Rex Lee Run

Hey Ragnar Team,

Just wanted to give you guys a heads up on the race I ran today. I ran the Rex Lee Run in Provo for the first time. Having grown up here, I have heard about this run a lot, but just haven't had the chance to run it until today. The race benefits cancer research!

I ran the 10k, and the course was fabulous because it is in my neighborhood so I have run these roads often. It started at Brick Oven, went North to 2230 N, then east to the Provo temple, south down 900 East, then west down Center St to 200 E, then North again to the finish at the BYU outdoor track. It was just one big rectangle. There was a nice uphill climb along 2230 N to the Provo Temple, then my favorite part was the downhill of 900 East.

My target time was to be under 50 minutes; happily, I finished at exactly 47 minutes, a 7:35 mile pace. This was my first race in about a year; I have a hard time committing to races because I get really nervous right before them, but I am trying to get over the nervousness and just sign up for them. If I start a race thinking, "I don't have to come in top 20, just make it to the end and have fun", then I am a lot less nervous about it. I guess the nervousness comes from running cross country in high school and feeling like I had to make a certain time or ranking, but I am getting over that, and am more interested in just having a fun time running.

Well, I hope you ladies are enjoying your runs, and I encourage you to look up some races and enter them. My goal is to run at least one race per month before Ragnar.

Happy Running!

Brenda Hickman

Me at the finish line (after I already crossed it! :-) )

My Fans -- Reed and Thomas (and Thomas sits under there by choice!! I guess it is comfortable.)

Cancer Color Chart

Here is a chart that depicts the different Colors of Cancer.  Each of us have chosen to represent a different Cancer.  The color that honors that particular cancer will be your color for the race.  For example Amy is running for Breast Cancer so her color is Pink.  Check out the chart and get excited about representing such a great cause

New Members and Training!!!

Wow!  The Wasatch Back is only a few months away!  The count down has officially began!!  I hope you all have started your Training Schedules!  Please go to the Ragnar Relay website and check out their training schedules!  They are FANTASTIC and they can be customized to your particular needs (beginner or advance runner.)

Some really fun and exciting things have been happening with our little Team!  Please check back soon for details!  

We have lost a couple members of our original team but, some new runners have joined our ranks and I am so EXCITED to have them running with us!!  Amy, Brenda, Necole, and Jenni!  Ladies WELCOME WELCOME to Team Sparkle!  Amy has chosen to represent Breast Cancer and Brenda is representing Bladder Cancer!  I will be contacting Necole and Jenni soon to get your choices soon!

Thank you for all you do Team Sparkle!  This year we are going to truly shine at the Wasatch Back!

Lots of Love, 

Karli

Karon's Running Motivation

I know most of you don't know me, but I'm really excited to be a part of your team! Tiffany and I met our Sophomore year of college because we lived in the same apartment complex. Her now sister-in-law was one of my best friends in high school! We've been getting together with our kids for almost 4 years.

I've been married for about 5 1/2 years and have three kids: Ashlyn (4), Carter (2) and Audrie (3 months). We live in Southwest Orem . My husband, Brad, works at ancestry.com (he's only been there for about 4 months) and I'm a stay-at-home mom. I am NOT crafty or a good cook or very athletic, but I like to read and I like to run.

This is our most recent family picture.

I, like Tiffany, have given myself a little incentive to get out there and run the miles. I've decided that for every mile I run, I get $1 to spend on running-related stuff. This includes running clothes, running shoes, and even race entrance fees. As of today, I've only racked up $38, but I'm hoping that the amount will start increasing at a faster rate as my endurance improves. I think these running gloves will be one of my first purchases.

My goal is to get out and run three times a week and to do yoga or pilates as cross-training. I also have some more baby weight that I'd like to lose, so, I'm working on that too. It has been slow going!

I'm looking forward to meeting all of you!

Vanessa & Tiff, Sandy City Turkey Trot 2010

My Running Motivation Confession by Tiffany

I call it a confession because I don't really think I'll be able to do it...

Introducing, Operation Run to Disney World!

2,277 miles

of which I've done 32.9! and while that seems like depressingly little, it does put me past Spanish Fork and on my way to Price.

Basically it's a fun way to log my runs, especially fun because I like to travel. And if crazily I were able to actually run the 2,277 miles to Disney World, I have every intention of going there for my prize.
For now, though, I'm focusing on the closer goal of leaving Utah in about another 258 miles.

If Forrest Gump did it, so can I!!!

Oh, and here are my running goals as of right now. Run a minimum of 3x per week, a minimum of 5k per run. I'm undecided whether I'll use winter treadmill weather to work on incline or distance...probably both, but I don't have firm goals. Run in a race 1x per month, 5ks through Jan. then 10ks through May (because that's great motivation too). My next race is tomorrow! Wish me luck!

My running story and goals!

My name is Karlisue and I am the captain of this amazing Ragnar Team Sparkle 2011!  Most Ragnar Team Captains are crazy marathon running junkies, not me.  I'm not your typical runner!  In fact I don't even consider what I do running, I call it wuggling (this is a mix of waddling, running, and jogging.)

Running is not easy for me.  As many of you know as a child I was a quadriplegic for a portion of my life.  The syndrome that caused me to lose my ability to move also caused me to lose sensation in my legs and arms.  I gained back most of my strength but, my sensation never fully returned.  Because of this I walk and run a little funny (so you all have to promise not to tease me to bad!)

When I was 6 I ran my first 10k with my Dad!  This was something I enjoyed!  The Elementary I attended was very competitive when it came to distance running!  I always did my best to make it into the "Field Day Race Finals" I just thought that was the coolest thing EVER!  I kept running and I loved it!  Even with Asthma, I loved feeling like I was fast!

Then like I mentioned above when I was 12 I had the opportunity to go through a really neat and trying experience of becoming a quadriplegic.  At this point running left me thoughts!  Just being able to move on my own was as far as my thoughts could take me.

Running didn't return to my mind until I met my husband Jeremy.  His mother (who is a avid runner) invited me to join her in the Disneyland Half Marathon in 2008.  I couldn't say no!  I wanted to impress my future in-laws and the thought of running again tantalized my brain.  I was nervous not knowing what I had gotten myself into!  I started training and it was rocky!  I didn't really know what I was doing and I was to embarrassed to ask anyone else for help.  I had an old treadmill in my house that didn't even keep track of your distance and the speed was ify who knew how accurate anything was on it.  But, I made the goal to run every night.

That September I ran and completed my first half marathon!  After this I realized I could do things I never thought possible. I have continued running and completing half marathons, 5k's, 10k's, and random fun runs with my family and friends.

I run not because I love it but, because I want to prove to myself I can do hard things!  Competing in next years Ragnar Relay is doing just that I'm proving to myself that I can do hard things and that I won't give up even when the odds are against me.

My goals for this winter are simple.  My goal is to run everyday except Sunday's.  My goal is not to go a certain distance but, just to run each and everyday and to give it my best!  Some days that means 1 mile and other days that means 6. I will keep this goal through December then I will have more organized and distance/time orientated goals.

Lots of Love,

Karlisue