Looking to have a great summer!

So I went water skiing at Jordanelle Resevior this weekend. It was great! The water was a little chilly, and at exceptionally high levels, which brought out lots of people. But it was great fun. I've never actually been successful at water skiing when I've tried in the past. All I really remember from those lovely experiences is drinking half the lake. This time was different. I didn't miraculously learn how to water ski or anything. This little excursion was with work, which means I was skiing on an adaptive water ski. We had 2 models; one with outriggers, and one without. The outriggers are attached to the ski and keep it pretty stable. The person just sits in a little basket type thing that is attached to the ski and holds on to the tow rope. Almost anyone with weaker core strength, quadreplegia or paraplegia (or any disability) can water ski thanks to this contraption. The other model of adaptive water ski doesn't have the outriggers attached, so it takes more core strength and balancing capability to stay upright. Here's a picture of a ski with the outriggers. We are practicing doing a transfer of someone who might not be able to walk or swim without assistance. It looks quite difficult, but in the water it was actually much easier. Ahh....buoyancy.

I got a new camera this week, to replace the one that went swimming in Lake Powell. These are the first pictures from it!! I've included a picture of my chaco tan. Thanks to never having to sit at a desk and helping with the water skiing and jet skiing sessions at work, this year's tan is looking like it will be the best one I've ever had. Don't click on the picture. Since this is a new camera, I don't really know how to size the pictures when I post. It will likely blow up HUGE and you will get a very close inspection of my feet. I think it's time for a new pedicure.

I set a New Year's Resolution this year, which is kind of weird. I've never really decided on one and tried to keep it. I resolved to get back into competition, whether it is running, biking, or whatever. I just want to be a part of that again. It's been 6 years since my NCAA eligibility ended and I couldn't compete in cross country and track any longer. At first, I was kind of glad. I'd been competing non-stop since I was 14; so at 23 I figured I deserved a break. But that break turned into a lot longer of a hiatus that I really planned. I've kept running (sporadically) and have incorporated some new activities into my life (canyoneering, mountain biking, rock climbing, etc....) to replace that sense of belonging I had with my team. But I have yet to race again. Until now. In April, I registered for the St. George Marathon. I was hopeful that I would get selected in the lottery. But I didn't. Bummer. There are so many other racing opportunities in Utah Valley, that I can literally just open a calendar to any day and probably be able to find a race somewhere. So for now I am planning on running the 10k at the Freedom Festival on the 4th of July. I've run this course before; it should be fun. My biggest goal for this summer is to compete in a couple of triathlons. The Utah Half Ironman Trialthon is August 9th. A few friends from the NAC are interested in racing it. I think we are going to try to put together a team. I'll do the running leg, which is a half-marathon (13.2 miles). I'm actually super excited about it. It feels nice to have something to train for. I spent so many years training for some race that I never really understood what working out to stay in shape was all about. But now I have definitely learned about the other side of the exercise spectrum. I don't think it will be too difficult for me to jump back on the racing bandwagon. I can already feel the butterflies!! Welcome back. :-)