Where has the time gone?

A lot has happened in the past years in the Pope family.  Almost 4 years ago Terence was born on January 20th.  One day after Loren's and he was almost born the same day. We moved almost 2 years about a half mile away in to a lager home.  We love it but have had more problems in this house than the last 12 years in the other one.  Months after we moved in the hose that drains the washer came out and flooded the hall way.  Then is drained through the sealing and set off the smoke alarm.  Having the smoke alarm go off was heaven sent.  we were able to ketch it early and reduce the about of damage caused to our new house.

December of 2014

The kids found water leaking from the ceiling in to Terences' room. We traced it back to the fridge. It had leaked through the kitchen floor in to the bathroom ceiling down stairs and in to Terences' room. Pulling up the floor under the fridge we found mold.  Who knows how long it had been leaking. The water never came out from under the fridge.  We spent the next 3-4 weeks with our kitchen under quarantine. We were unable to use our for the holidays.  We called a friend and asked if we could cook them dinner on Christmas. When all was said and done we had enough money from insurance to re-floor the whole up stairs, replace the 3 cabinets that were damaged and reface all of the bottom cabinets.  Laurie still wont let me hook up the water to the fridge.

Mueller park CR

I have been running and biking Mueller Park for years but most of the time only to elephant rock or to Rudy's flats.  I was first introduced to running a loop up to cave peak by Sam earlier this year on a 4 am run.  In the dark the conditions of the trail are hidden but easy to navigate. Unless you're Chris krash. I can't count the number of times I have fallen down on that loop.  Most of the time it is going up hill.  But as many of you may know I have a talent to krash with style. 

I took Jeremy Haddock on the loop before speed goat and pushed him up to Rudy's flats in 1:08. I did my first front hand spring running up the trail. I had never done one on level ground.  The majority of the time I am lucky to be able to tuck and roll back on my feet and continue running with minor scraps.

I have been thinking about doing the loop solo in the light for some time to get the CR.  As Steve, Sam, Matt and I headed up one gloomy Friday morning to do the loop.  There was talk of a show down between Matt and I for the CR.  Matt held the current CR for the loop.  My plan was to hang with the boys till the rock and then get Matt to come with me to brake his CR. As we headed up the trail it started to rain.  I love running in the rain, even if its muddy.  We got about 2.5 miles up the trail when a bolt of lighting lit up the sky right above us and the thunder cracked at the same time. We stopped and evaluated if it was safe to go on.  The consciences was to keep going.  It wasn't more then 20 sec later that the next bolt of lighting and thunder shocked us to the core. With out saying a word all four of us turned around and headed quickly back down the trail.  I am not easily scared but that one startled me.

Matt and I ran together quickly on the way down and talked about the loop. We both felt we could easily take 15 minuets of the current CR.  I know I could take 20 off but didn't tell him that. 

Mueller park Cave peak beat down!

The following Monday I didn't work so I decided that's when I would have a go at the loop solo. I dropped the kids off at school and headed up.  The sky was clear and it was cool out side.  The parking lot at the trail head was fairly full and I hoped I didn't have to contend with too many bikers coming down.  I secretly hoped there was a biking going up and I would say to them "race you to Rudy's?"

On a side note, if you are looking for an adventures long 20 miler, run up Mueller to Grandview peak. A very fun ridge run. I would love to guide you there if you want.

I love the first 6 miles to Rudy's flats. It's mostly up hill but has a few short down hill jaunt and only climbs 1000 ft.  The first mile is the hardest but I was able to run a 10:33. I was hoping to run a 1:05 but after hitting the rock in 31:37 the sub 1 hours look doable.  Having never run the loop in the light if felt like every corner I turned I should hit Rudy's. One of the major draw backs from running in the dark, we don't get to see the beautiful trees and the surrounding view. I hit the top in 58:33 and celebrated by sending Sam a picture of my watch.

Running down north canyon is a blast and I got a little carried away with my speed.  I knew on the down hill I could take even more time off the CR. At one time I looked down at my watch and saw I was running a 6:10 pace.  Many times I felt like I was going to ketch a toe and fall because of my carelessness of down hill speed.  If I did, I was going to blame it on Sam for not being there to run in front of me to slow me down.  I am grateful for Sam leading the way down hill and saving me from pain most of the time.  It seems that every time I decide to push it down hill and run in front of Sam I krash.  Maybe that my punishment for thinking I am invincible at times and  krashing is a way to humble me.

