I ran my first and last (haha) 5K January 28, 2012. It was a wicked cold morning! Here is the pic's and letter I sent Wade and my family explaining my experience:
Well, as most of you know I've been training for my first run. I accomplished it this weekend in the freezing cold layered up for warmth (that didn't help too much) and ran strong. The pictures I attached were BEFORE, During, and AFTER. I wrote a letter to Travis and Wade this morning explaining my experience and thought I'd share my thoughts with you all as well. I love and miss each of you and wish you had all been there to run or cheer me on. Just know that each of you do that in your own way for me as I'm alone here in Utah without you. I am stronger and better because of all of you. I'm so lucky to have you for "family". Love you! - La La
Just want to report that as you know I have been training for a 5K over the last 4 weeks and this past Saturday I did it! It was 21 degrees outside so I was not really prepared for that bitter reminder of where we live! haha Anyway, I layered up like crazy and ran my heart out. I didn't expect to run DOWN hill and then back UP another hill though. I've been running inside on my treadmill and outside running is WAY different! My legs are like Jello still and hurt like crazy! :( I was really struggling with my breathing in that cold weather, and as I was coming up the HILL OF DEATH the last mile of the race my ipod music went to Somewhere Over the Rainbow - Hawaiian singer and I lost it. Started crying as I was trying to get up that hill thinking of you and how you would have been cheering me on. THEN from a distance I saw Dad (who was told to stay home and not watch me run) there almost at the finish line cheering me on and snapping a photo. Then as I crossed the finish line there was Leanna yelling for her old mama to finish strong! I was SO tired and out of breath I ran straight to her arms and was a bucket of tears. I did it in 39 minutes! I know that isn't very good, but for never running 3.1 miles straight, running UP hill and accomplishing my goal it felt like gold to me! :)
As I contemplated this situation I was thinking of how we are all like runners at the starting gate...Heavenly Father sets the time and the length of our "run". The gun goes off and we are on earth full of energy and excitement. Not remembering or knowing the path of the "race" we call earth life, we go forward and watch the example of those who have gone before (well...as people were running right passed me I thought...wish I had trained more...they are so fast...that's the ones I will follow). We go UP and DOWN many hills/mountains in life and our pace slows or quickens depending on our experience. It's so important to be cautious and careful on the road of life! There are MANY obstacles on the way. The important thing is to just keep up your pace and not get discouraged or distracted on the ultimate goal. I also thought "Go ahead and pass me! I'm not in a race with YOU I'm in a race with MYSELF!" That relates to the gospel as well. :) We are all here to be individually tested for our courage, strength, faith, and perseverance. Anyway, then about half way through my run they had people on the side lines who were cheering us on and giving us water to RENEW your strength and keep us focused on the end result. Those could be good and bad, I thought. We need to have the RIGHT friends/family around us that want the same goals and want us to succeed. Encouragement is important in this life. As I turned and started my run up the hill of death (as I call it) I realized that this was the last leg of my journey. The devil isn't gonna make our road on earth easy. He's gonna especially make it difficut up until the very end so as to ensnare us and bring our spirit down. He wants us to believe we can't make it and/or it's not worth the climb. There was this moment on that run that I was SO wishing someone would pull me up the hill. I didn't think I could make it! I saw a piece of a rope laying on the road and just hoped someone would tie it around me and pull me the rest of the way. haha Well we know that didn't happen, which is also like this life! When it gets hard we want to quit. Want to give up and just have someone else take that burden. Well, someone has... His name is Jesus Christ. He's already run this race and sacrificed so much so the road would be clear of debris and no matter how hard the climb of life He is there at the finish line and He knows it will all be worth it! So then I heard the music play and it totally reminded me of my boy. I thought how lucky I was to have a son and a brother serving a mission and blazing a trail for the rest of the family. Because in a sense we are all doing that. We are all blazing a trail for those who come after us. The trail we "blaze" should be one others will WANT to follow. Our example is so important. I was so grateful in that moment for the many sacrifices that have been met by my ancestors and by Wade and Travis. That gave me the boost I needed and it renewed faith and strength. Then right before the end I saw Rob. My eternal companion, cheering me on and grinning ear to ear. I again felt love and knew 22years ago I made the right decision. Love him. To top it off I ran through the finish line, out of breath, exhausted, cold, with my arms up (like Hurrah for Israel) and there was my beautiful daughter Leanna continuing the love. and smiles :) What a feeling it was to cross the finish line and then I realized I did all I could to reach that destination and finished out of breath and strong. No matter how weak I was, and tired I was, I KNEW the journey was worth it in the end to be there having set a goal and accomplishing it. Our ancestors are waiting for us at the "end" of our journey and they are definitely going to be proud we fought a good fight on earth. It will be an amazing day when we are encircled in the arms of their love having fought a good fight until the bitter end.
SO in the end, I am grateful for the pain I feel this morning because it is a reminder of my journey. It is a reminder that this life is a test and through hard work, trials, training (gospel study), prayer, hope and faith we can make it to our final destination...or the glorious finish line! We can choose to finish STRONG or just walk our way through life without really caring how we get there. I hope you will always choose to finish strong with me Wade, and always keep your eye on the goal...the eternal finish line. :)
Sorry my analogy is so long. I could have said so much more, but I'll let you relate the "run" your own way I wanted to leave that message with you today. I am so proud of the journey or race that you are on right now son. I know at times its tough, but you have many moments of good and just remember we are all cheering you on from the sidelines and will be here until the end when you are "out of breath, exhausted and feel like you can't go another step" at your OWN finish line (airport) with open arms and Texas/Utah flags a waving! Keep fighting the fight and keep smiling. I love you Wade. Hurrah for Israel!!! - Love, Mama"
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