2009 Las Vegas Ragnar

Donald and Scott ran in the Las Vegas Ragnar Relay this year. But they didn't just do a Ragnar they did a 6 man Ultra Team! HOW AWESOME! They both did GREAT! I don't know Scott's time. But Donald ran a total of 22 miles in 3 hrs and 22 minutes! I was so glad I got to go as a driver and learn the ropes of how the Ragnar works. I had SO much fun.

Scott starting out the race.

Donald cruisin up this really steep hill on the HOTTEST day.

Vegas Red Rocks in the Valley of Fire.


Night time exchange. Last run for Donald as Scott finishes his last run.

The Ultra Team.

Kendall, Donald, Scott, Brice, Nick, Jamie

From this experience I learned that... We CAN do this! And It is going to be FUN! But we have to train hard and not slack. The only thing that will make you have a bad time is if you are not ready. The main thing is that you have to be comfortable with running an hour at a time. Don't worry too much about speed at this point because we are not trying to break any records here. I just want everyone to realize that this race will take a lot of endurance. So when you train, work on lengthening your running times. Get comfortable running distances. REALLY comfortable. And February will be a piece of cake (sort of).

:)

Rim Country Challenge!

It was a beautiful Saturday morning in Payson AZ. And 5 of our FMX team runners got out there to run the 5k or Half Marathon! It was so much fun! The weather was gorgeous. I think I can speak for everyone when I say... THAT RUN WAS HARD! It was no flat jog around the track! Especially for Donald. We were running hills. And for those of us who came up from Mesa it was 4000ft higher in elevation than we are used to. So we gasped for air as we ran our butts off! But I can say we all did SO good! I know I did the best I could do and I'm happy with that.
And now for the results!...

Donald: ran 13.3 miles. It was his first Half marathon and it was one of the hardest I've seen. We looked at his GPS tracker when we got home, at some of the hills he had to run. One of them was over 1/2 a mile at 13% grade. That's nuts. He still managed to run the whole thing and it only slowed his usual training pace down by a minute. He was waisted at the end. What an amazing athlete!

He placed 3rd in his division! (there were only 3 people)
HALF MARATHON - MALE AGE GROUP: 19-29

PLACE NO. NAME SEX AGE TIME PACE DIV CITY, ST
===== ==== ===================== === === ======= ===== ===== ======================
1 125 BRADFORD BROOKS M 29 1:32:18 7:03 M2029 ,
2 126 SHAWN ELLEDGE M 28 2:00:23 9:11 M2029 ,
3 124 DONALD WEIR M 27 2:12:48 10:08 M2029 MESA, AZ

Donald's triumphant FINISH!

His flushed face. ***psst. ask him about mile 9***

After the race, guess what we're still in love!!!

This man was Donald's inspiration all through out the race. If it wasn't for those little pink booty-shorts that passed him going up over this last hill I don't think he would have had the will to go on. (although I don't think Zayah thought much of them.)

Pink Booty-Shorts in all his glory.
Donna: ran the 5k in a competitive division, 9 people, and WON! WAY TO GO! Her pace time is almost at were it needs to be for our 10k minimum goal in January. So she is on her way :)

5K RUN - FEMALE AGE GROUP: 50-59

PLACE NO. NAME SEX AGE TIME PACE DIV CITY, ST
===== ==== ===================== === === ======= ===== ===== ======================
1 23 DONNA DARE F 58 34:31 11:07 F5559 ,
2 19 LINDA STARBUCK F 56 34:47 11:12 F5559 ,
3 18 MARIE MENNEN F 55 35:57 11:35 F5559 ,
4 22 SUSAN ZINN F 58 36:05 11:37 F5559 ,
5 20 LOIS DALY F 56 37:38 12:07 F5559 MESA, AZ
6 17 CAROL STEPHENS F 52 38:14 12:19 F5054 ,
7 21 ROMAINE BROPHY F 58 43:57 14:09 F5559 PAYSON, AZ
8 15 CANDACE CONTE F 50 43:57 14:09 F5054 PAYSON, AZ
9 24 PAMELA JANSSEN F 59 1:13:28 23:39 F5559 HEBER, AZ

1st Place Medal

Jaba: ran the 5k. I'm so glad he came out because even the day before he wasn't sure if he was going to come. And then he was talking all this smack about how he was probably going to walk the whole thing and be behind everyone... he waisted me! And he did so good! He totally didn't walk. Next time I think he will remember his running shoes, though. Cuz I think he hurt his shins...oops. Jaba is really close to the 11:00 pace 10k goal. A few more months of training and he'll be one of our best runners.

