the best way to get old(er)

At the beginning of this year, as I was staring down the barrel of the next decade of my life, I really wanted to do something big to make myself feel better about turning 30. So I signed up for a marathon.

Here's my thinking: I wanted to do something memorable, and something that I didn't do in my twenties. Twenty-year-old Me would never have dreamed of running a marathon; in fact, I had just barely taken up running when I was twenty, and running even one mile was a major accomplishment.

I turned 30 in June, right about halfway through my training, and I wanted to die. I was running longer and longer double-digit runs on the weekend, combined with longer and longer mid-length runs on weekdays. I trained during two vacations to Disneyland, one vacation to northern Minnesota, and a nasty late-spring bout of allergies. I developed a crippling pain in my right hip (literally -- after one long run, I was limping for two days and thought I might have to quit altogether). Steve convinced me to go see his favorite chiropractor (Dr. Clifford at Align Rehab in Provo -- highly recommended) who quickly recognized an SI joint issue and fixed me right up. I continued with my training through the beginning of September (following this plan for beginning marathoners) and went to bed the night before the race alternating between feeling so nervous I didn't think I'd be able to get any sleep and being scared I would sleep so well I'd miss my alarm in the morning.

Luckily, I did sleep, and I woke up on time, and after a minor bus mishap, made it to the start line with my friend Jennie, who had been training with me (also a first-time marathoner). And we ran. And we finished!

Not only did we finish, but I felt great for most of the run (not gonna lie -- the last three miles were a bit of a struggle). Since this was my first marathon, I had a conservative goal of finishing in five hours based on my long-run training times. I wasn't sure what my timing was as I approached the finish line, and I couldn't see the clock, but as I rounded the final corner I heard my mom yell "You're under five hours!" and that was enough to motivate me to pick up my feet and really push through to the finish. My final time is 4:56, good enough for 99th place in my age division and about 1060th place overall (there were about 1300 runners total). I'm one of the slowest runners on the course, but I don't care. I had so much fun, and still am in a state of disbelief about even doing it. Here are some pictures from the race:

Feeling good!

The two above would've been about Mile 14-ish.

Still smiling (and running) at Mile 18-ish.

Bringing it home.

 

 

Since I am a "non-competitive" runner (a.k.a. I run because I need exercise, not because I'm going to win any awards), I thought I'd share a few things I learned during the training process, just in case there is anyone out there who is a little intimidated (like I was) at the idea of running a full marathon:

• Find a training plan that seems to match your abilities and goals, and stick with it. The plan I followed was specifically designed for first-time marathoners with the primary goal of finishing, not necessarily finishing fast. There are tons of free online training programs to fit runners of every level; do a little research and find one that works for you.
• Train the way you plan on running the race. For example, the first 17.5 miles of the Big Cottonwood Marathon is downhill, so I incorporated downhill running into my training. I even ran down the race course for my 18 and 20 mile long runs, and I'm so glad I did. I also incorporated walk breaks every 2 miles during my long runs. Part of my race strategy was to walk through the aid stations, so I wanted to make sure I included that in my training.
• Take advantage of the aid stations. Seriously. I stopped at every single one and drank Gatorade and water, grabbed some orange slices and bananas, Gu and jolly ranchers, and asked for some ibuprofen at miles 10 and 18. Keeping hydrated and fueled makes all the difference in your energy level (even though swallowing Gu is the hardest, grossest thing in the world).
• Plan ahead. If you are going on vacation, make sure you know what gear you will need to keep up your training while you're away from home. If you've got a long run coming up, go to bed early so you can wake up and get that run in before the July heat consumes your soul.
• Run with a friend. I did my longest training runs with my friend Jennie, and it really helped my motivation levels (not to mention, it was a lot more fun than running alone).
• Get a few races under your belt. Over the past several years, I have done 5k's, 10k's, and a handful of half marathons. Especially if you're new to running, getting used to the whole race experience will make you much more confident and comfortable when it comes to running your first full. I wouldn't recommend doing any races as part of your training, but maybe before beginning a marathon training program, look into doing some shorter races (here in Utah there seem to be races just about every weekend, even through the winter months).
• Don't run a marathon if your primary goal is to lose weight. Many runners (like myself) don't lose any weight during training; running 40 miles/week makes you hungry, and I was more concerned about keeping my energy levels up than about losing a few pounds. The best way to lose weight is to restrict your calories, and I just don't think that's doable when you're physically pushing yourself to the limit.

I could not have completed my training without Steve; as my runs got longer and I wanted to run downhill, he woke up early on the weekend and drove me to the top of the canyon so I could run down. He was so supportive (even though I know in his heart of hearts he hated how much my training consumed our lives).

