Ragnar Relay Recap

Medal for each runners at the end of the race

Name of our team - Thunderous Herd

I am not sure where to start with news about our relay this weekend. Actually, I will apologize for not have pictures yet. I didn't take many and those I did take were mainly of the scenery and not people. Our teams did take plenty of pictures and video, which I will share at a later date.

Thursday night we all met at work in Provo and loaded up our vehicles with food and people. Our vehicle only had Mike and myself and we were to make 2 stops to pick up the rest of our team members (in our vehicle). The relay is 12 runners on a team and you have 6 in each vehicle. We stopped in American fork to pick up Todd and Merrill. We then picked up Josh and Annette in Sandy. After the stops we made our way to Logan. We dropped Josh and Annette at Travis's home and then dropped Todd at his hotel. Mike was staying with a friend so he dropped Merrill and I at our hotel. I bunked in with Ronn and Dan.

Our teams name was 'Thunderous Herd' and the other team was 'Run Dam It Run' with a beaver as their mascot. Some of the other team were decorating their vehicle as light was fading. Soon we retired to try and get some sleep for the race. I think I finally fell asleep after 11 but woke up at 3:30am and could not go back to sleep. Even though I had run the relay last year the nerves were still there. With the knee injury recently and the one to start off the race I wanted to make sure we started well.

Both teams made it to the start by 7:30 with a start time of 7:50am. It was a very cool morning so it was great for running. My first leg was 5.1 miles. Jeff (starting for the other team) had been training hard and talking smack for the last couple of months. He was very confident. We lined up at the start and Jeff asked me if I was going to take off fast. I said no but he said he was going to. The gun went off and Jeff took off. I knew I had to save my knee for all 3 legs over the next 30 hours. Within 1 1/2 miles Jeff had slowed and I had caught him. My goal was to keep Jeff in my sights the whole time. I stayed about 100 yards behind him the rest of the run. I should have been 5 minutes behind Jeff but was only 2 minutes back. This started well for our team. My knee was feeling a little sore when I was done. I was able to ice it and take some meds. Todd was the next runner and he struggled for most of his leg. The race she shows who train hard and who trained not quite as hard. Todd did a great job but now realizes that when we say you need to train for this race, we were serious. lol

Mike was the 3rd to run, while I drove his vehicle. He also ran really well but said his ankle was hurting when he finished. Merrill then took over for the 4th leg and had been training well despite shin splints. Merrill also did very well on his leg. Annette and Josh ran the 5th and 6th legs. I was really impressed with Annette as she ran over 7 miles, with a gradual incline on dirt. We were told that through the Avon pass that there had been plenty of rain recently and there was a lot of mud. Although there was not as mud or dust as expected that stretch is always tough. Josh then ran down the other side of Avon pass. Going down the hill was probably worse than Annette going up. Besides being steep and loose dirt/gravel, the road was uneven and had many washouts.

The 6th exchange was a mess. We had to park at a church about half mile away from the exchange and ride a shuttle to go meet the other 6 members of our team. It was great to be done with the first stage of our race. Out team was then able to travel to Snow Basin to rest while the other vehicle ran their legs. While we were running we would call or text our progress so the other team knew when to be ready. This was not easy at times because some areas there was no cell service. We had a rough estimate of everyones time so that made it easier to keep track.

In Snow Basin we ate lunch, found the restrooms and just relaxed while waiting for our next turn to run. During our wait we heard from the other team that one of their runners, Dave, became confused and disoriented at the end of his first run. Their was concern from all of us as we were at Snow Basin with their 1st vehicle. If you receive and IV during to rest you are automatically out of the race. Dave did not have an IV and was able to continue (with help of his team). At 6:10pm I started my 2nd leg...8.5 miles. I was wearing a knee brace that was hard to get on as my knee had swelled just a little. The first mile was straight up hill. I walked for most of it as running just burned too much energy. There was a lady that passed me but I caught her about 100 feet later because she stopped and walked. The next 7.5 miles were mainly downhill with a few rolling hills thrown in. The downhills actually hurt my knee more so I was slow on them and made found relief in the gentle uphill.
It was great to finally finish my longest and hardest leg. I was a little emotional at the end because I had worked so hard but got injured a month before the race. Todd then had a quick run to the next exchange. As the light starting fading Mike, Merrill and Annette got through their legs quickly. Josh had the long one of the night that had a couple of short but steep climbs. We got done just after 11pm and was ready for another rest. Once again we had met up with our other team members from van 2 as well as the other team.

