This is the annual Wasatch Back Relay! It was my first time! So basically you run on a team of 12 people (2 vans) from Logan to Park City through the Wasatch Back, which I am now convinced is the most beautiful parts of Utah! Each person runs 3 legs of the race from anywhere between 3 to 9 miles. There were 500 teams this year which is doubled from last year! I had the best legs of the race... shhhh don't tell anyone! They were each about 5-6 miles, and all were moderate run, meaning they were too hard! I ran at 2pm on Friday, 12:30 am on Saturday and 5:30 am again on Saturday. I averaged about 7:30 min miles which was good for me. AND I have decided that runners are the nicest people in the world! I guess I already knew that, but had forgotten. I was in a van with my friend Laura and 4 complete strangers, 3 of which were over the age of 50, and by the end of the trip I was sad to part with my new friends that we had bonded with so well.
Laura Taylor started the race for us as the first leg. She is an incredible runner, I was proud to be apart of her team!
This was my first leg 5.6 miles in the middle of the day and boy was it hot! I was lucky to have the van along side of me. This is my buddy Scott giving me water as I run.
The views along the Wasatch Back were almost too good to be real! It was the perfect time of year. Everything was green, wild flowers everywhere, green rolling hills, rocky mountains, goats, cows, and horses everywhere. It was great. I am truely a country girl at heart!
Between our legs we would sit in the shade and try to sleep, but it was almost impossible with so much going on at each exchange zone. They had free pasta, smoothies, home made granola, massages, showers!
This was my second leg, the night run around 12am. It was required to wear a head lamp and a reflector shirt. I felt really good on this run, it was cool outside, I didn't need any water, the stars and moon were soooo bright and I had passed about 14 people on this leg, we called them our milkshakes! I had about 34 milk shakes by the end of the race!
This is early in the morning around 5:30 am. We ran along the lake as the sun rose. Breathtaking!
As we stopped and waited for my friend Laura so we could cheer her on and give her water, I made friends with some horses. It started out slow but soon they all came swarming wanting attantion... or wanted to eat my clothes???
Each vehical decorated their cars in a theme according to their team name. This car was the Holy Mammoths I believe. Some vehicals really went all out!
This was my last leg around 8am 5.1 miles. beautiful weather, and autmosphere!
I enjoyed just looking around as
I ran, it took the focus off the pain.
As part of our theme "I drink Your Milkshake" which is a line from the movie "There will be blood" (a movie I had never seen, but we just went along with it) we all wore mustashes to run into the finish line as a team! It was a memerable thing!
WE WERE SORE, TIRED, AND IT HURT TO WALK BUT...
WE DID IT!
WE DID IT! 
4 comments:
I've always thought I would totally love to do that (of course, if I could run more than 1 mile without flopping over). So cool. The perfect specimen had no problem, I'm sure.
Julie, I am just now realizing you have created a blog. And I absolutely love it. LOVE it. So glad Jess, Diana, and myself convinced you to join our wonderful world. Love you sister!
That is awesome julie-I saw that race and wanted to particpate so badly. I have always admired your running skills. I am finally getting into it and trainig for my first half marathon, so we will see, but you are amazing, what a cool experience! I am jealous!
Ju honey... good job girl on your running! It's no shocker that you did so well (of course)! Looks like things are going well with John too? You haven't told me ANYTHING yet girl! When do we get to chat?
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