 

Also, I was so glad to have my parents and siblings at the finish line. I saw my sisters as I ran down the final chute, but my parents were standing somewhere else and I couldn't see them. I heard my mom yell for me, though, and that was so fun.

 

The moral of the story: reaching a milestone birthday (like 30) can either be depressing or invigorating. Allow me to suggest that by setting and following through with a specific, challenging goal, you can accept the aging process for what it is: an opportunity to prove to yourself that you can do amazing things throughout your entire lifetime.

 

Can't wait 'til 40.

Five years

When it comes to politics, I am generally pretty ambivalent. This could be because I'm white, heterosexual, middle-class, and well-educated (in other words, there simply aren't very many political issues that concern me personally -- I don't need government assistance, I don't need to fight for my marriage rights, I don't need an abortion, etc. etc.). As a city employee, however, I do have an interest in what goes on in my local municipality (a.k.a. Orem) as those issues are more likely to directly affect my quality of life.

Which brings us to Exhibit A: An article published yesterday in the Daily Herald. (click here to read) For many people who live in Orem, and especially for anyone who works for the City of Orem, this article is not really news. Councilmember Hans Andersen has been spouting nonsensical and inaccurate diatribes against the City for the past couple of years. His comments at the most recent city council meeting, however, were particularly unsuitable; he basically admonished the city council for not being righteous in following God's laws, and that Orem's current fiscal woes are a direct result of Orem not following God's "economic principles." Specifically, Hans is against an increase in property taxes for Orem residents (an increase that is proposed in order to, among other things, help meet the budget needs of paying for UTOPIA -- which really sticks in Hans' craw).

Last year, the city proposed a property tax increase of approximately $4/month. It would have been Orem's first tax hike since 1978. The need for the tax hike was a direct result of a decrease in sales tax revenue (which itself was a direct result of the 2008 economic recession) as well as the city's debt obligation to the fiber optic network UTOPIA. The bill for UTOPIA was originally anticipated to be covered by user fees; however, the number of users has not met expectations, footing Orem with a giant bill that it must pay regardless of whether Orem uses UTOPIA or not.

That last part is important. See, many uninformed and angry residents show up to city council meetings and implore the city to cut off UTOPIA services. Not enough people are using it...it's expensive...it's not available to everyone anyway...get rid of it! What they don't understand is that Orem City is under legal obligation to pay off a portion of the UTOPIA bond. If Orem decided to just stop paying the fee, it would result in costly litigation that would undoubtedly cost more than what Orem is obligated to pay for the network. Orem residents should be vying for UTOPIA's success...more users equals more residents who can take advantage of the network equals less debt for Orem equals good good good. (former councilwoman Mary Street has articulated this point quite well at past city council meetings...look up the minutes, they're all available on orem.org)

This is where it gets personal. In addition to the UTOPIA obligation, Orem City has been expected by its citizens to maintain the high level of service it has provided in the past while operating under a severely depleted budget that is the result of a drastic decrease in revenue. Orem City residents may not be feeling the crunch yet, but employees of the City have been feeling it for years. Five years, to be precise. Five years without a pay increase. Five years of outdated electronics, equipment, and machinery (have you seen our patrol cars?). Five years of additional paycheck deductions to cover the rising cost of health insurance. Five years of understaffing, resulting in more work for less pay. Five years of being expected by Orem citizens to maintain the same level of service while operating on a depleted budget.

I came across some minutes from a city council meeting that really get to the heart of it:

City Council Minutes – June 12 2012 (p.16)
1 Gary Downey, resident and City employee, stated he has lived in Orem for thirty-five years and has
2 worked for the Orem Police Department for twenty-eight years. He said he loves his job, and he and
3 sixty-six other Orem officers are willing to put their life on the line for anyone that needs it. The
4 officers go through a lot, but they take it every day and they take it for what they get paid. None of
5 them are rich. He said he been an officer for twenty-eight years, and he owns two used vehicles. He
6 said he went into this job knowing it was not a high-paying job. It is tough as a police officer
7 because they have to do a lot of unpleasant things. They have to notify family members that loved
8 ones have passed away. He wondered how much that is worth and how many people would be
9 willing to do that for what the officers get paid. He said he has done a lot of death notifications over
10 the years. He worked in the Detective Division for twelve years, and he worked on the dead body
11 calls. He remembers them all and probably will for the rest of his life. He served on interview boards
12 for the Police Department and has discovered that they get what they pay for. He wants Orem’s to
13 remain a good Police Department. They have not had a raise in four years, and some of the officers
14 have tested at other agencies. If something does not happen, they will lose more good officers. He
15 said he is favor of the tax increase.

