Layton Half Marathon

It's true. I have registered for the Layton Half Marathon. I will be running my first race of the year in Moab for their half. Then come September 29th I'll be running number two. :) Some may think I'm crazy, including myself, but I am bound and determind to stay healthy this year. I'm not getting any younger and my body knows it!

Here's the plan for this year. I will continue to train for my half in March. Come March 17th I will finish my race, hopefully, at 2 hours (half hour faster than my last one). Then I will do a cleanse for a week after. After the cleanse I will pick back up with mild running, other cardio (like biking or aerobics classes), and lifting. Then I'll hit hardcore training with my big runs again the beginning of August or end of July. Then I'll be set and ready to go for the run in September. Wish me luck!


Run it with me! Click on my buddy link below to register! You can dooooo it! :)

Layton Half Marathon

Listen up men...this could be helpful

One of the things, out of many, that caught my interest with Christopher was how he is a manly man. I was thinking about that this weekend when Chris was joking around and said some smart alec remark like, "I am a man's man". That got me thinking. What makes a man a manly man?

There are many things that come to mind. I think my list is mixed with a few manly man characteristics along with what, I believe, a woman wants in her man. I know that everyone has their own list. Feel free to share! You know I will. :) Listen up fellas. This could be helpful.

I'll start with the basics.

Facial hair. He has to have facial hair. It can be groomed and well kept or even a little scruffy. It gives the bad boy feel.

Take it easy with the razor. There can't be any crazy shaving of the arms or legs. If I didn't have to shave my legs, I wouldn't. There's no reason for a man to go to those lengths unless it's for a joke or for a sport. Enjoy the fact that you have minimal parts of your body to shave.

Be polite. Every woman enjoys having her door open for her and chair pulled out at least every once in a while. Unfortunately, this is something that us women in this generation don't get the pleasure to witness as often as the earlier generations. It's a simple gesture that goes a long way.

Good manors. You don't have to pretend like you're Prince William, just keep to the simple stuff. We want you to be comfortable around us, but not as comfortable as you are around the guys.

Be motivated and driven. Do the best to be a good provider. It's an attractive trait for a man to have motivation in his career. It proves he is willing to work as hard as he can to give your family what they deserve.

Clean up after yourself. I know you didn't plan on having a second mother in your own home. But, we also didn't plan on having to clean up after a perfectly capable, grown adult. We are willing to work as a team if you are.

Car maintenance. Lets be honest, most of us women don't even know where to refill the windshield wiper fluid. Knowing your man either knows how to fix it himself or will get it fixed for you is reassuring. And admit it, you enjoy being the knight in shining armor to rescue us in our damsel in distress moments. :)

Stay fit. All of these things can go both ways, especially this one. Staying attractive for the one you love, I believe, is one of the most important things you can do for your relationship, even more importantly, yourself.

Chris isn't always perfect at all of these characteristics, but he's always trying. He is my manly man and I love him for it. :)

Someday

I am old enough that some of my friends are having their third child. THIRD! Don't get me wrong, I am so happy for all of them being able to make beautiful families. But, I can't help but drown in a bit of self pity because, regardless of how high my desire to be a mother is, I don't have ANY children of my own. I know what most of your comments are going to be......It will happen when it's supposed to, you're still young, you will be a great mom when the time is right...etc. These comments I realize have a lot of truth to them, but it doesn't take away the hurt that I sometimes feel. I read my friends blogs and facebook posts and they are filled with love for their children and growing families. They are filled with a different kind of love than I have experienced in life. Don't misread this post. I love Christopher and I am happy with where we are at. I just saw things a little differently for me at this point in my life. I will be 27 years old this year. 27! Three years to 30! Outside of Utah, I am actually still really young and still considered too young for kids. Cultural expectations set aside, I would love nothing more than to be a mother someday. I would love to have him/her grow in my belly. I want to experience the love they immediately fill you with as you see that peanut size dot on the screen. I want to hold them in my arms and rock them to sleep. I want to whisper to them, as they are falling asleep, how grateful I am to have such a blessing in my life. I want to sing to them, even though I can't hold a tune for my life. I want to watch them grow into these little humans that will make mistakes and drive me crazy at times. I want my husband and I to share such a close love for making the most beautiful babies we've ever seen. Someday, I'd like someone to call me mom.

