The Moab Half Marathon 2017

On March 18, 2017 I fulfilled a dream that has been brewing in me for almost 2+ years, 

I ran the Moab Malf Marathon. Yes, that's 13.1 miles.

I don't even really know where to begin to describe the experience, but sometimes the best way to find the words is to keep looking.

It was miraculous, transformative, healing, exhilarating, and difficult.

I let all the emotions and sensations of the moment wash over me as I ran beside the River of liquid Copper, and they ran the full spectrum. Cold to hot; joy to pain, camaraderie to solitude; weak to strong; excitement to exhaustion; disbelief to amazement. It was a race of Ying and Yang. I let it all wash over me, and run off behind me as I carried on to the rhythm of my own feet, my own breath, my own heart.
And all that was left was my salty sweat and overwhelming gratitude.

The one thing that never caught up to me was the doubt. The doubt that i wouldn't finish.
That sweep bus never had anything on me.

What a beautiful Course, a magical course! I made sure I ran with my head and eyes up. The Red Rock cliffs, the rolling Colorado River, and golden morning light were inspiring. I thought it was going to be all down hill, but it definitely wasn't. It had some long inclines and a killer hill from hell just after mile 9. But I faced that monster and others with a little from my girls SIA and Ke$ha.

By Mile 11, something changed and all I could think about was my cute family waiting for me at the finish. River was so excited to run the last bit of the race and cross the finish line together. He loved the idea of us running the race together and winning. I had left him the bag tag part of my bib so he could wear it. Knowing he was there carried me through that last and most difficult mile. I searched the sidelines for them as I came down the last stretch and my heart jumped as I saw him squeeze between the barriers and we ran and crossed the finish line together hand-in-hand. We both got metals and River that was really cool, so cool he took it with him to show and tell the next week.

I couldnt' have done any of this with out Skyler. He was so supportive and cleared any obstacles that stood in my way, giving up multiple saturdays so that I could spend hours running in the basement watching Project Runway. He's incredible and I am so grateful for him and to him!!

I can do great things. I can do hard things. I can be a wonderful and engaged mom and still follow dreams and have adventures that are not only mine, but mine to share with my little family.

Here are my stats:

Overall I was 1384th

Of all the women I was 775th

In my age division I was 110th

My offical clock time was 2h44m00s

My chip time wa 2h41m20s

my average mile time was 12m18s

I am female.

I am 33.

And I did it!

I am triumphant.

That night as I was laying in bed in our hotel room,

I began looking up options for a next race.

After 13.1 miles, I didn't feel quite done yet. 

Hoppy Easter from the Briggs Kids

All dolled up in their sunday best o celebrate Easter.

We were at Nana & Poppa's house and had to catch our flight home later that day, but we had fun going to church with them and then finding hidden eggs with a flash light. River wanted to eat all his candy right then. It was a fun sticky treat on the flight home.

"Hoppy" Easter!!

And the missionaries in our ward shared this video with me 

and of course I got choked up. Here's the link:

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2016-02-1000-hallelujah-an-easter-message-about-jesus-christ?lang=eng

He is Risen!

Harry Bird

This boy graduated high school today.

This is "my" boy (I only use quotations because technically he's my nephew),
so it's strange and amazing to see him become his own man. 

This is one of my regrets of not living in utah near family. I missed seeing him change from a boy to a man. So when we go back to visit, I still see him as the little boy that called me Siddy, claimed me as his girlfriend, pushed his little push-mower all over the place, loved daniel boone (with matching raccoon hat), sang with the Wiggles at the top of his lungs, and generally stole my heart with every giggle, every hug, and basically with every little thing he did. He was the first boy to hold my heart in his little hands.
I was smitten and lived being his aunt.

It wasn't until I saw him through my camera lens that the years finally
caught up to me, the time freeze I held him in melted away,
 and I saw him for what he has become -

a wonderful, exciting, handsome, and accomplished young man, 

with the heart of a lion - fierce, protecting, royal.

What wonderful adventures await you my Harry Bird.

We are proud of you!

