Okay, this is kind of old news, but since it ranks amongst my greatest life's accomplishments, (along with my college degree and getting some poor sucker to marry me) I thought I should share. This summer, my friend, neighbor and fellow ward member Alison Chan asked if I would be interested in doing a running program with her.
Let me back up. I have never been a runner. I couldn't run a mile in Jr. High if my frizzy fro was on fire. I couldn't run a half mile, quarter mile...a lap. I couldn't run to the mail box.
But I was lonely, still fighting pregnancy weight, and defiantly needing a project, so I said yes. Alison found this program online called "Couch Potato to 5K" and we set the goal to run our first 5K by Thanksgiving.
I am not going to lie. It was tough. And there was no way I could have done it without Alison's help. Some particularly difficult milestones were running 3 straight minutes, our 4th of July run in 95 degree weather, running 8 miles straight, running 20 minutes straight, and coming back after a two week break to complete my first 30 minute run (I'll never forget this run. It was 6:30 am, the wind was howling, and when we were about half way done I looked at Alison and said, "I hate running". She laughed and said "Me too.")
But all the hard work paid off, and on September 29th, Alison and I ran the Kennewick Washington Annual Grape Crush Rush invitational. We finished 21 out of 28 women, but the point is we finished. As we ran into the finishing area, I started to tear up and I thanked Alison for this experience. Shane, Hank, a big group of Shane's family, and some ward members were there to cheer us at the finish line. It was a great moment.
I love Autumn! For the past four years we have missed this season so much while living in Arizona. The leaves on the trees are so beautiful, the air feels crisp, and Agri-Tourism is in full force! 