Lt. Downey (now retired) cites the most unpleasant examples of the duties of a police officer, but it is in the little things where Orem citizens will first begin to see a decline in service. Unlocking vehicles (for free!), helping out a stalled vehicle stuck in traffic, picking up stray cats/raccoons, responding to minor fender benders, taking a report for the person who lost her wallet (who knows where or when), taking reports for those individuals who find themselves the victims of an Internet scam -- many police departments will not respond to these types of calls, but Orem responds to them all. And that's only the Public Safety Department services...think about the Library, Public Works and Utilities, and Recreation departments...I can assure you that many of the city services that make Orem a decent place to live will no longer be provided because the city will be unable to support them...and not because Orem is being irresponsible with its funds, but because it is simply not generating as much revenue as it has in the past. If only residents knew how much their $4 a month could help.

And now back to Hans. His suggestions that councilmembers and city employees are being irresponsible with city funds and making the citizens pay for it is simply uninformed. His most recent assertion that councilmembers and city employees are unrighteous and ignorant of God's laws, however, is ludicrous. The underlying connotation of Hans' discourse is that he is somehow endowed with the spiritual knowledge and foresight to lead Orem out of its financial deficit. As a city employee, Mr. Andersen's antipathy towards city workers is disheartening to me; as a resident, Mr. Andersen's objection to a property tax increase is understandable, but still ignorant; and as a human being, Mr. Andersen's religious nutjob criticisms of Orem City are frightening. While Mr. Andersen's religious convictions may serve him well enough at home, with his family, and at church, with his congregation, they are not relevant to the budgetary concerns of Orem City and have no place at a city council meeting. This man has already been elected to city council, and is currently running for mayor. I only plan on living in and working for Orem for the next year, maybe two, but I've lived here for twenty-three years already, and that's long enough to know that people like Hans Andersen are not likely to make sound, factually-based, well-reasoned decisions on behalf of the City.

Next city council meeting is July 9th at 6:00 pm. See you there?

My life these days

This one time, I went running and stuck my camera in my running belt (it's a belt that holds water that I wear around my waist) and somehow, the home screen on my "smart" phone unlocked itself, opened the camera, and proceeded to record seventeen seconds of my run that day. I was a little bit horrified, because in my dispatch center we receive pocket dials from people who accidentally dial 9-1-1 all the time and it drives me NUTS. My first thought, after realizing my phone was unlocked, was to check to see if I had made any outbound calls. Luckily, all I have to show for my carelessness is a silly video, half a dozen photos, a few random text messages (saved as drafts) and a nonsensical Facebook status that never got posted. No harm done.

This was a doughnut I ate the other day. I don't know why I took a picture of it.

And these are some pictures from our most recent trip to Disneyland at the beginning of May. Splash Mountain and Radiator Springs Racers are probably two of my favorite rides. My heart died a little the day my Annual Pass expired, especially considering Disney raised their ticket prices AGAIN. It's really a little ridiculous. This time last year, Steve and I bought our premium annual passes for $500 apiece. As of today, the very same pass is $669. Ack! I don't know that we'll ever be able to afford annual passes again...but it was magical while it lasted.

And this is me hard at work in my dispatch center keeping the citizens of Orem safe blah blah blah...actually this is me wanting a picture of my hair today because I curled it and I think it looks cute. Deal with it.

85th Academy Awards

I don't have much time to blog anymore. *shrug*

I do, however, like talking about movies, and I thought I could take this opportunity to tell you what I think about the upcoming Acadamy Awards. If you don't care about movies, or don't care what I think about movies, then I don't understand why we are friends.

For the past few years, Steve and I have tried to see every Oscar-nominated movie before the awards show. This has proven impossible, mostly because the foreign films (and some docs) are never released in the United States, much less in Utah, before the ceremony. We usually come pretty close, though, and this year is no exception.

*I need to point out that I recognize that the Oscars are not all-inclusive and that there are many great and admirable films that do not get nominated, and there are many craptastic films that do. Oscar-nominated movies do, however, provide a good starting point for wading through the thousands of movie options out there, and it's fun to have a quantifiable goal to work towards with someone who cares about movies just as much as you do.*

Here are my predictions and picks for this year:

BEST PICTURE

WILL WIN: Argo
SHOULD WIN: Ok. Bad one to start out with. I haven't seen Amour yet (seeing it tomorrow!) so I can't make an entirely informed decision here. Honestly...I didn't love any of the best picture noms. In fact, I am on a personal quest to find the Real Best Picture of 2012 and have already checked out half a dozen movies from the library that I missed last year but that I think have real potential. As of right now, I don't think any of the nominees (excluding Amour) are worthy of this title.