After dodging some big puddles past the single track in north canyon I took the hard left to the base of Cave peak. I checked my watch and it had taken me 1:20 to that point. I thought to myself I might be able to go under 2 hours but didn't plan on it.  I still had to climb cave peak and that wasn't easy.

The first time I climbed cave peak wasn't any easier then today. Sam had pointed out the top to me and I had pushed ahead by 20 ft. The view was great but I didn't see our trail down anywhere.  When Sam arrived he said something like "oops that over there is the top, it's not that far". On this day I was on a time crunch and thought to myself there is no way we are going to be done in time.  He reassured me that we would make it and we did.  I will never doubt Sam again.

I hit the top of Cave peak out of breath in 1:43.  I had my sub 2 hour and CR in the bag.  Once again I ran down hill too fast and out of control.  I was so confident in my time that I missed a turn and stayed on the ridge.  The trail is not that well traveled and hard to see at times. I quickly doubled back but still couldn't find the right way. My head was then flooded with doubt about the CR. If I was too far off course all my work could not be recorded on Strava. But does my Srava time really matter? I knew what I had done and no one can take that away from me. I didn't run this loop to be the top dog. It was a test for myself physically and mentally and to see if I could push myself to the edge of exertion. I didn't come this far to just give up. If any thing I got a great workout.

I quickly cut down the hill to where I thought the trail could be but no luck.  I bushwacked my way to the water tank and was back on track. Bushwacking at this time of year is a painful treat and I picked up about 60 stickers that clong to me for the rest of my run. Hitting the bridge was a joyful sight. I was done and had finished the loop in 2:01.  Sam told me I would have gone sub 2 hour if I didn't stop to take pictures.  I will save the sub 2 for next year.  Now its Matts turn to take a crack at it. I hope I have set the bar high. Good luck Matt, you will need it.

Chris Krash Pope

Ressurection of the Blog!!

Wow has it really been three years since I have posted? Well so much is happening. So instead of recapping it all let's just do a little bit. Natalie ran her faster 5k this year just under 38 minutes. I ran my fastest 5k ever in 29:14 and Chris is running again. We are heading to Arizona is about 9 days and I can't wait!! I hate cold, I hate dark, I hate winter! So at least in Arizona I can get rid of cold for a while and Chris will run his first half marathon in about 3 years.

I have dropped out of the marathon to the half because my training was lacking (enter excuses here: broken toe in November, cold, snow, dark) I am excited to exit Utah for a while though!

Natalie is doing wonderfully in 1st grade. Academically and socially, although her superb social skills get her in trouble more often than not, but hey she is essentially still pulling straight A's so I don't complain too much.

Loren LOVES preschool and can't wait for school to start. He has decided he wants morning kindergarten and I am not surprised. I can never wake up, go potty, and sneak back to bed because some boy is already bright eyed and bushy tailed just waiting for the first signs of life in the morning.

I have quit teaching and I LOVE IT!! Finances, and other things made Nuclear medicine next to impossible right now so I am a substitute teacher and a stay at home mom. And guess what?! I cook more, I spend less, my house is cleaner more often and we are so much happier as a family.

Chris teaches in Priesthood and is a cub scout leader. I am now teaching the 5 year olds in Primary. It is close to my nursery class reincarnate!

Hope to see you soon! Until then life, love, liberty, and the prusuit of running!

My Closet

Look at this stuff, isn't it neat! Wouldn't you think that my bedrooms complete? My closet almost is. The picture with all my blankets showing is the center closet and the two other sides will eventually have a clothes rack put in. There is a close up to the handles and then showing you one unit of drawers. I have three units total so there are six little drawers and three big drawers. My bedrom is almost done but I still have all the stuff to put back on the wall still through the whole house piled up in my corner, but I am working on it and it should be done ......well sometime. I did hang one thing up today.

Chef Natalie

Natalie was such a good help making no-bakes the other day. She is so cute. Also look around her, check out my new island and my new cabinets and countertops. I love my kitchen. I am still waiting for my new microwave though.

dsl baby

I love dsl and I love being ablt to work with my pictures now. This is Nana and Loren sitting in a box they found(Their seats)Right now they are watching little mermaid and Loren screams, "NOOO" Everytime there is something bad going on. They also have their carpets. We cut pieces of our leftover new carpet for mats for them and they haul them everywhere. It is really cute.