During most of the 36 exchanges we saw members of the other team...which was great. We got to see how everyone was doing and feeling.

Our second vehicle started their second leg while we headed for Kimball Junction (just north of Park City) to sleep at the hotel. We got there, everyone was able to shower and then tried to get some sleep. Everyone slept solid for the short time we got to sleep. I think I slept from 1am until 4:30. We then got up and made our way to the next major exchange to start our 3rd and final leg. Originally we were to start at 4:50am but we were a little behind projection and I started around 6am. My knee did not feel good at all but was going to run no matter what. I was about a mile in when the 2nd vehicle from the other team stopped and asked if I needed anything or if they could run for me. Even though I had slowed I knew I wanted to finish what I started. I also knew that the rest of the teams had to still run and would be just as tired and sore.

A couple of times, during my third leg (4.9 miles), I found a little rhythm and felt ok but was limping. I was so glad and happy to be done. I was about 12 minutes slower than expected but at no time was their frustration or negativity from my team mates. At that stage we just wanted to complete the race. Todd saved his best run for last as did Mike. Mike had almost 8 miles of gruelling uphills but ran it like a champion. Merill then ran 7 minute miles on the other side of Mike's leg and caught us up with the time we lost. Annette then ran her best with her last 3 miles and also caught us up. Josh finished with a short sprint (about 5k distance) to the final exchange between our 2 vehicles. The time between both vehicles at this exchange was only 30 seconds. With our 2nd vehicle on their last legs we headed back to the hotel to shower and rest. After a few hours we headed back to the finishing area. We had to park 4 miles away and again shuttle to the end. Once we arrived we heard that the other team's last runner (Kristy) left 5 minutes before our last runner (Travis). Travis had a slightly better time than Kristy but having running twice already and a lack of sleep the distance was too much to make up. The finishing area was thriving with thousands of runners, friends, family and sponsor's. It was a sight to see. We waited for about half an hour to hear whether Travis or Kristy would finish first. A quarter mile from the finish they announce numbers so the team can gather and run across the finish together. We did not do this last year and made sure it happened this year. It actually changed the whole experience. I was so proud of all our runners. We actually finished the relay in 32 hours and 18 minutes. Run Dam It Run finished in 32 hours and 11 minutes. Can you believe that after 188 miles the 2 teams were separated by only 7 minutes. We could not have set the teams any better. There are actual bragging rights for both teams. They crossed the line first but according to projections should have beat us by 30 minutes. I am hoping we see this as a win/win situation.

About half of the runners ran last year and the other half new this year. New experiences were made and a sense of accomplishment was across everyone as we gathered for a dual team picture.

Am I ready for next year? No, way!!! I need a couple of weeks rest then I will be back at it again. lol

Cheers!!!