Look at that he placed 1st! (out of 1 ha ha)
5K RUN - MALE AGE GROUP: 19-29

PLACE NO. NAME SEX AGE TIME PACE DIV CITY, ST
===== ==== ===================== === === ======= ===== ===== ======================
1 34 JABA AUMUA M 26 36:35 11:47 M2029 MESA, AZ

Lois: ran the 5k. She did awesome! I know she was worried about a hurt back injury that happened about 2 weeks ago so she was taking it a little easy. And these hills were NOT taking it easy on her. But she is alive and well! And she got a GREAT time!
5K RUN - FEMALE AGE GROUP: 50-59

PLACE NO. NAME SEX AGE TIME PACE DIV CITY, ST
===== ==== ===================== === === ======= ===== ===== ======================
1 23 DONNA DARE F 58 34:31 11:07 F5559 ,
2 19 LINDA STARBUCK F 56 34:47 11:12 F5559 ,
3 18 MARIE MENNEN F 55 35:57 11:35 F5559 ,
4 22 SUSAN ZINN F 58 36:05 11:37 F5559 ,
5 20 LOIS DALY F 56 37:38 12:07 F5559 MESA, AZ
6 17 CAROL STEPHENS F 52 38:14 12:19 F5054 ,
7 21 ROMAINE BROPHY F 58 43:57 14:09 F5559 PAYSON, AZ
8 15 CANDACE CONTE F 50 43:57 14:09 F5054 PAYSON, AZ
9 24 PAMELA JANSSEN F 59 1:13:28 23:39 F5559 HEBER, AZ

Mom is a little camera shy i guess because I didn't get any pictures of just her :(

(And this is the best one I got, because this is all she did haha was worry about Kevin all day)

Shannon: ran the 5k. I did my personal best and I'm actually happy about that. Even though it's super slow and I thought I could run faster. The last 5k I ran I ran slower so I improved. And I ran as much as I possibly could. I'm going to keep training and do the best I can always, and I WILL get down to 11:00 10k :)

Plus I placed 3rd in my division (ha out of 3, but I got a medal)
5K RUN - FEMALE AGE GROUP: 19-29

PLACE NO. NAME SEX AGE TIME PACE DIV CITY, ST
===== ==== ===================== === === ======= ===== ===== ======================
1 33 FRAN MAGRI F 25 21:47 7:01 F2029 ROCHESTER, NY
2 7 LALAINE BYRD F 27 31:59 10:18 F2529 GILBERT, AZ
3 6 SHANNON WEIR F 27 44:27 14:19 F2529 MESA, AZ

I know it looks like I'm walking but right before this picture was taken I was running at top speed across the finish line... Haha NO just kidding. But I didn't walk.

The Best NUMBER 1 FAN!

Here's the 5kers in their places after the race :)

We missed everyone who couldn't make it out to the race! But don't worry, we are doing a 10k next month! And I know everyone will try to come to that :) I'm sorry Megan that your back was hurt because I know you really wanted to come, registered and all. I hope you feel better soon!

I DID IT!

I took the plunge! WE ARE IN OFFICIALLY! We are Team 076 "FMX" Ha ha Yesss. So... Remember that training chart I gave to you a month and a half ago? Well if you have been trying to start training and falling off the wagon a little here and there, or if you have been procrastinating starting to train because you think there is plenty of time.... well

NEWS FLASH!

You have no more time to take it easy. It's time to get serious. You now have only 4 months to get in shape for this race. And before you know it February will be here! If you're like me, and you need to feel the pressure, you now have to treat your training as if the Ragnar is next week. A good way to do this is to be working towards smaller but challenging goals. Like the 5k that we are doing tomorrow. Next month we will do a 10k and the month after that. And each time we will try to best our times. In AZ it's getting much cooler so you can run outside now. If you guys want to get together once a week or every other week and run a long distance run that would be fun??? Any other ideas to keep each other motivated?

I'm so excited about this race! And I'm so glad we are doing it as family and friends!

-Love Shannon-

P.S. I signed up the team and paid for it as well. So as soon as those of you who have not got me your moola can do that, that would be great.