Mountains - Bikes - Moab

Dan was so excited...can you tell

Tyler showing off his skills...

...all of them

I'm officially a mountain biker (maybe a really bad mountain biker, but a mountain biker just the same), not a marathoner. Yes, this last weekend was the SLC marathon which I had signed up to run. No, I didn't run. After my hamstring issue (that is what I'm calling it because I don't know what it is) I have not been able to run over 5 miles without pain. So after seeing the marathon banners lining the streets of downtown for a week I decided I would have to get out of town for race day. Good thing I have lots of awesome friends that are ready for an adventure with only a weeks notice. We loaded up our cars Friday after work and headed down to Moab for some awesome (and need I say famous) mountain biking.

I will openly admit I am new to mountain biking and really bad (I get freaked out easily). I have been 4 times total before this trip, 3 times on the Pipeline trail and 1 on the Bonneville Shoreline trail near my house (I only did about a mile because the it got dark). Both of these trails have little hill climbing and are nice beginner trails. Not like the stuff they made me do this weekend.

Dan the jumping man!

Excited because check out that view

Saturday we got up and hit the Amasa back trail. It was up hill for 8 miles over what I would have called boulders (but maybe I'm still new at this). I probably spent more time pushing my bike up over the rocks then I did pedaling. (I may have been cursing AJ's name in my head too.) Finally at the top we had a beautiful view of the river and we could even see Corona Arch in the distance. The ride down was better, but I still did some walking. And poor Sterling ended up waiting on the mountain for an hour (thinking I was behind him) while the rest of us rode down to the cars. It really was a sad story.

Mountian biking in heaven

Resting before heading down

After a delicious dinner at the Moab Brewery and getting the much needed nutrients we needed we headed into Arches NP for a evening hike to Sand Dune Arch. The hike was super short (500 yards or so) but we had fun playing around in the sand. We climbed up onto the arch where Tyler and I were totally freaked out when anyone got close to the edge. The fall was probably about 20-30 feet into soft sand so my imagination kept wandering to "what would it feel like to jump? You could totally survive that fall" which just freaked me out more, so we climbed down. Safe at the bottom we played a round of the laughing game. This is a game I learned in college. You get in a circle and lay your head down on someone's stomach, someone lays on your stomach and forth until everyone is laying or being laid on (keep it clean). Then you proceed to tell jokes or funny stories to start the laughter. Once the laughter has begun it doesn't end – because your heads bounce up and down with the shaking of the person you are laying on. I really enjoyed this game even though Sterling wasn't much of a belly laugher. (But AJ had fun because my belly was going crazy.)

Tyler and Dan just chilling after a good climb

I love where my feet take me

Sunday was a short day because I had to get home early. It was also a day for an easier ride not only so I could actually ride, but so we could pick a trail for next months ward Moab trip. We drove out of town to ride Klondike Bluffs. It was a 4 mile hill climb to a short hike into the back side of Arches NP. Luckily it was over smooth slickrock so even though I was super slow I was able to ride instead of walk. The view at the finish was amazing and the ride down was fast and fun. I even ran into a good friend on the trail. All in all a much better day of riding and a great way to end the weekend.

AJ and Halee staying far away from the edge

The view at the end of Klondike Bluffs

New List to Rock 27

I love lists as you have seen and yes I have created a new list for year 27. I am going about it a little different. This year I picked a theme and all my goals are centered around that theme. My goals are less concrete so they can evolve as the year progresses and my life changes, which it always does. 

Year 27 Theme = KNOWLEDGE

So maybe I developed a chip on my shoulder from having to go to resource as a child or maybe it is the fact that it never seems to be the right time for graduate school or maybe it is because I am surrounded by uber intelligent people who drove me to pick a knowledge theme.  But truthfully it is because I feel that we should always be striving to improve ourselves and to gain wisdom (and come on everything can be twisted to sound like it is in pursuit of knowledge).
So here it is.  The list that will rule my life or the next 12 months. 

1. Learn a new “mommy” skill
2. Take a class in a subject that interests me
3. Develop a relationship with the library
4. Design a personal scripture study program and use it
5. Learn about nature
6. Learn about my family 
7. Gain a personal testimony of the temple & temple work
8. Experience a different culture
9. Teach someone a skill
10. Pick up a new outdoor skill
11. Understand the body and how it functions
12. Expand a passion
13. Research a topic that confuses me til I understand
14. Be creative
15. Improve grammar and spelling
16. Acquire a new resume skill
17. Expand a talent
18. Learn from the past
19. Develop a Christ like characteristic
20. Explore my surroundings
21. Challenge myself physically
22. Participate in my community
23. Share the gospel
24. Record my experiences, thoughts and feelings
25. Discover an old friend
26. Serve in secret
27. Develop a healthy habit

