Frigid 5k and Polar Plunge 01.17.15

Before the end of 2014, I saw the option for the Frigid 5K and Polar Plunge on the Runtastic Events website.  When I saw it, I knew I had to do it!  I had never done a Polar Plunge before, and I was too scared to do it alone.  So what did I do?  I posted it on my running group and rallied others to join me in this craziness!

There was a lot of hesitation and apprehensiveness when it came to signing up.  Some people were all about it!  Some people only wanted to run the 5K.  So I had a list, but it kept changing.  During my vacation in Virginia, I started to psych myself out and get all worked up about how cold it was going to be!  It didn't help that I caught the flu towards the end of my vacation.  Was this even a good idea at this point?

Saturday, January 17, 2015

The week before the race, some of my running family needed to get in some mileage before the race, as a lot of us are training for marathons and ultra marathons.  A group of us ended up meeting at 6:30am at Utah Lake to get in around 6-9 miles.

The air was definitely frigid!!!!!!  We ran the horse shoe path around the marina.  The sunrise was gorgeous as we logged our miles.

Some of us even stopped to strike a yoga pose along the docks.

As we ran around the lake, most of us got nervous about how cold the water was going to be.  Just check out this next picture with the photographer walking on the ice...

But we kept running and chatting to keep our minds off of it, until the time came.

Around 8:00 - 8:15, we started to gather around packet pick up to don our bibs and crazy attire (which we decided to sport for Ruthie's birthday celebration - Heather and I made our tutus and my head piece last night)!

We waited for the rangers to open up the gates to the Provo River Trail...

And then off we went...

We all met up after the 5k at the lake.

Don't worry... they put a shark cage down there for safety!

Needless to say, just about all my friends were hating me and cursing me at this point.  They were freaked out, and they didn't want to go.  But... they were troopers and got in line!

The water on the surface of the ice started to melt as it got warmer, so standing on the ice made for some frozen feet!  It hurt so bad I almost couldn't wait to jump in and get it over with!

...And then it was my turn!

David, the Race Director, cheered me on, and the group around me started their countdown.  At the count of 1, I didn't even hesitate, or else I wouldn't have done it!  Whew!  What a rush!  And it was over before I knew it!

We all did it!  Nobody chickened out, even though there was talk of it!  And we've lived to tell the tale!

So although everyone was cursing me before the plunge, they couldn't stop talking about how AWESOME it was, and that they were glad they did it (against their better judgement)!  Who could pass up bragging rights?

So to celebrate our victory over the fear of freezing cold water, as well as Ruthie's birthday, we chowed down on some cupcakes!

Here's to us crazy Run Aways!  And to more adventures to come!  Love you all!  And thanks for joining me in my madness!

East Coast Christmas 2014 & New Year 2015

After my 16 mile run on December 20th, I got last minute packing in to head home to Virginia.  My flight was to be at 11:59pm, but due to a whole bunch of flight schedule changes and a whole lot of drama (which I won't go into here), we ended up leaving around 12:30am on December 21st.  Needless to say, I had a horrible flight to Charlotte.  I couldn't wait to get back home!  It had been almost 3 years since I've been back. 

As soon as I landed at Norfolk, I felt the warmth of home engulf me.  This is my home.  This is where my heart is.

I was greeted by my Mom, Dad, and my big brother.  We went to visit a couple different places before we headed back to the house, where I got to take a nice, long nap!  My body needed it after the night I had!

Later that night, my sister and her kids got home from Northern Virginia.  I was so excited to see my niece and nephew!  I'm so glad they didn't get all shy like they had when they were a little younger.  I think FaceTime really helped with that!  Ezra wasn't getting here until the next Sunday, so I had a week to myself to play with my niece and nephew!

We definitely got in some seafood grub!  It's tradition!  :)

  (being goofy at Captain George's)

I also got to catch up with some of my friends from high school while I was home too!  It's awesome how we can all just pick up where we left off, like we haven't even been gone (those of us that have been out of state for awhile).

And even though I was on vacation, I got in some workouts, so I wasn't slacking!

Christmas Eve we spent together as a family.  Very low key.

  Christmas Day we spent with my sister's in-law, whom I consider my family too!

 I also got to see my best friend, Lori!

My Dad photobombed us

Then he joined us for some yoga.

My mom taught us how to make Pancit!

Ezra got in the next Sunday, December 28th.  While he napped, I got to make it to church and catch up with some of my great girl friends from the Salem Ward!  I love these ladies (not pictured: Amy Johansen - I missed her that day).

We spent another day an a half with my parents, then headed up to Frederick, MD to visit his family.  Frederick is just as much home as Virginia Beach is to me too.

That night, Mom Tross and I headed down to the DC Temple to witness the sealing of the Polander family to their daughters, Brittney and Madison.  Then mom and I went to the temple visitor's center to see the lights and Christmas tree displays.

We got to visit Washington DC the next day.

We spent the rest of New Year's eve with family friends.

On New Year's Day, I made sure to stop and see the people I love most out there:  Brother & Sister Virgin, the Landros, and then some of my girl friends from SRI (Mel & Paula.  Liz couldn't make it).

And my vacation ended with getting the flu and having to fly back to Utah all sick.  But I enjoyed every second of my time at home!  This trip was way too short, and I can't wait to visit again and/or move home!  Miss you, east coast!