Muscles and Bomb Scares

You may have seen on the news that there was a bomb scare in sugarhouse on Monday. It turns out there was a suspicious package left near a 24hr fitness center, so someone called the cops who roped off the area and waited for backup. This was just about the time little ol davey drove up across the street and navigated his way around the police tape to workout. Little did I know, shortly thereafter the bomb squad would roll in and the entire block would be closed off which included the parking lot where my car was parked. So after a good run (yes, I can actually run now - first week in 6 months) I went out to hop in my car only to find half The Force was on the sense and there was no getting my car out until it was all over. I noticed over his shoulder that they had just wheeled out the robotic bomb defuser. So, my only option was to pump some weights like the tough dude i am and wait it out. An hour and a half later, with tired muscles (that are now huge), I was able to go home. Supposedly, others who were waiting near the entrance say the police fired shotgun shells into the box to see if it was a bomb. fortunately no bomb, only a tough guy with huge muscles resulted from the day's activities.

STEPH'S CLUMSY FEET!

This is what happens when Stephanie tries to walk on her own. I wish that I had a better story to tell, but unfortunately my clumsiness is all I have.

Yesterday while walking to my car after class I found myself lying face down in the middle of the U of U parking lot. One minute I was standing and the next minute I was doing a face-plant on the asphalt. No I was not stepping off a curb, I was on solid ground. And no I was night wearing heals, I had my tennis-shoes on. So to clear up any confusion, there was absolutely no reason for me to fall. But I did! And two hours later I had a baseball sized ankle to show for it.

I tore the ligaments in my right ankle, and now am being forced by my wonderful husband Dave to walk with crutches. Oh yeah...this has been a fun twenty-four hours.

Below are a couple of pics to show exactly what I am capable of with my own two feet.

It's blessing time

Today we got together with the Collard Clan to celebrate the blessing of Corby Boz Collard. The first grandson on Dave’s side of the family he gets enough attention to last him a life time.

Oh and he’s totally adorable! Corby hanging with his mom, Jen.

Grandma got a turn too.

Dave enjoyed the festivities by sitting looking studious.

I enjoyed tasty treats.

And of course the babies…..

And more babies…..

It was a fun day, getting together with the whole fam-damily. We need to do it more often.

A Mighty Marathoner

11:50 am, a thunderstorm had just rolled into Logan minutes before, drenching and cooling off the runners and fans scattered and stretched along all of the Top of Utah Marathon course. Fans had accumulated in heavy numbers along the last 200 yards of the finish line to cheer on their family and friends with screams and cowbells. By this time runner #2801 was making her last turn leading to the finish line, mustering the final ounce of strength needed to get herself across the last of the 26.2 mile course.

Stephanie’s goal of competing in a marathon started several years ago. She strove to complete it with daily running at 24 hr Fitness, regularly running on Saturdays with her “running buds”, and competing in several half marathons (Salt Lake City Half twice, Bryce Canyon Half, and most recently last month the Provo Half). On September 20th the day finally came.

Our journey with Stephanie started on Friday by driving up to Tremonton where we stayed in the Hampton Inn (no room left in the other inns). Stephanie, her sister Caryn and running friend Paula, along with several hundred other nervous and anxious runners started the next morning early around (5:30 am) getting on board a host of school buses which would take them to up Blacksmith Fork Canyon to Hardware Ranch. It would be the host of the start of the 10th annual Top of Utah Marathon. The race would wind them down the canyon for 14 miles emptying them out into Hyrum.

At mile 14 we caught up with Steph and her sister Caryn as they came out of the canyon at about 9:30. We (Darrin and Jenn, the girls, and Mom Collard) all cheered them on as they cruised past, all smiles with just over 12 more to go.

We then gathered up our things and planned to meet up with them around mile 20. While driving out we surprisingly met up with them along the road as we drove past them still going strong.

After we cheered them again at mile 20, with only 5 miles to go, the course entered into Logan following a convoluted pattern into the finish at Merlin Olsen Park in downtown. The 20 mile mark is said to be when many runners “hit the wall.” Most say that a marathon has two halves: the first 20 miles, and the last 6.2. It was around this point that although still maintaining about a 10 ½ minute/mile, Steph said that she could start to feel her muscles and joints in her legs start to ache. She pushed on through the soreness that started to creep through her body.

10:30am we arrived at the finish line, greeted by a fierce rainstorm that slammed the area for just a few moments. But as quickly as came, the sun came out just in time for the finish. Steph recalled that the burst of rain was really nice, and cooled them off as they neared the end.

As we looked down the line of runners turning the corner for the final stretch, at 11:54, we saw Steph pushing forward at a steady pace. She said that after 26 miles, pain throbbing through her legs, she was giving everything to get across the line. I’m told it’s the type of pain that only marathoners experience at the end that the rest of us can only imagine by the anguish and strain of the faces of the runners.

As we all screamed her name Steph gave a few waves and a smile as she ran by and crossed the finish line under the 5 hour mark. Having started several minutes after the gun, we estimate her finish time to be around 4 hours and 50 minutes (She said that her goal was just to finish).

Through all of the aches, pains and blisters, her dedication to consistent training carried her all the way to the finish line. She is now among an elite group that can say they have completed the intense 26.2 mile race known as the marathon.

Great job Steph!

Darrin & Jenn wrote on our car. (more photos will be posted later)

Moved!

Stephanie and I just moved into a new pad in Holliday (2300 east off I80 just before Parley's Canyon). We're still getting everything situated, sorting through boxes. We got rid of our old couches when we moved, so if anyone knows of any sweet deals shoot us an email (dandscollard@yahoo.com). We'll invite people over once we get everything squared away.

I am also going to start posting my geeky science stuff on our sister blog "Dave's Mad Science Blog."
-see link to the right-


Also, Steph will be running her Top of Utah Marathon on Sept. 20th in Logan. She's getting pumped. Everyone is invited to come root her on. Details of the race can be found @ topofutahmarathon.com.

She finished the Provo Half Marathon last month in 1h 58m, beating her old half marathon time by 17 minutes! She's amazing!
Steph ran hard and said that she felt really good at the finish line.
She ran it with four of her racing buddies shown below.











This is a photo of our new pad (just renting).