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!

Last Training Run Before Vacay: City Creek Canyon 12.20.14

I challenged myself, and some friends, to run 75 miles in the month of December.  I've been doing good, and was hoping to knock this mileage out before I left for vacation today.  So what do I do?  Schedule a 16 mile run before I leave for Virginia.

So the morning of 12.20.14, Alberto, Heather, and I went up City Creek Canyon.  The weather was overcast to start off.  We started at the canyon gate so we could explore more of the trails.  More snow had fallen since we ran last week.

The thick snow made it a little difficult to run.  It was hard to see the trails in some parts.

But one thing for sure... the scenery was gorgeous with all the fresh powder.  Alberto was our trail blazer, while Heather and I laughed trying not to fall as we followed in Alberto's footsteps.  We ran alongside the creek, and some places we thought we might fall in!

We finally got to a part in the trail where the snow had been untouched.  We weren't exactly sure where the trail went on from there, so we turned around and headed back.  Our feet were drenched with melting snow!  Once again, the companionship of fellow running family made the adventure bearable!  We even stopped to make some snow angels!

16 miles done!  Now it's time to head home, get last minute packing done, and celebrate Christmas with my hubby before heading home to Virginia and Maryland for the next couple of weeks! 


And today's run put me right at 75 miles! :D

City Creek Canyon Training Run 12.13.14

 A few of us went decided to run up City Creek Canyon today.  There were supposed to be more, but with Christmas party obligations and the forecast calling for rain, we had a few people opt out.  Heather and I had planned on running this together, but invited our running family for those who wanted in.  We planned on going 14 miles today.

So we met at the NE parking lots next to the Capitol building before heading up.  We had Robert, Karrie, Julie, Robin, Heather, and I.

 It started off overcast as we headed to the mouth of the canyon, but started drizzling as soon as we got on Bonnieville Drive.  We didn't let the rain stop us though!  We battled rain and then sleet!

 And then the sleet turned into snow! 

 But up we went!  We weren't letting the elements keep us from getting our 14 miles in!  The wind didn't help and made things even colder!  Our gloves were soaked and freezing our hands!  But we kept trudging forward!  The gradual uphill was brutal for Heather and I!  Our legs felt so heavy because of our run up to the Living Room on Thursday!

We got to the loop of the trail where the road ended, and kept going on the trail!  It was so beautiful!  And the snow was really thick on the trail.

We had so much fun exploring!  We went a little further than this bridge to make 7 miles, and then turned back around to head back to our cars.  The wind whipped our faces on the way back down.  It felt like a blizzard!  My lips felt like they were going to fall off!

Our legs felt so heavy on the way back.  My feet were hurting from the cold.  Down the canyon definitely felt better than up!   The hurt was a different kind of pain though.  We were so glad to get down to the mouth of the canyon and only have that final mile to run.  The cars were a pleasant sight to see!  Robert was right in saying "Strange how something can be so miserable and yet so fun! :)"  It's so true!  I would have never made it that 14 miles through the elements on my own! And for some reason, the cold didn't feel so cold while I was running with my Run Aways family!  I love this group!  

The Living Room Training Run 12.11.14

Thursdays are my middle of the day trainings with Heather on the Bonnieville Shoreline Trail (BST) near the University of Utah.  I always see people running on this trail while I'm working, as the windows to our lab face the side of the mountain with the trail.  I used to get jealous watching all of those people running while I was stuck at work, but like I've said I started taking my lunch to the trails on Thursdays.

Heather and I have been running up the Dry Creek Trail and increasing in distance each time, but today I thought we could change it up a little bit and run up to The Living Room.  It's not very long of a trail, but it's pretty steep!  I've only hiked it a couple of times, but never run it.  I always saw people running up and down that trail, so I figured we'd give it a go.

We started from the Jewish Community Center (JCC) and then headed towards the Natural History Museum.  I thought the trail we were on connected to the trail to the Living Room, but I was wrong.  So we detoured...and struck a yoga pose while we were at it!

We had to make our way down the trail, back down and around Red Butte Gardens, then over to the Living Room trail head.  But of course with it being all brown and dead, I missed the turn.  So we ran over to This Is The Place, and turned around.  Then the craziness began!  Up to the Living Room we went!  And boy was it intense!

This picture of Heather pretty much summed up how our legs felt up the trail!  Whew!  Our hammies and quads were burning!  But we kept smiles on our faces and pushed through the burn!

 

We finally got to the Living Room, where they have "rock furniture."  We took a break and enjoyed the view before heading back down.

We headed back down and over to the JCC.  It felt nice to stretch out and sit after that steep climb!  Here's what our elevation gain/loss looked like!  6.01 miles