Happy Birthday Loren Paul

I can't believe my little man is 2 already. It's so sad, but luckily he doesn't look it yet. He got a 2t outfit from Gymboree from my sister Julie, and I was able to put the pants on Natalie. They were even long enough for her, just a little tight in the waist. He may be wearing these for a while!

Loren had a wonderful birthday Friday. We had a Cars party. We had a 5 ft mater on the wall that everyone took pictures with. I think I am going to put it in his room now. He got a huge mater balloon, well two actually because Natalie and Elisa were able to pop the first one within the first 5 minutes of bringing it home. We had a Baskin Robins ice cream cake, cause that is what grammie in the mountains would have made had we been there for it. He got four new cars on his cake.

We went to go get him a cars bicycle and after I had paid for it and we were leaving the store he wouldnt come. He was laying in the isle next to the cars bikes display saying, "Mine, Mine." I had to show him that I had one and that we were carrying out of the store before he would leave. What a silly goose. He was able to blow out his candles all by himself. We also got him a cars bedding set. (Grammie in the mountains paid for most of it) He went to bed just cuddling his new Mater pillow.

It was a wonderful and we had so much fun, but we were tired. Grandma and Grandpa with the birds were there along with the Habels, and Parkes.

THANK YOU

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

These thank you's are for the bestest people in the whole wide world! Grammie and grandpa in the mountains! They came all the way to Florida just to be able to help watch the kids while Chris and I did all of our running. They were so much help and we had a blast. We even had some fun while we were there. We were all pretty much beat by the time it was over. Grandpa is not so sure he wants to do this with us again, at least not for an extended amount of time. But there was no way we could have done it without them.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

Micky Marathon Madness

Okay this is delayed but I am finally going to tell y'all about my wonderful experience in Florida. First off, I was scared to DEATH over doing this, thinking the goody challenge was probably one of the dumbest things I have ever decided to do. (I have since vowed never to let a medal motivate me to do something crazy). I had three reason to be scared,
1. training was hit and miss
2. 5 weeks post gallbladder surgery
3. 3 full days wandering around disneyworld could be enough to sap all my energy before I even start.

So the half comes around and I am so excited, especially when I saw the food at the starting line. Oh wait this is Disney, you had to pay for it. Bummer. The first few miles were really tough and I was afried I might not even be able to keep the 16min/mile pace requirement. But after about mile 3/4 I finally started to relax and feel good. Running through the magic kingdom was amazing and I was surprised by all the characters I saw along the race. Which inspired me to buy a disposable camera to carry for the marathon. Around mile 6 I started running with a girl who had started out too fast and was having troubles but she was able to stick we me great and we had a blast. It was"brilliant" She is from london and we had so much fun. OH yeah, I wore my tigger ears through the whole race:) We finished with time to spare a 14.30 average and vowed to find each other the next morning.

Well marathon morning came and I couldn't find her I was so dissappointed and nervous that I made Chris promise to run with me until I loosened up again. One more time I had a rough start and thought I wasn't going to make it. but yet again around mile three and my first potty stop, (In a REAL bathroom in Norway) I decided I was going to make and sent Chris on his way-who later finished under 4 hours......................... But luckily around mile 4.5 Sally, my new friend, recognized my tigger ears and came to run with me again. YIPPEE. We had a "brilliant" run and laughed and joked and posed for pictures with
mickey
minnie
donald
daisy
goofy
pluto
chip n dale
mater
alice
wicked step sisters and mom
baloo
rafiki
king louie
ariel/prince eric
snow white
pochontas/john smith
wendy/peter pan
a turtle
a goat
and a hawk and probably some I missed.

It was really warm and there and i love it. (Day two I had brought money and carried it with me) and around mile 23 I felt a popsicle was in order so in Disney Hollywood studios I found a push cart vendor and took a detour and bought a strawberry popsicle. It was wonderful, a few thought I was crazy but for the most part most were jealous, that is until we were running through mexico and they peeled off to buy margaritas and beers 1 mile before the finish line. My last mile was 2:30 faster than my average and I felt great until I crossed the finish line and something happened and I could hardly walk anymore, but who cares! I AM GOOFY.

I would have beat my park city marathon time had I not paused for the photos but it was only a few minutes slower. What I truly loved about this race is I have never been in a race where I wasn't so spread out and far behind that I have basically run it by myself, but here I was surrounded the whole time. I have never had so many spectators and cheerleaders yelling my name (which was printed on my bib). And the best part of all, this made me feel like a million bucks, When we got back to the hotel and walked into the lobby, EVERYBODY broke into applause for us. I will never forget this race. I was a champion and I loved it!