BEST DIRECTOR

WILL WIN: Ang Lee
SHOULD WIN: Meh. Again, discounting Michael Haneke because I haven't seen Amour yet, I am not blown away by the nominees. Ang Lee is winning raves for "filming the unfilmable" (no such thing, in my opinion); Spielberg and Russell were lucky that their pictures were elevated by such fine actors, otherwise their names would not be on this roster; and Benh Zeitlin's first feature, though it wins props for being original, was a little bit of a snoozefest. *spin the bottle* Ang Lee it is.

BEST ACTOR in a leading role

WILL WIN: Daniel Day-Lewis
SHOULD WIN: Daniel Day-Lewis. I'm thinking of naming my firstborn son Daniel Day-Lewis, Jr. The man is supremely gifted, and he managed to infuse life and passion into an otherwise mediocre movie. Joaquin Phoenix was also crazy fantastic, and I maintain that Hugh Jackman is one of the most entertaining and talented actors working today, but DDL has the edge for his complete physical and spiritual embodiment of Honest Abe.

BEST ACTRESS in a leading role

WILL WIN: Jennifer Lawrence
SHOULD WIN: Again, I haven't seen Amour yet, so of the remaining four nominees, my pick is Naomi Watts in the little-seen The Impossible. Her performance was intensely physical as well as gut-wrenchingly tender; no matter how much Jessica Chastain stares at a computer screen or how much eyeliner Jennifer Lawrence wears, they really can't compare to the radiant Ms. Watts. Quetzalcoatl Wallis (I think I spelled that right) was okay, I guess...but I really believe that a watchable child actor is more a reflection of the considerable child-wrangling talents of the director than of the acting chops of the child.

BEST ACTOR in a supporting role

WILL WIN: Robert De Niro
SHOULD WIN: This is a tough one. Did I mention I'm thinking of naming my second firstborn son Christoph Waltz, Jr.? His turn in Django Unchained is carefully controlled and delightfully quaint; no one turns a phrase in quite the same charming Austrian way as Herr Waltz. I thought Tommy Lee Jones was excellent in Lincoln, but I can't help but think that he is more or less like that in real life. I didn't see this role as a real stretch for him. Same goes for Alan Arkin, and Philip Seymour Hoffman, for that matter (creepy, I know). I was glad to see Robert De Niro in anything other than a Ben Stiller atrocity, but I can't say I was really moved by his performance. So...I'mma go for Christoph Waltz. For fun.

BEST ACTRESS in a supporting role

WILL WIN: Anne Hathaway
SHOULD WIN: Anne Hathaway. Although the contenders in this category are all strong (much stronger than their male counterparts, as a matter of fact), Annie's much-hyped "I Dreamed a Dream" is, in a word, revelatory.

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

WILL WIN: Brave (a curse and a pox upon Pixar, *spit spit*)
SHOULD WIN: Frankenweenie. Maybe I'm a little too harsh on Brave (I will admit I liked it), but Frankenweenie is Tim Burton's finest work in years. ParaNorman and The Pirates! Band of Misfits are also worth watching; Wreck-It Ralph has some impressive voice talent, but I didn't find it was anything beyond the typical assault-on-the-senses animated confections that are a dime-a-dozen these days. Please see Frankenweenie. You'll be glad you did.

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

WILL WIN: Searching for Sugar Man
SHOULD WIN: Searching for Sugar Man. Disclaimer: The Gatekeepers doesn't come out until March, so it is exempt from my consideration. Side note and possible *spoiler alert*: Steve and I are seeing Rodriguez, the subject of Sugar Man, in concert in April. I've never seen an Oscar-winning musician live in concert before. Woo!

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT

WILL WIN: Inocente
SHOULD WIN: Mondays at Racine. My heart broke like twelve times watching this movie. In a good way.

BEST ANIMATED SHORT

WILL WIN: Paperman
SHOULD WIN: Paperman. (Its music gives it the edge). I also loved Fresh Guacamole.

BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT

WILL WIN: Curfew
SHOULD WIN: Curfew. Although I was touched by the emotion behind Curfew, I was unimpressed by the performances. Still, it's probably the most memorable of all the nominees (although I did enjoy the stylishness of Death of a Shadow, it did not resonate with me on any emotional level).

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

Pending...

ALL OTHER CATEGORIES:

Congratulations on your nomination! But I don't really care.

What are your thoughts? I'd love to hear any opinions/reviews of any of these movies/actors.

(And for the curious, here are the movies we did NOT see, but will hopefully catch when they are released this year):

Chasing Ice
The Gatekeepers
Kon-Tiki
No
A Royal Affair
War Witch