Crazy Capitol Hill

Performance art performing at the capitol

I love where I live.  There is always something going on.  Last night on our way to dinner with friends Ashley, Talena and I noticed a large group of people at the capitol dressed all in white.  We thought it was a little weird and wondered if it was some sort of protest (that seems to happen a lot on the capitol).  While at dinner someone told us they had heard it was a performance art piece and it would be going all night.  So of course we had to check it out.  After dinner we went home to get in warm clothes and meet our friends on the capitol steps where we discovered the art of Ernesto Pujol in progress.  The piece called "Awaiting" went from sunset Thursday evening to sunrise Friday morning.  The actors (or do you call them artists) were dressed head-to-toe in white and walked around the steps of the capitol in what we were told was not random patterns.  It was a little crazy and more then a little weird.  We were there long enough to hear some creepy music play on the hour and my friend Matt had his soul stolen (ok that was a joke, there was no soul stealing going on).

Article in the Trib about the performance http://www.sltrib.com/ci_14815557

That crazy pink board

The event made me think about modern art.  I'm sorry I just don't get it.  It if is cool looking, I like it, but really what is the purpose of some of it.  A few years ago I visited the MoMA in New York.  It was really cool and there was some good art, but then there was some stuff I wanted to shake my head at and say "WTF."  Modern artists always seem to have some hidden meaning behind their art that I just don't think they express very well (maybe they are bad communicators).  They try to share their opinion about the political system by creating a tall pink board leaning against a wall (I made up that interruption).  I wonder if it isn't more logical that they just seat around saying "If I splattered some paint on a canvas without any pattern or purpose, how long would people stand in front of it and discuss its deeper meaning?  Wouldn't that be funny.  Even better, how much do you think I could get those lunatics to pay for it?"  Seriously Jackson Pollock I am on to you. 

Just some art from Jackson Pollock that is probably work a billion dollars

But really, life would be far less interesting without the work of artists.  And athough I came off skeptical of how artist express themselves, I love art.  Art in all its different forms is intriguing and beautiful. 

Side note really

On our way to the capitol we passed a house down the street from us where they were filming a movie.  The movie is based on the life of Aron Ralston who had to cut off his arm when he was trapped by a boulder hiking in southern Utah.  We took a picture of the set.

The bright light on a crane is a dead give away of their location

Birthday Report

Yesterday was my birthday which means I am no longer 26 which also means that it is time to report on my 26 for 26 goals.  Overall, the experience was good.  I didn't finish all my goals, but I learned a lot of about what type of goals I should set and how to stretch myself without overwhelming myself. 

So here is my report...

1. Visit New Zealand and Australia - YEAH!  Did it... Sydney or New York & Flightless Birds
2. Learn to play the guitar - I have been taking guitar lessons from Danny for the last 6 months.  I'm not great, but I know cords and I can play a few songs
3. Learn to skateboard - My friends took me long boarding a few times last fall, it was a blast.  And actually I just had my first fall on the long board 2 weeks ago, so I think that makes it official... I board :)
4. Get a new job - I started working for LACO Technologies last May Business Cards and Credit Cards
5. Read all the conference talks (April & October 2009) - Finished both and learned some amazing truths
6. Visit all the National Parks in Utah - I was able to visit 4 of 5 missing Capital Reef, I just didn't have enough time.
7. Bike 2 Century Rides - I rode the MS ride in Logan Bikes and Butt Bruises and then the ULCER around Utah Lake I don't hate myself...promise
8. Climb Mt Olympus, Mt Nebo & Lone Peak - Sadly I only hiked Mt Olympus, but if you count it I hiked Grandeur Peak on Saturday...nothing compare to Nebo or Lone, but give a girl a break she was busy.
9. Hike Donut Falls - Done Did she say truck or trail
10. Learn In Design & Illustrator - I wish
11. Type Grandma Berger’s life story - Not yet, but I am using my tax return to buy a computer so I can finish this
12. Read the Book of Mormon - Nightly!
13. Hold a current temple recommend - I go to the temple once a week.  It is amazing how good it feels to get dunked.
14. Have a meaningful relationship - It didn't last, but I wouldn't take it back.
15. Conquer sleep - I am going to say yes.  I am much better at getting up even though I hate mornings.
16. Read Jesus the Christ - Too big.  Too detailed.  I need to really study this so I am saving this for next year.
17. Be able to do 5 pull ups without jumping - I can do 1 :)
18. Be able to do 10 man push ups - I can do it and I'll prove it.
19. Compete in a triathlon - My first tri was Salem Spring, Let's Tri
20. Learn 10 new Hymns - :(
21. Visit Gilgal Gardens - Yes and it was awesome. check, check, and half-check
22. Go on 3 backpacking trips - Nada.  And the year before I went on so many, I thought this would be easy.  Do 2 overnight yurt trips count?
23. Mountain bike slick rock  - I decided since I only got a mountain bike in Feb that it was ok to switch this to "Go Ice Climb" which I did...twice, and love it. rocking in ice 
24. Cross slackline, turn and return without falling - One of my favorite goals.  I love to slackline and I was really proud of myself for accomplishing this goal. check, check, and half-check
25. Give out 3 Book of Mormons (Arcadia) - I only gave out 1 this year while we were on our trip to AUS & NZ, but I have a couple people in mind and I am preparing to give them out.
26. Read Preach My Gospel - I have been studying this with my scripture study, but still not finished.

