Ragnar Relay

Three years ago I ran the Wasatch Back Ragnar Relay with a bunch of my friends. And although I said in my blog post I would run it again in a heart beat, I remember thinking after it was all said and done I would never run it again. NEVER. So many of our team members were injured (poor girls, they were such troopers) so a few of us had to run extra legs to make up for our hurt team members. The half of our team in my car had no idea what we were doing, no idea what we were in for. We ate poorly, didn't get much sleep, and although I laughed a lot and had fun with my friends, I remember NEVER wanting to do this race again. Ask Mike or my sister Emily they'll tell you.

So when my extended family wanted a put together a team for this year, I was slightly hesitant. I finally came around to the idea of running the race with my family, signed up and was committed. I'm so glad I did. This year running the Wasatch Back was unforgettable and so much fun. Honestly.

Our team, THE WYNNERS, was made up of family members and friends of family members, pretty much full of fantastic runners. We had a girls car for VAN 1 and a boys car for VAN 2. In the first car was my mom, my cousin Annie, my cousin Danielle, two of Danielle's amazing friends. Lindsay who runs for SUU and Cassie who is a natural athlete, my amazing aunt Patti (Danielle's mom) who was our driver and myself. We managed to only 3 three hours of sleep in the 31 hours of our race, but man it was such an incredible experience. Our car was so supportive of one another. We were there to cheer on each of our runners as they came to the exchange. We met each of our runners every couple of miles to cheer them on, even on the second day when we were all so exhausted. No one was injured. Everyone was able to run their legs. We actually had food packed in the car to eat, instead of going to a local grocery store and buying chicken nuggets. (Seriously, what were we thinking three years ago?) It was a completely different experience than 3 years ago. I never once had the thought this time around that I was NEVER going to run this again. I honestly enjoyed every minute this year. We had perfect weather and the scenery was absolutely gorgeous.

I was runner 6 again and seriously loved each of my legs. It was nice to be slightly familiar with what I was running. I felt much better prepared this time around and ran each of my legs with more energy than I thought I would have. And nothing beat being with my mom. I was so proud of her. She did so well on each of her legs. What an inspiration.

Unfortunately we'll probably be moving or have already moved next year when the Wasatch Back is being held, but someday I plan on doing this again. Put it on your bucket list, it's a great experience.

Please friends who ran it before and may not have had the ideal experience, run it again. I had no idea it could be so great.

Today marks our 6 year anniversary!

There is no one other than Mike that I would want to...

go through medical school with,

move to Chicago with,

get lost in Europe with, (seriously we got lost a few times)

endure an Internal Medicine residency with,

have a beautiful baby with,

or

get ready for another move outside of Utah, to Cincinnati with.

The last six years have been full of change and adventures and they have honestly been the happiest of my life.

Happy Anniversary my love! Cheers to eternity together!

Meant to be

Disclaimer: Journaling post, please feel free to skip.

Mike and I are getting more and more excited to move to Cincinnati. The idea of moving in a year and calling Cincinnati home is beginning to sink in. There have only been a few other times in my life when I have felt so good and so strongly about doing something as I do with moving to Cincinnati. Don't get me wrong, I'm totally scared to move. I've gotten quite comfortable with my little life in the SLC. But for whatever reason I know we are supposed to go to Cincinnati. Mike's decision to apply to their program was last minute. They were the last program we decided to apply to. We were looking through the medical fellowship program book and I said randomly, "Why not apply to Cincinnati?" At the time, so many months ago, we both felt good about the decision to apply to there. The city and the program sounded like a good fit for us, even though it was totally random and out of the blue to apply there. Since that moment I haven't stopped thinking about that place for whatever reason. After applying to their program a few weeks later Mike received an email from University of Cincinnati inviting him to come and interview and that interview was one of the best interviews Mike went on. Mike was even more impressed with the program than either of us thought he would be. Through out this process we both wanted and thought the easier thing would be to stay in Utah, and honestly we would have been thrilled and relieved to stay in SLC but we have both "known" for a long time we would be moving to Cincinnati. And since announcing we are moving to Cincinnati, I've been amazed at how many people know people who live there, have family who live there or they themselves lived there at one time. I've been very comforted by so many of you who can connect me to people who live/lived there. It's crazy, cliche, and cheesy but it seems that moving to Cincinnati is meant to be for our little family.

I think it's going to be a great place to be. My oh so darling niece Katie sent me a whole list of things to do that she researched and put together for our little family. It was just so clever and creative how she put it together that I had to share.

Oh, the Places You'll Go! (click the places for more information)

Oh, the places you'll go! Oh, the places you'll go!

You'll have a great time, an adventure, you know.

First you can go to the Garden and Zoo,

To look at animals with Charlotte, and roar with them too.

Next you can head to the Children's Theater,

Watch a show and buy some popcorn, maybe save some for later.

Another fun place is Coney Island,

Remember your swimsuit, because this is not dry-land!

The Ensemble Theater of Cincinnati,

Is a great date place for mommy and daddy.

Take Charlotte down to Duke's,

A museum for kids that got great reviews!

Go on a date to the Ball Park, after Charlotte's in bed,

“Buy me some peanuts and cracker jacks” and watch the good old Reds.

How 'bout a walk with the family up the little Mount Adams?

Once you get to the tippy top, you will be oh-so “glad-ums!”

Aunt Laura! Aunt Laura! The Mount Airy Forest!

A great place for running, with trails shouting, “Explore us!”

Here's some ideas of what you can do,

When you're feeling lonely and miserable, too.

If you want more, here's where to look!

There's lots of ideas in this Things To Do nook.

We want you to know that you won't be 'forgot',

Because we'll think of you always and miss you a lot.

We look forward to visits at Christmas and in summer,

We wish we could see you more, it's really a bummer.