Laurie Pope
official goofy runner!
PS, I'm definitly cutting back on the marathons this year, I think Portland will be the only other one I am going to run.

The Goofy Challenge

The Disney World marathon and half was a great race. I take it nice and easy for the half because I was running the marathon the next day. I ran the first 11 miles at an 8 min mile pace. The last 2 I picked it up for fun. Mile 12 was 7:39 and mile 13 7:07. One of my faverite parts of the half was running throught Tommorrow Land in the Magic Kingdom. It was about mile 4 or 5 and it was still dark. They had all the lights on in Tommorrow Land. The weather was great also, some where in the 70's. After finishing the half I met my wife Laurie at about mile 12 and ran her in for fun.

My goal for the marathon was to run under 4 hours and I knew that would be easy to do. But then my wife wanted me to run with her for the first 3 miles because she couldn't find her new friend she met yesterday during the half marathon from London. Guess who she ran in to at mile 5? That's right her new friend. I left my wife at about mile 3 1/2. I ran the first 3 mile at a 15 min pace (which means I have 18 mins to make up in the next 23 miles to make a sub 4) and picked it up to a 8 min pace. For the rest of the race I was passing runners by the 100's and by the end I think I passed about 10,000 runners. At first I felt I was running the wrong race and I know everyone was thinking that I showed up late to the race because I slept in. There was no sleeping in for this race. Ther race started at 6:00am. That ment getting up at 3:00 am. I ran at an 8 min pace till about mile 17. I felt great so I picked it up to a 7:30 pace. In the end I got my sub 4 hour but it took some work.

I ran back about a half mile of the marathon and run Laurie in. I have run at least the last mile of all her marathons with her. Some times she has need the extra boost by having me run with her. But most of the time she is doing fine. Even though it was my slowest half and my slowest marathon by one min it was a lot of fun running a half and marathon back to back.

Half Marathon 1:45
Marathon 3:53

M-i-c,k-e-y, M-o-u-s-e

We are getting ready to go to "Mickey Mouse House" as Natalie says. She is so excited about going and has been a helper packing. She even pointed out that we didn't have tickets to get on the airplane. She found her swimsuit and had her care bear all ready to go. She is also so excited to get to see Grammie in the mountains again.

We are as ready as we can be for the race so hopefully all goes well. I ran 10 miles last Saturday, that's a far cry from a marathon but not bad for a post surgery training.

Natalie got stitches put in on Dec 19th, she hit her head on the shopping cart at Kohls. When we went to get the stitches put in the nurse asked what had happened and she said, "I cracked my head open and I need a band-aid. NO SHOTS!" I took them out on Christmas eve, and then sweet little Loren took a fall on my bed and split his chin open on New Years Eve. You could even see the fatty tissue it was pretty bad. He wasn't the easiest patient either but it worked.

Ok the house, we have ordered the countertops, (way way too much money but I guess it happens) and that cabinets are almost done. I can't wait, I am starting to get the nesting bug just to get out of my construction and have some order once again, but nesting DOES NOT include another little one yet.

We all got our haircut on Saturday, I chopped mine to my chin and dyed it. I love it! I look so cute and Loren looks so handsome with his little boy hair dude. He has grown attached to his lightning mcqueen/mater brief underwear and has to wear them over his diaper. I love that silly little boy.

only 19 more hours until we leave for disney, I can't wait, I told Chris I was going to get a job there and never come back to this freezing place (Average temp for the month of December was 27 degrees F--YUCK)


OH Christmas! Natalie got a sleeping beauty barbie from Santa. She says santa brought it because Papa doesn't buy barbies!
I know this is random but it's a recap of the last month.

What's in an organ?

Apparently in mine a whole lot of stones. Turns out it's genetic and so I blame mom. Same thing happened to her at about the same age. I am now trying to get in for surgery as soon as possible so I can recover and get back to training for the DisneyWorld Marathon. I will have my gallbladder taken out on Dec.10,2007.

The new room is almost sheetrocked and we are ready for inspection again. Our kitchen cabinets are coming out on Dec 8 to make new for the new ones.

Natalie turns 4 on Dec. 3 and we even sent out real invitations and she has some friends coming on top of family, so it's like her first real party. It's a pony party and we got a pinata and I was afriad she wouldn't want to break it but any time someone comes over she shows it to them and tells them she will WHACK it and all the candy will come out. So much for that concern. I think it will be a great day!