Fathers and Sons Campout

Friday May 22nd saw the Aspen Meadows Third Ward converge on campsite #2 at the Diamond Fork Campgrounds. Bradley and I arrived around 4pm to finding it raining slightly. There were only a couple of other father and son teams when we arrived. We bravely put our tent up in the rain and then went back to the van to change into warmer clothing. We left Spanish Fork and it was 80 degrees. We drove 25 minutes to the campsite and it was barely 60 when we got there. The rain decided to let up and stop within half an hour of us putting up our tent. We should have waited out the rain but we didn't. Slowly other teams found there way to the site and by 8pm we had a large crowd gathered. I have included as many photos as I could. I tried to get every family that went and came pretty close. If I missed anyone I apologize. That evening Bishop Woodbrey delivered a wonderful message to boys and their fathers. It was nice to hear the silence as he spoke. By 9pm night had settled in and many activities were under way. Some of the boys played with a soccer ball that lit up and was hard to follow but fun to throw. Some decided to call it a day and retired to their tents. Not sure how quickly they would get to sleep with the commotion in the camp. Other sat around the fire and shared stories or just chatted the night away. Bradley and I finally retired around 11pm. It did not take long until we were both sound asleep. I woke numerous times throughout the night to make sure Bradley had not fallen off the air mattress or was not cold. We woke early and left the tent a little before 7am. There were boys already stirring in the camp and had the fire going. The morning was chilly but not cold. Not long after we woke others woke also. Soon breakfast was in full flight and the anticipation by some was almost unbearable. The morning was then left to cleaning up the campsite, packing away our gear and participating in a few games. Some went for a hike, shoot the bb gun or again just sit around the fire and enjoy the beauty of nature. Bradley and I left around 10am and headed for home.

Fathers and Sons is a great tradition and there are many that look forward to this trip. It is almost a pity we only hold it once year. There are no expectation with the camping trip as it always has been and will continue to be a memorable experience.

Craig and Jackson Mortenson

Jeff and Walker Jones - Jake was still sleeping

Steven, Tyler and Wyatt Swasey

Steven and Taylor Parkin

Austin and Daylen Bushmen. Scarlet was not too happy to see this shot.

Austin shooting with his dad with Tex looking on.

Marksman Bradley

Morley clan

Matt Shockley with his boys Jackson, Hayden and Alec

Josh and Ethan Binks enjoying a manly breadfast burrito

Ray and Jake Guenther

Rich and Jared Kotter

Presidency cooking breakfast for the hungry group

Part of the manly breakfast. Sausage, Milk and Chocolate milk.

Blake Barrett and Steve Swasey cooking. Don't worry folks it is steam not smoke.

Michael and one of the Graham boys. Sorry but I don't remember if this is Michael or Porter.

I am not sure who had more fun making the scary face, Ryan or Coleman (Crocket)

Daylen Bushmen with Tex

Bradley and I spotted this dead snake on the side of the road as we were looking for a place to shoot the bb gun.

Matt and Alec Shockley with Blake Packer

Wayne Woodfield with his boys Daniel and Benjamin

Mike and Boston Brower

Almost forgot about me and Bradley.

Mike Ward with James

Craig and Jackson roasting mallows

The only shot i got of Blake and Jamison Barrett but I got it.

James and Ethan Packer

Daylen Bushmen with two of his boys, Conner and Brady

David and Mark Ahrens

Tyler and Walker Atkin

Priesthood gathering. (l-r) Scott Brown, Craig Mortenson, Kelly Woodbrey and Mike Brower

Tim and Caleb Pollock. This one's for you Lisa as I did not see Tim with a camera. lol

Nick and Caden Parcell

Caleb Pollock looking for a place to park his chair.

Bishop Kelly Woodbrey with son Isaac

Isaac kept on coming back for mallows

Rich and Jared Kotter playing catch

We either need the instructions or our wives.

Mark Ahrens. Looks like he is ready to eat his hand.

Ethan Packer and the Bushman boys playing football

Jonathan Woodbrey

Taylor Rowley

Bradley and his 47th smore. Ok he only had a couple

Tyler Atkin, Rick Ivie and Ryan Crocket

Shawn Rowley showing Tanner Woodbrey the fine art of mallow roasting

Fathers and Sons always brings out the boys under the age of 12 that are pyros

Ryan and Coleman Crocket - before I knew I was taking pictures of everyone.

Isabella Moves On To The First Grade - Part 1

I have tried for hours to upload videos from Isabella's kindergarten graduation but it is just not working right for me. I think I will try to see if I can get the 3 videos in seperate posts. So the titles will show part1, part2 and part3. Here we go.