Oh and if you didn't notice I am a dork and color coded the goals.  RED is completed, BLUE is partly completed, and PURPLE is HAHA I wish.

Dude Annie

Rachel and I at the game

Wednesday was my cute friend Rachel’s bday. I had tickets for the Jazz game that night and she is a big basketball fan. Bday present. Date for the game…check and check. The game was good, but maybe a little on the boring side. The Jazz played the Golden State Warriors and killed them. The score was 117 to 85 when we finally decided it was time to leave.

2 great moments of the night.

(1) Discovering that there is a man out there that looks like me, we shall call him Dude Annie. This dude had the exact same hair cut and color as me. Red hair is hard to come by, but finding your exact shade and style…weird. (But really outside the hair I don’t know what he looks like, but I thought it was awesome funny.)

"Dude Annie" is the one standing in the white jersey

(2) The Wendy’s “Build a Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger” (complete with bacon) timeout game. This game involved sumo wrestler type costumes designed to look like hamburger buns and ended with team members jumping on top of each other to complete the cheeseburger. Some how I thought this would be a great singles ward activity (is that wrong).

Anyway, we had a great time and I think the Jazz won, but really I don’t know because I never checked the final score.

Dang Hammy

Talena and I after the race...see we are still smiling

Last weekend I ran my first ever half marathon. Or should I say walked (I'll get to that in a minute). I have been training for the SLC Marathon which is next month so I have actually run a 13 mile length or longer 3 times now in my training. This was a bonus because come race day I was able to stay really calm. Even though it was a race, it was just another training run for me.

Things started out fine. They bussed us up to the startline so early we had plenty of time to be very cold, but get a good warm up done before the race. I might have actually stretched and warmed up more then I do for most my runs.

10AM the race started. Talena and I stayed together for the first 4 miles and I really liked the pace we were setting. I felt really strong and had good energy. Just before mile 4 my right hamstring started to hurt so I decided to walk for a minute. Talena and I separated and I wouldn't see her for the next 2 hours. I walked for a couple minutes then started to run again. My leg was still hurting so I shortened my stride and slowed down, but tried to keep moving. By mile 6 I felt a big pull in my hamstring. I continued a walk/run for the next 2 miles until finally I gave in to the pain and walked the final 5 miles to the finsihline. I finished with a time of 3 hrs and 5 mins. SAD and PATHETIC but oh well I finished.

The worst thing about the race (or at least my race) were all the people cheering you on when all you want to do is crawl your sad butt to the finish and go home and hide under the covers. I guess for those people that didn't expect better than a 3 hour finish it was encouraging to hear "you can do it", "you're doing great", "keep it up", "you're almost there." But for me I wanted to slap them.

After getting a doctor check up and talking to runners I am recovering from what is most likely a strained hamstring with lots of Ibuprofen, ice and rest. I have not given up on the marathon, but I will be taking it easy so that I can recover for the race.

Spring means...

Spring means bikes, sunshine, lunches outside and slacklining. This week has been a awesome. Monday I took a short ride up City Creek Canyon before heading to FHE where we competed in FHE Olympics. My team took silver in the 4 man bobsled (basically Tricia and I sat on a blank as Tyler and Mike pulled us around...we were fast 16.21 sec). I also took the gold medal in the girls elimination basketball game. Bishop was a little surprised at my win, later he told me my first shoot was so terrible he thought I would get out very quickly...thanks Bish.

Photo from slackline last year

Tuesday started with me attempting a after work run, which end after only 20 minutes because my knee still hurts from Sunday's 18 mile run. But luckily it was still light outside and I decided we needed to slackline. My friend Jon set up his line and after dragging some friends down there we got on the line for the first time this year. It was awesome and I was happy to see most of what I worked on last year had stuck.

Wednesday was another beautiful day. I grabbed me some lunch and headed to Sugarhouse park for so much need me time. I used a crash pad left in my car from the weekend's climbing trip as my blanket. I think it would be a good idea to get a weekly park lunch together with my friends.

Yeah for sun

But what always happens with spring in Utah beautiful days don't last long. Today's forecast...rain. But I am happy to report that the sun will return Saturday.  Cheers to another great Utah spring.  Good on ya sun.