Wednesday, July 30, 2008

2008 Ragnar Relay - The Wasatch Back

A group of friends and I competed in the Ragnar Relay last month. The race is a total of 178 miles, teams comprised of 12 total people, and each person runs a total of 3 legs (between 12-17 miles total) over 2 days. You hardly sleep and are stuck in a van of 6 stinky people who haven't showered either. Sounds fun yet? We actually had a great time but were VERY tired by the end, emotionally and physically. It is one of the hardest things I have ever done and yet we are signing up again for next year...My half of the team was comprised of myself, Krissa and Tom, Gerard, Cynthia, and Richard.


Me and Cyn with a lot of energy. We hadn't run anything yet.
Redling power-juice
Gerard - looks a little tired - it was over 90 with no wind the first day. Ugh
In order to keep our time, we had to switch this wrist bracelet at the exchange points. It was the same as those old slap bracelets that you used to play with as kids. Gerard looks a little confused below...
Go Tom Go
Cyn and Krissa prepping

This was one of the views from the road. The race started in Logan and finished in Park City. We ran past lakes and through mountains. It was beautiful.


Cyn and I ordered these outfits on the Ragnar Website before the race. We thought the shorts would be tight and short but not "camel-toe" short. We wore them anyway (and got lots of free water and drinks while running from other vans :)
Part of the race goes over Gardsman pass. We were waiting for Gerard and all of a sudden this snake (about 5-6 ft long) came across the road right below us.
The second bout of running started at about 2 AM and finished around sunrise. I ran a stretch through a small road in the middle of nowhere. Alex road next to me on his bike to pace me, which was nice because there was nothing around and it was pitch black. We wore a ton of glow-sticks all over us.
Cyn in the morning.

This was an important exchange point for our team. This was the point where we realized we had left one of our teammates behind. Richard, who only Gerard knew, had been sitting in the very back of the van the entire race and listening to his headphones a lot. He was a man of few words. At Gerard-Tom exchange, he supposedly got out of the van to go to the bathroom and take some pics of the exchange. Gerard came pretty quickly and was emotionally spent. I sat in the very back with the doors open to help him, Cyn was driving, and Krissa was taking care of Teya in the front. We figured Richard was in the van sleeping. Gerard and I even talked to him when we were in the back. At Krissa's exchange, Cyn went to get Richard up to have him join in and realized he was missing. We didn't know for over an hour!! OOPS :) He ended up catching a ride from another team but we didn't see him until 2 hours after we finished the entire race. Sorry Richard!!
Finish-line


Our spectators, Evan and Teya

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Uinta Camping with Friends

A few weeks ago we took a "pre-Alaska" trip up to the Uintas to make sure we had enough gear that we wouldn't die while backpacking through AK. Alex found this great spot that is completely private, we don't see anyone the entire time. You hike for about 2 miles through thick trees then it opens up into this huge valley (see below) with a river full of fish running through the middle.

Amanda and Gerard.

Tom, Krissa, Teya and Kuma. Kuma was most excited for the trip.

Alex working on dinner...needless to say we ate freeze-dried food!

Teya also trying to catch us some dinner. We had to hook a piece of beef jerky and an enormous fly on the end so that she could cast it. Not too bad for a first-timer.
The cute Wright family

These are great pics of Teya. She was sooo excited to be fishing, even though we didn't even see one fish the entire time because the water was too high.

















At night, there was no moon so we could see all of the stars. It was even better than the stars in Lake Powell because there is NOTHING around this area. But I didn't appreciate the pack of coyotes sleeping next to us and howling all night.

Bright flash!


It was a great trip, and I think we just might survive Alaska, as long as Alex can catch some fish. Guess I will have to try also :)

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Days of 47 10K race - 7/24/08

Got up at 5:30 on my holiday to run a 10k. There were more people at this race than any other I have ever seen. Plus the finishing miles were through the parade route so everyone was cheering you on.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Medical School Graduation - May 5, 2008


We graduated with the medical students in May, even though we do not really graduate until August. It was fun to dress up in our caps and gowns but not so fun to "graduate" and have to go back to clinicals on Monday :(

The mid-evil "hooding" ceremony for your Master's Degree. I was glad they didn't cut my head off. Instead, they simultaneously put this large hood thing over you and that is it. Weird traditions.
Krissa being "hooded"
Congrats Graduating Class of 2008!
When the medical students took their "Hippocratic Oath," they had any physicians in the audience stand up and say it with the grads. It was pretty cool to watch my dad.


Post-hooding excitement

Alex and I in front of the Kingsbury Hall at the University of Utah
The very photogenic Wright Family...
My two great friends, Krissa and Amada and their families. We were missing Jen in the photo :0(