7 minutes faster?!?!

So on Saturday Traci, Ingrid and I ran the Ogden Half Marathon. It was so much fun! The course is through Ogden canyon to the Ogden Parkway and ends in Washington Sq. It is so pretty, such a nice course, and the weather was beautiful! We did this run last year too and next to the Moab runs, this is one of my favorites! Not to mention that they have the worlds best volunteers. They were very attentive and so helpful. Even when I crossed the finish line, I bent over to breathe really and one was right over there asking if I was ok. So nice! And they were handing out bags of ice - which I have never seen. Volunteers at all these races are usually great, but these people were exceptionally sweet. Bryce was also very sweet to drive to Ogden that morning to watch all of us finish. I can't imagine that's a very fun thing to watch, but he did it with a smile. The best part of the whole day though was my finish time... 7 minutes faster than I have ever been!! That might not sound like a lot, but that averages about 32 seconds faster each mile and in running time, 30 seconds off a mile is a lot! I usually don't get crazy about my finish time, frankly I figure finishing period is an accomplishment enough, but taking this much time off without strict training makes me wonder what I could do if I seriously trained! Last year when I did this exact same race I was 11 minutes slower. Every race that I have done I have gradually gotten faster, usually it is by 2 - 4 minutes, but never such a jump. It makes me wonder what I did this time that was so different... maybe it's because I knew the course better, or I have been cycling more, or because I have made a conscious effort to drink a lot of water, or the sugar that I took out of my diet the week before (that was crappy)... I really don't know why, but I am happy all the same! Best race ever... Next Race... Wasatch Back June 20 and 21!

I vote for David Cook

It's not very often that I get into American Idol. I think the last one that I cared about was when Carrie Underwood won - who I adore by the way. For some reason these last couple weeks I have really been into American Idol. (It could be all this extra time I am finding on my hands since graduation - yeah - I know, I should be reading by book club book.) Anyway, I think David Cook is great! I know, I know David Archuleta is from Utah and I should support him, not to mention that he is very talented and has an amazing voice... But David Cook really brings out the rocker side of me, when he performs I want to get out my pretend guitar and rock out along with him! Two amazing guys, who will win? I would be happy for either one and we all know they both will have music careers, but rock on D.Cook! I vote for you.

GRADUATION!

It happened! It's over and it was just as wonderful as I could have imagined.... although I was exhausted when it was over. On Thursday before graduation Bryce took me to Flemming's. We had the best steak ever, the restaurant gave me chocolate covered strawberries as a gift, and to top it off we sat right next to Yao Ming, Dikembe Mutombo, and Carl Landry from the Houston Rockets. They are so tall! Yao couldn't even fit his legs under the table. Anyway, I tried to get a picture but it didn't turn out. Bummer!

The day of graduation, the commencement was at 9 and the college ceremonies were almost immediately afterward at 11:15. There were over 7,000 graduates from the U this year, but probably only about 2 or 3,000 at the commencement exercises. We had to walk down the tunnel and out into the stadium. Below is a picture of us walking down the tunnel. Look at all the graduates!

Mario R. Capecchi, 2007 Nobel Laureate in physiology, spole at the commencement. He is very smart and had some nice things to say. He said one thing that I just had to write down. He said, "After you have worked hard, you can always work harder." I liked that statement and completely agree.

After the commencement I met up with some friends before we went to our college ceremony. Man! I will miss these guys everyday, and wish them all the luck in the world!

We had a nice ceremony, a little long and a tad boring... so I truly do appreciate all those who came! The best part of the ceremony was when I walked onto the floor and they handed me the fake diploma! YAY, what an amazing feeling! Afterward, I was able to see everyone who came to see me. Thank you, thank you to my parents, grandparents, sister Bobbi, Uncle Jerry, Bryce, Ashley, and Ryan for taking the time to come and support me. You rock! When the day was over and we got food in our starving stomachs and I took a long nap, I was exhausted! But the festivities didn't end there... Thanks to my fam, Erica, Ryan, Britt, Jessica, Bryce, Chris, Sus, Greg, Ashley, Ashley, Ashley (yes, there are 3) for helping me celebrate the big day! I am so lucky to have such amazing friends. Here are some pictures from the rest of the day. Including of course, the dress! I am so glad this day has come and gone, thank you to everyone who has helped me along the way.