Alyssa White - 5th Grade Talent Show

Alyssa at her 5th Grade Talent Show on Thursday. It was hard to hold the camera still from the goose bumps. I am so glad she signed up on her own to sing in front of all the parents and all of the 5th grade. She practiced everyday and sometimes multiple times to make sure she was ready. To hear her practice was good but to hear it on stage was something special. Yes I am a proud father. As you can see from the video Alyssa is not very comfortable in front of people yet. However, once she felt comfortable singing she really took off. Well done Alyssa. I love you.

Happy Easter Egg Hunt

Alyssa hiding her eggs. This picture was supposed to be at the end but I accidentally deleted it and it would not copy or cut so I could paste it. Oh well. One day I will be a master poster like my sister-in-law Shannon.

The beginning of our annual Neighborhood Easter hunt. It was hard enough trying to get everyone together for the picture. The kids just wanted to go.

Receiving instructions from Hugh. The most important two are: only 12 eggs and no destruction of property. Oh yeah...have fun

All the kids were gone in a flash. Some were still in a blur as to how and where to begin.

This is a picture taken right after the previous one. As soon as the prayer finished the kids did not wait.

McKenna Black, Alyssa White, Mia Hayward

Hayden Shockley showing his goodies

Madelyn and Rhace Hayward

The Pollock family

Part of the Henry family. I am sure Scott was quick to raise his hand to stay home with the younger children.

Emilia Barrett ready to enjoy some great food. This is the kitchen/living area of the Black's home.

Claire Packer

Digging into lunch. There was plenty of food for everyone.

Bradley and Isabella actually eating. It can be a chore sometimes to get them to eat.

Ethan Packer showing us how it is done. Bright colors...perfect for coloring eggs.

Don't know if he is just a nut or very smart but Ethan had his 12 eggs in his hat. Almost a Dr. Suess look alike.

Naked Eggs (naked of color that is)

This basket was right next to Jamison Barrett so I assume it was his. I asked him a couple of times if I could take a picture of his basket and he said no. I finally got the picture after a litle joking with him.

Ethan Packer and Savannah Henry showing their eggs

Matt open a couple of eggs for Olivia but it looks like she figured it out.

Kim Atkin and Melanie Shockley. What would Easter be without a Relief Society discussion. I had already shown this picture to Melanie and she was not happy. I told her it would be posted anyway.

I really liked Emilia Barrett's basket so I snapped it.

Children hard at work coloring their eggs

A proud Grace Packer

Dunking time.

Blake Packer and Jackson Shockley. Not sure about Blake. He said he was trying to be the Easter bunny by using eggs as ears.

Visitor with the Packers and sorry did not catch her name. Not sure if Hannah Montana is Easter material but she was on an egg.

Matt was gone, Melanie inside and Olivia wanted to go find dad. We went out to the garage (where the egg coloring was happening) but could not find dad but we did find a car. Dad was forgotten about real quick.

Bradley hiding one of his eggs

Isabella hiding one of her eggs

Saturday April 11th saw our 4th annual Easter Egg hunt. The Black's are always gracious to host this event for the beginning, egg coloring and lunch. It was a typical Spring day in Spanish Fork...windy, rainy and cold. There were many brave souls that were courages enough to roam the streets and assist their children in collecting eggs. The children did not care about the weather, they were only interested in one thing...EGGS. There were strategies laid out for the homes they were going to hit first. This being said the younger children with parents in tow had to walk the furtherest to find their loot. All in all every child receive their bounty and enjoyed the moment.

Let me explain how the hunt works. Simply each home hides a dozen eggs per child that is going hunting. Then when they go around the neighborhood they can only collect a dozen eggs. Once they have their dozen eggs they are done. Most of the older kids took off quickly and had their eggs within a few minutes. I walked around with some of the younger children and their parents to make sure all eggs were found. I enjoyed this more as it seemed like the younger children enjoyed taking their time and absorbing the experience.

After the egg hunt we all gathered back at the Blacks home for lunch and egg coloring. Most people stayed in to enjoy the warmth and only a few braved the cold of the garage to color eggs.

This has become a wonderful tradition with our neighbors.