Run, Run, Ragnar

So the infamous Ragnar Relay was a week and a half ago. I've been wanting to write about it for a little while now, but we seem to have misplaced our camera. Hopefully it turns up soon. So I will just have to use the few pictures that I took with my phone.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with what the Ragnar is (aka "non-runners"), I will explain. The Ragnar is a relay race, and this particular one that we ran, the Wasatch Back, goes from Logan to Park City. There are 12 runners on a team (or if you're really crazy, 6), split up into two vans. You all take turns running and as you run, your van drives along and cheers you on and provides you with water and snacks as needed (just as Ben and Lisa are doing for Lora below).

Our team name was "Go Fish" and we all had matching shirts, not to mention matching capes. Ben still wears his around the house.

We also decorated our van and had blow up props.

Our van started early--we had to be at the starting line to check in at 5:30. But we were lucky because the times lined up that we were actually able to sleep that night. The poor runners in the other van did not have as much luck, since they had to run through the night.

Most of the time that we were running, we were in the middle of nowhere. But it was gorgeous and green--not at all like the Utah that most of us are used to on the other side of the mountains.

Even though we weren't the fastest runners (we finished in a little over 36 hours), I'd say we did pretty well--especially considering how much training some of us did . A little shoutout to Kim, who ran the entire Ragnar Hill--without stopping to walk once (of course she was one of the few who was diligent in her training, so obviously that paid off). We were all pretty sore afterwards though--there was a lot of limping that weekend. It was definitely fun, and I'm really glad we did it, but I'm also glad it's over. I did hear talk of doing it again in 3 years. I think by then I'll have been in the family long enough to be able to say no. Hopefully....

Trimester Numero Dos

I know it was not very long ago that we posted our last picture, but that picture is almost a month old, and there has been quite a bit of growth in my abdominal area. Plus, today marks a great day because I am 14 weeks. No more first trimester! Not that mine was particularly difficult.

So it's time for a new photo (mostly for the benefit of my parents). I'm always frustrated with pregnant women who only take one or two pictures throughout their pregnancy. Fat, pregnant bellies are one of the most beautiful things in the world. I talk about mine all the time. I'm sure there will be many updates over the next 5 1/2 months.

I'm also slightly weirded out by those awkward profile shots where you just stand and smile uncomfortably with your hands at your side. I decided to go with more of an action shot--yes, I had just gotten back from running. See, much less awkward.

Also, in case you noticed that knee brace, I had a stressful week because of a sudden onset of knee pain that only allowed me to run about a mile. With Ragnar only two weeks away, the time for finding a replacement has pretty much passed. I didn't want to let the family down, especially since I'm pretty sure the main reason certain Fishers have welcomed me so enthusiastically is because I complete the running team. But my doctor was brilliant enough to suggest a knee brace, and it worked!

In other updates, Ben is almost done with his second-to-last term of his undergraduate career. Since next term he's taking poetry and intro to ceramics, I'm pretty sure it's all downhill from here. He's also working as a research assistant and he gets to research Central Asia and all that good stuff. The best part is that he gets to work at home.