Utah Half Race Report

I decided to do the Utah Half at the last minute. Kona is only six weeks after the Utah Half so I chose to just train through this race and not taper, as this is the prime time to put in the big training weeks for Kona. I was surprised that I felt great the whole day. I felt really good and never had a time in the race where I felt crappy. (Maybe I should not taper anymore). Heath Thurston and I started 2 minutes apart. He was in the Elite wave and I was in the first Age Group wave. (Heath was not allowed to wear a wetsuit but I was, not very fair to Heath). Someone told me that I was 9 minutes behind Heath after the swim. At the time I thought we started 5 minutes after them so I was stoked. (I later learned it was only 2 minutes, I have great time perception), Heath had a very fast bike ride and I came in around 2 or 3 minutes behind him. I ate into his lead slightly on the run and at the halfway point, I picked up my pace and was running between a 5:55 and 6:25 pace most of the last half of the run. Heath slowed the last few miles and I passed him at an Aid Station. I was able to win the race in 3:58. Heath is such an awesome guy, He has been very generous helping me develop over the last two years, it’s ironic but I probably would not have won if he hadn’t been helping me to get better. I wish B.J. Christensen would have done the race, he very well could have beat me but I would like to have seen how close it would be. Great job to everyone who participated, It was a hot day and I saw a lot of folks who really pushed themselves. My most wonderful wife Megan brought our 3 kids to watch the race and it was really awesome to give them all fives as I finished. Having my kids be proud of me was the biggest highlight of the race. They kept saying “Dad you won”.

Lisa Forsey's Flame

My neighbor Lisa Forsey passed away yesterday. She was a wonderful lady who battled brain cancer. She left a great family including two teenage children. I thought about her all day today. She was very kind and loving. She was a good friend to my wife and I remember her being so pleasant to be around. She was and is a great example to me of how to live your life. I started writing this poem years ago and have changed it from time to time but the poem summarizes my thoughts of her life. This season is over for her and she moves on toward a never ending Spring. She has a bonfire of a flame that continues to burn bright, powerful, confident, strong and true.

The flickering flame burns small but bright
Its little glow surrounded by autumns night
The flame must either die or grow
Which it will do we don’t yet know
The winds will attempt to blow it out
And rain will try to drench it with doubt
Its fate is uncertain but in its control
If it wishes it will grow strong and full
It can burn as a bonfire in the deep, dead of night
Not a flickering flame but powerful strong and bright
Your flame may be small but it’s up to you
To flicker out or to burn strong and true
As you pass through this tough season
Remember we're all here for a reason
Build up your own personal inner light
Keep it strong through the dark of night
Feed your flame with positive thought
Press forward and give life all you’ve got
And when this short season fades away
The warmth of the fire will always stay
In a never ending spring it will be with you
Burning powerful confident strong and true.