Lost in a dream

I'm surrounded by darkness. I'm searching for something familiar, but all I see is black. Then there's a glimpse of hope. Light. I'm gravitating towards it slowly and with hesitation. Then I hear a voice. It's a voice I recognize. The light is gone. I turn to see the face that matches the sound. It's my friend. I feel safe for a brief moment. I see her and only her. Her surrounded by the black darkness. She tells me it's okay and that I'm going to be fine, while holding my hand and tilting her head slightly. With no warning I feel lost again. Her voice is no longer soothing. Her face is no longer familiar. I am in a panic.

I manage to travel from the stairs to the kitchen without any recollection of doing so. I feel like I am in a dream world and can't get out. There are now other people around. I recognize their faces, but I feel threatened. They are trying to get my attention. I don't acknowledge them in fear that they want to keep me in this dream world instead of let me back into my reality. My heart is racing and the only breath that comes out of my mouth is "Chris! I want Chris! I need him here with me, now!" I stand in the kitchen, not allowing anyone to come near me. Some of them are walking around holding their phones, doing what looks like playing a game with random shapes and colors. All of them playing the same game. As they walk by me they stop looking at their phone and turn their head towards me, giving me a confused and worried look. I yell at them and demand they keep their distance. I refuse to look into their eyes. It's a trick. They don't want me to leave this place. I continue calling out for Chris. He is not around.

I am stepping side to side to keep my mind alive. As long as I keep moving I still have a chance. I can still get back to reality. Time passes in what seems like hours. I look down at my hand. I am holding my phone. It shows on the screen "Call My Love or Cancel" I muster up enough brain power to press the call button. All I hear is ringing. I start to lose hope, my heart is racing. Then he answers. Chris is on the other line. I immediately break down. I try to explain to him what is happening. I say through the tears,"Babe, I don't know what they have done to me! Please, please come and get me!" He assures me he is coming, but he has to wait for his friend to come to pick him up. I look at the clock....10:13 pm.

I keep him on the phone. He is my only chance. He is the only way I will get out of this horrible nightmare. Anytime I hear any silence on the other line I start screaming his name. He yells back, "Ash, I am coming! I promise I am coming!" I ask him where he is and he says he still hasn't come to get him. I start to panic. Is he part of the dream too? No. You can't think that. He is coming. I tell myself this over and over.

After what seems like an hour he tells me his friend is there and he's on his way. I look at the clock....10:22 pm. How can that be right?? The clock must be broken. I feel like I have been here for hours! It's okay, Chris is coming. I stay on the phone with him. I look into the living room where the familiar faces are laughing and playing their games. My friend stops, mid conversation, looks over at me with a smile on her face, and says, "Honey, you are fine. Everything is going to be just fine. Maybe you should let me talk to Chris." I immediately reject the proposal. Another one of them tells me that I should get off the phone and sleep a little. I look the other way and disregard the comment. They just want my life line. They don't want me talking to Chris.

 Stay focused. Chris will be here soon. I ask him again, "Where are you? Why are you not here yet? I have been waiting for so long! Please tell me you're not fake too!" He tries to call me down, "Babe, I am really coming, I promise. It has only been like 30 seconds since you last asked me. Just stay on the phone with me." I see lights through the curtains in the living room. That has to be him. I say through the phone, "You're here, aren't you? I see your lights!" He says in confusion, "No, it's not me. I am barely getting on the freeway." I feel a flush of despair overtake me. He's real, he's real, he's coming to save me. And then I repeat.

I am starting to get very sleepy, but I know I have to stay awake and keep Chris on the phone. I continue stepping side to side. I ask him again where he is. He says he is just getting off the freeway. Why is he taking so long! I look at the clock. 10:35 pm. Still, the time makes no sense.

 How I am going to get out of here without them trying to stop me? I will have to run. I scope out my route. I can do it. Now! Run! I run through the kitchen and past the faces. I nearly trip down the stairs. I'm outside.

 I run out to the street so I can the car coming. I see lights. I scream with excitement, "You're here! You came! I knew you'd save me!" He yells back, "Babe, no, that's not me! I am just pulling into the neighborhood! Stay there." A second set of lights show. This time it has to be him. The car starts to slow as it glides closer to me. It stops. The passenger door opens. It's Chris. I jump into his arms. I am saved. He saved me. I am safe. Breathe.

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OBSESSED!!! Enough said.