Haunted Half Marathon

Since we didn't love the Provo Halloween Half last year we decided to give the Haunted Half a try this year.  I think that costume races are really fun.  People can get so darn creative.  I convinced Evan and Rachel to run with us since they hadn't run anything with us this year so far.  This meant we were challenged to come up with a four person costume theme.  Rachel suggested The Incredibles, which sounded good to me.  As we got closer and closer to race day we hadn't really organized what the plan was.  In the end Rachel said she had the shirts under control and boy did she come through, they were fantastic.

My GPS managed to take Jeramie and I the long way to get the to start of the race, which was frustrating.  But then ironically enough with all the different places you could park we pulled into the parking lot right next to Evan and Rachel!  We met up with my friend Rebecca and then we were quickly on a bus and headed up Emigration Canyon.  Then the bus driver missed the turn and got lost.  Nothing like watching a gigantic bus try and do a U turn in a tiny little cul de sac at the top of a canyon.  People were getting so bent out of shape about it.  Yet there was still plenty of time before the race started and we were getting to stay on the nice warm bus a little longer, rather than standing out in the cold.

The headless horseman was a fun touch at the start.

Running down Emigration Canyon was nice.  Not too steep.  Then once we came out of the canyon we headed kind of North through the University campus.  And then .. there were hills.  Rachel just charges up those babies like they're nothing.  While the rest of us are huffing and puffing.  Once we finished with the uphill portions I got my mojo back and we cruised to the finish.  The last mile was really pretty.  I'm not really familiar with that area. But it finished at a park right by the capital and we ran kind of down into this canyon like thing, with all the changing colors it was nice!

2:07:57

Best Group Race Picture Ever

A respectable time.  Especially considering all the hills we had to climb.  We finished and they had pizza!  Huge win.  That tasted awesome after running 13 miles.  Rachel is envious of the Howard ability to chow down after a race.  We quickly met up with my mum, Mike and the kids.  One thing that really bugged me about this race was that there wasn't a lot of staff around and trying to sort out the kids race was a nightmare, and then we basically missed it.  I paid for my kids to "run" it and then Mike's kids ran for free.  Clearly I need not have paid!  They didn't even have race bibs for the kids.

One last look at that adorable skeleton.

Running races with Evan and Rachel as a group is definitely one of my favorite things to do!

It's about running .. not me.

So this last weekend we went on our final outing in our trailer for the summer.

Jordanelle State Park

I think for the first time EVER we were there and didn't take the boat out on the lake the first day.

Saturday morning was Evan's first 1/2 Marathon.

So we were up at 7am and headed down Provo Canyon to catch Evan and Rachel at the finish line.

I think going to watch races is almost as fun as running in them.

The Hobble Creek 1/2 is supposed to be one of the easiest.

I really want to run it next year.  But back to Evan and Rachel.

It took us an hour to drive down to Springville.  And y'all know I'm not a morning person.

Well apparently neither are my children (except for Baylee).

Jackson was MAD we wouldn't go watch him play on the playground.

I had Oliver on my back in the backpack and Wyland was pissed I wouldn't hold him too.

Haha .. my happy little campers!!

Finally Jackson gave up and laid down and just went back to sleep.

Here they came!  Don't they look happy?

Well Evan does for sure.  But the man is like 6 foot 4 inches tall.

So proud of them both!

Thumbs up buddy!  Haha!! He's totally got the runners high right here.

Jackson finally got to play at the park.

As did Wyland.

After the race we headed back up to Jordanelle.

But rather than boating, Baylee, my mum and myself .. we headed to the Park City Outlets.

The boys all went into Heber for some ice cream and trains.

I wish I'd had them take the camera, but I didn't.

I got a little Christmas shopping done.

Because yes, I plan to be done by Thanksgiving weekend again this year.

We scored some awesome deals.

By that evening Evan was texting me about signing up for the Dirty Dash in September.

Yes friends, he just finished a 1/2 Marathon and the same day is looking for another race.

'Cause that's how us Howard's roll.

Dirty Dash it is then .. September 24th.

This week I hit a personal best .. 6 miles.

So I guess it's good that I've been upping my mileage. 

Now I feel like I had better up it some more to compensate for the mud that shall be in my shoes.

And Jeramie .. oh Jeramie .. you'd better become better acquainted with my treadmill.

I'm not at all sure you can crank out 6 miles with no training like you did the 3 last month.

Congratulations to Evan and Rachel!! You guys did awesome!!