Cousin Heaven

Utah Trip Highlights

While Sky was in Boston, River and I went to Utah for work and a visit. It's always fun to see family and photo clients. :)

Here are some Highlights:

1. Lunch & Farm Country At Thanksgiving Point 

with Nana, Grandpa, Jaime & Patrick 

Added Bonus, the Tulips were out.

2. Visited the New Loveland Living Planet Aquarium in Draper. Pretty Cool. I would love to go back when they have all the exhibits full.

3. Eating Popsicles with Cousin Johnny, who can get River laughing hysterically. 

Love you Johnny!

4. Baths in Nana's kitchen sink.

5. Stroller Buddies while the ladies go shopping.

Love our Utah Visits!!

TWO : We got to meet our twin niece and nephew

We went to Utah this weekend to meet and photograph

 our new TWIN niece and nephew, 

Lucy & Russel.

Congrats Chandler Haley & Gabe!

We are so excited about your little additions. 

We love you guys!

All the Briggs Grandkids (literally doubled overnight)

Proud Uncle Sky

and Happy Aunt Lindsey. 

Finally a Girl to spoil! Don't worry Russel you'll be equally spoiled. :)

St. George UTAH : Our 5k and More

So we planned a trip to St. George to run in the Half Maraton/5k Race, We ran the 5k. My fun Parents met us down there and we had quite the adventure, which turned into an even bigger party when my brother Pete and his family arrived. We had a fun time, River had so much fun he never slept....day or night....no he definitely didn't sleep at night.... which meant neither did we...little stinker. Good thing he's so cute but he LOVED playing with his Nana and Grandpa. 

We hadn't been to St. george since we moved to Colorado, which was 3 years ago. We've really missed it. Funny we were looking at jobs at Skywest right after school so we could move down there, but Heaven;y Father had other plans. ;) But We were so Excited to go we made our List of Must- Dos and Did them:

1. Snow Canyon State Park : New hike to White Rock Amphitheater

My parents showed us a new hike in Snow Canyon that's awesome! This was River's first time hiking in a back pack and He LOVED it. He was laughing and chatting the whole time. Super Cute!

K, I thought the sign behind him said something about the trail, this was a photographer fail...

this is the beautiful white Sand dune waiting for us at the top of the hike.

Epic Face Plant . . .

River didn't seem to mind being covered in Sand, or a paste made of sand and sunscreen. 

NANA & GRANDPA!!

2. Ran our 5K Race.

We trained for a couple months for this, and I have to say I loved running in the race. We both did awesome cutting our training times down. Sky ran it in 34:20 and I ran it in 35:54. 

I'm really proud of us. :)

Here's my honey rocking it down the track.

You might be looking at this photo and asking yourself, "where is lindsey?" Well, I'm the one in the back chasing down these ladies.

See there I am!

Woohoo we got metals!! Wait everyone is wearing metals . . .but still Wooho!!

3. Slot Canyon Hike up in Leeds

Skyler's Secret "not-so-secret-anymore" hike.

4. Snow Canyon : Petrified Dunes Hike

We let River get out of the back pack and crawl around on the Red Rock. He crawled all over, stopping occasionally to pick up as many rocks as he could in one hand. Skyler and I want to help River explore and experience Nature. It's fun because he's finally big enough to get out and get dirty. Perhaps a little of his Dad's Hippiness will rub off on him. 

So tired, but fighting so hard.

Sippy cup break

River was so tuckered out, He fell asleep with his Hand in his Cheez-its. 

And My most anticipated activity of All:

5. MONGOLIAN BBQ!!

250 Red Cliffs Dr, St George, UT ; Open daily from 11am- 9pm

image via Yelp

If you've never been to the Mongolan BBQ place in the Red Cliffs Mall,
you are missing out and should remedy that ASAP. 

It's a family run business and it is delicious. I love picking out what I want and the service is amazing. They loved and River as soon as we went in. The sweet grandma gave him fortune cookies, warned me not to let him play with chopsticks cause it could hurt his eyes, and so sweetly giggled that River has Skyler's face and my ears. They made him origami frogs and rattles to play with. It mademe love it even more.

Yep it was an awesome trip. :)