Sunday, October 4, 2009

Top of Utah Marathon

Ryan has been training for the Top of Utah Marathon for MONTHS. To prepare, he ran about 50 miles per week, with a long run (about 20 miles) each Saturday. He worked so hard for it, and on September 19, he finally did it! He's run the same marathon before, 7 years ago. Here's how he did this time around . . .


The first 14 miles of the race are in Blacksmith Fork Canyon, so you can't see the runners. My pictures from Mile 14 didn't turn out, but when we saw Ryan at the bottom of the canyon, he had a big smile and said, "I'm feelin' good!" After 14 miles. That kid!

Running through his hometown at mile 18.


The night before the race, Ryan wanted to drive through the end of the course. That's when we noticed the signs Patti and Josh had put up for Ryan. They were all along the course.



Mile 21-22. It wasn't until here that he lost momentum. I think
that would have been me at mile .2.


Almost to mile 25. He had a big hill to climb here.

Here he is with less than a mile to go. (Notice the big smile).


Approaching the finish line. He finished in 3 hours and 3 minutes, not as
fast as he would have liked, but still AMAZING. He wanted to beat his
previous time of 2 hours 52 min. Maybe next year . . .


Half-smiling after the race. 26.22 miles in 3 hours
will do that to a person, I guess.
Ryan said that when he got close to finishing, he heard someone yell, "Running Ryan!" It was an old friend from college, who we later ran into. He told me that Ryan used to run with him and a few other guys. Ryan would say, "I like running with you guys. It's a nice cool down." I am so proud of what Ryan has accomplished as a runner. When he was 8, he got rheumatic fever, which can damage the heart. Not only did he escape that consequence, he now runs marathons! Patti, Ryan's mom, said as we were waiting along the course, "You know, he's a miracle." I know! I love you, Running Ryan!

Labor Day with the Bagshaws

For Labor Day, we went camping in the Sawtooths with the Bagshaw clan. Grandma and Grandpa Bagshaw even came, and it was good to see them. Although it was a little chilly for little us, we had a FABULOUS time. See:

Just down from our campsite at Redfish Lake

oooh, aaaah

On the first day when everyone arrived, we went to the fish
hatchery. The adults had just as much fun as the kids.


Looking for Fish


Amber getting squeamish with the bait


Landon's Catch at the Fish Hatchery


Mom's Catch . . . oops.


Brandee, the fish whisperer

Ryan's new friend
My new friend
The kiddos checking out Landons' fish


Mom and Dad locked their keys in the car on Saturday night, but we found someone at church who helped us break in. This wasn't the first time that's happened to us while on vacation.

Later, some of us went hiking up in the mountains.

MaKynzee did not enjoy the entire 4 miles.


The view we were rewarded with at the end



Those of us hardcore enough to make the hike (notice most of
the women are missing). Grandma and I rock!

Us on the hike


On Sunday evening, we went on a drive to Alturas Lake. Here we are.



On our last day before leaving, we all split the cost to rent a
boat and took turns riding around the lake.

Dad and Lukas on the boat. Such cheesers.


Us. Do we look cold? (Because it was!).



Part of the beautiful drive home. Good-bye mountains!