not let life drown out that voice.  We must always be in tune with the Spirit.

I still feel the promptings of the spirit when I face a question, and it makes me smile because I know my Heavenly Father is watching over me.  I hope I can always be in tune with His Spirit and heed its promptings as I face the world head on.

Yes, And...

Most of you know I work in the field of science - Molecular Biology and Cancer Research, as of the current moment.

I fell in love with science and research my sophomore year of college at Shenandoah University.  I originally started my undergraduate career as a  Pre-Pharmacy/ Chemistry major, but when I took my first Microbiology class I felt my calling.  It hasn't always been easy to be in this career field, as most scientists don't get paid much, but you do it for the love of research.  I worked in a histo-pathology laboratory upon graduating from college, and then transitioned to an infectious disease research lab in Maryland a couple years later.  And now, I have once again transitioned into Cancer Research at the University of Utah's Huntsman Cancer Institute.  It's been an incredible journey filled with interesting studies and unknowns.

I've worked both in industry and in academia.  Working in academia has been an eye opening experience for me.  I was so excited when I first started, but then my morale was slowly degraded by people who felt the need to belittle me because I didn't have a PhD behind my name.  I started to loathe my job and went into a downward spiraling depression to the point where I just didn't care.  My work started to suffer.  My boss noticed, but didn't know how to approach the subject with me.  Nobody told me this is how it would be.  (I obviously knew encountering adversity in the workplace was inevitable, but the way I felt was beyond unbelievable, in my opinion)

In my time here at the university, I've seen quite a few PhD students fall out of love for similar reasons... they get stumped and frustrated without much support to help them through those times.  Or they get cut down so low by the scientists with over-inflated egos who want nothing more than to prove that they're right... about ANYTHING and EVERYTHING!

I can't say that I hated it completely because there are some pretty amazing colleagues that I work with, most in other labs, who make it all worth it.  They gave me hope.  They helped me remember the reason why I fell in love with research in the first place.

I then heard this amazing TED talk by Professor Uri Alon, a physicist who also studied theater.  By studying theater, he was able to find ways around those blockages and depressions he came across as a science student.  He uses the idea of "Yes, And..." - a concept he learned in theater, as a way to allow the flow of ideas to continue in a scene.  Then why not science?

If we are able to talk about the subjective and emotional sides of science, it would be for the benefit of all... we'd be able to be more creative in solving problems, as well as changing the culture of science and making it better; more collaborative.

But we can also take his lesson and apply it to our own individual lives - not just science.

So... Yes, And...