But don't get weighed down by this long distance thing,

Just think of the blessings a trial can bring.

Oh, the places you'll go! Oh, the places you'll go!

You'll have a great time, an adventure, you know.

Best wishes and luck and lots of squeezed hands,

We miss you and love you,

The Erickson Clan

Sounds like a great city right? Lots of fun things to do and family friendly.

How fabulous is that poem? Love it. Love that Katie and her family took the time to research the city and put this list together. I may or may not cry every time I read through it. Thank you! Thank you!

I can't thank all of you who commented, enough for your support and help! It's nice knowing so many of you know people I can get in touch with. It makes the idea of leaving seem a lot easier knowing I will "know" a few people there already. Thank you! Thank you!

Small races rock

A few reasons why I love running in smaller races.

1. Your money usually goes to a good cause. I like the idea that the money I'm paying to run (which seems so backwards, paying to run. Really?) is benefiting someone else.

2. You get to run the pace you want the entire race, no thrown elbows, or winding around people, which allows you to get a PR.

3. There are left over medals from people not showing up for the half marathon, so you get a medal even though all you ran was a 10k.

4. You get to see your super awesome, fast friend take first place in women's overall and maybe if you're lucky and all the elements are in place for a good race, and there aren't many women in the race in the first place, you might even take third place in women's overall, which makes you feel like a lot faster runner than you really are for about 10 minutes. :) (How about that terrible run on sentence. I know my mom as an English teacher is cringing at that sentence.)

5. They have awesome post race food, bagels, chocolate milk, granola bars, bananas and donuts. I ate myself silly.

Probably one of the worst pictures ever of me. But you can't do a post without a picture right?

The FIGHT FOR AIR 10k was the perfect way to begin racing season this year.

It was the first year this race was put on. It was fun to do a new race. The course was awesome, even though it ended up being closer to 6.3 than 6.2 miles, I would run it again for sure.

Thanks Liz for running it with me, or really allowing me to eat your dust as you took off to win the race.

What races do you have planned this summer?

Do you prefer small or larger races?

We matched!

We just found out 10:03 a.m. this morning.

Looks like we'll be moving to Cincinnati, June 2012 for Mike to do a Gastroenterology Fellowship for three years.

Lots of mixed emotions. So happy Mike matched and gets to do what he wants. So excited for a change, new city, new friends, new challenges and growing experiences. Heartbroken to be leaving our house, our wonderful ward and of course our families. So glad we have a year to adjust and get ready for this change.

Cheers for the Cincinnati Reds! (Sorry Steve :))

Yay for the Flying Pig Half Marathon

and many more adventures to come!

What a whirlwind of a morning!

St. George, reliable as always.

Surprise, surprise we went to St. George and loved it.

This time was especially nice though because it was monsoon season in the SLC area. Remember how it rained for like 2 months straight in SL? Man that was rough. I'm so happy summer has seemed to arrive!

Surprise, surprise we had lovely weather.

Surprise, surprise Mike was on vacation and we loved having every minute of him to ourselves.

Surprise, surprise it was the perfect get away that we all needed.

Surprise, surprise we took A TON of pictures.

Surprise, surprise we were so sad to have our short visit end.

I love St. George. Reliable and never a disappointment.

Now, I have a lot, I mean a lot of pictures in this post and I'm not going to apologize. We had so many cute, fun pictures that captured our lovey so perfectly that I couldn't help myself. I had to post them.

Charlotte loved swimming with Mikey.

She looks so cute in her swimsuit too.

We headed to Vegas and went to the Aquarium at Mandalay Bay.

Charlotte loved being able to roam free through the aquarium and check out the animals.

I love when Charlotte just wakes up from her nap.

It's one of the few moments in the day where she is snugly.

I was happily eating my apple while Charlotte was sitting on my lap when all of the sudden she bent down and took a huge bite out of my apple. She's has applesauce but not a raw apple. She happily ate the rest of my apple, while I sat and got drool and apple juice all down my hand and arm. That's love I tell ya.

Taking Charlotte to the park was heaven.

Not to mention this park had the best playground ever. Fun for all ages.

Love my girl.

Charlotte running, running, running. The girl would not stop.

My babies.

I love them so much.

Charlotte running again.

The game, "I'm gonna get you!" was a must.

Charlotte thinks this game is the funniest game ever.

Practicing her ANTM moves. I think she's got them down.

The slides. Ohhhhhh Charlotte could spend all day on these slides.

It got to the point where she would climb to the top of the slideand go down herself.

She's a daredevil I tell ya and it makes me so nervous.

Twins.

Goodbye St. George.

You were reliable as always and gave us the perfect little get away that we needed.

Until next time...

I love the first week of June.

First National Running Day then....

National Donut Day!

It can't get better than that, well maybe if National Reading Day fell in this week too, that would be the ultimate.

Anyway, we started off this fine holiday by going to one of the best donut shops in the SL valley.

Banbury Cross Donuts.

That place was bumpin! I've never seen it so crowded. Apparently lots of other people had our ingenious idea.

It was tempting to eat the donuts in the car but I told Mike I really wanted to enjoy and savor mine so I was going to wait until we got home.The car ride home felt like the longest 10/15 minutes of my life. Ok I'm being slightly dramatic but it was hard to resist that sweet smell of donuts sitting on my lap, staring me in the face.

I was so excited for Charlotte to eat her first donut. I thought for sure she would love it.

Wrong. She put it in her mouth and spit it right out. I tried some donut with sprinkles, some without. It was a no go. She spit that donut right out.

She was much more content eating her bananas and strawberries.

Oh Charlotte you are missing out! These donuts were divine!

I guess Mike and I will have to fight over the last two donuts.

The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and I've eaten my donut. It's going to be a great day.

Will you be celebrating?