Remodeling Continues at Breakneck Speed

Wow, we had a great weekend. Laurie's Dad and brother Justin came out and did so much work on the house for us! They came prepared to do insulation and sheet rock but because we didn't get an inspection scheduled in time we got them to help with a bunch of other stuff. In just three days they got the roof put on the addition, a fence built for my whole yard and an extra slab of concrete next to our driveway. This will keep our cars from blocking the sidewalk and also reduce the number of inter-family vehicular mutilation when we hit our own cars.

After the concrete got poured Loren tried to bypass grandpas truck (which was put there to keep him out of the concrete) and got about two feet in before people heard him whining, ugh, ugh, cause he was stuck and couldn't get out. About 5 minutes after that was repaired the neighbor girl Bailey ran through it as fast as she could, and even lost a shoe in the middle. Her dad then spent two hours finishing up the concrete and left it better than Bailey found it. We later joked and said,"Tell Bailey thanks for us."

I know Justin and Dad are beat, but man, it was amazing seeing everything they got done. We really couldn't have done it without them. They are the greatest!

WE LOVE YOU BOTH!

The remodel

This post is not available at this time, it is under construction.

St. George race report

The St. George Marathon was great this year. Paula (Lauries' mother) came down with us to take care of the kids while we ran the race. She was so helpful and we can never thank her enough. I know it was no big deal to her, she got to spend time with her grandchildren.

October 6th
3:40 A.M.
We got up, put on our race gear, ate breakfast, packed the drop bag, and headed out the door. I should say tent door because we camped at this RV park. It was a lot cheeper than getting a hotel.
4:20 A.M.
Some friends of ours pick us up to take us to the start.
4:40 A.M.
Got on a bus to the start. It was cold.
6:45 A.m.
The race started and where was I (Chris)? Taking off my warm ups, and keeping the body glide from Laurie. We ran in the dark for the first 5-6 miles. I love running in the dark.

It was a great day for a marathon. It never got to hot and we had alittle wind. Laurie ran her fastest marathon this year and ran this years St. George Marathon 25 min faster than last year. She ran a 5:52. I ran about 1 min slower because of minor set back 4 weeks before (foot pain). I ran a 2:58.17 and placed 177 out of about 5,155 runners.

Okay Laurie's Part, I was doing great but was starting to get tired at about mile 18, I still had so much further to go, so I decided it was mind against body, so I start to talk to myself. "You are great, You rock, this is so amazing, think about what you are doing, this doesn't hurt, this feels good, you like this!" And funny thing it worked and I never slowed down and even got a little faster. When Chris met me to run the last mile I told him all of this and he looked at me and said "Really?" I said, "NO, I feel like $&*%@!"

It was a beautiful and I am happy for my accomplishment and I got my Grand Slam marathon, for running 4 marathons this year! Oh yeah baby, and I'm a toe nail short and have a scar running across my chest from chaffing with my sports bra(Remember Chris had the body glide which prevents this from happening) He kind of felt bad for me.

The kids hated it when Grandma left, I can't image why? It just like being Christmas or something. They love her to peices and even Loren learned that Grandma was a better choice than Papa to try and get something.

1st Running Pope update

You all know we are planning to remodel. Well flooring costs came in lower than expected and it looks like construction might come in a few grand cheaper too! Oh nice! I hope to have carpet installed by the end of September.

The kids and I are going to California on the 6th and will be coming back on Sunday. We are going out for my brother's elopement party. Chris is going to be pacing an out of towner for about 30 miles of a 100 mile race that weekend depending on how his foot feels, it has been giving him problems lately.

Natalie starts preschool the Tuesday after we get back. She is so excited and her teachers name is Miss Sara, just like her last teacher. She is going think all of her teachers name are Sara. Loren is getting big and talking more. Things like spoo (yogurt), chocolate, mine, no, shoe, Na-ie (Natalie), and just about anything he hears so be careful.

We went camping for the Labor Day weekend and Loren got two bloody noses and just as he got his second one the Park Ranger guy came by to hit us up for 5 bucks for parking the car there. He just stood and waited and tried to talk to me for a bit while I was taking care of Lorens nose. Come on people, come back later please!

Next big race: St. George, Utah, Oct 6, 2007, let's hope the best for PR's(personal records) for both Chris and Laurie.