checking things off.

guys! i finally did my triathlon! the goal first crossed my mind while watching my 80 year old grandpa compete in the st. george senior games. it was so inspiring to watch him, in his frail state, swim, bike, and then finally cross the finish line running. AT 80!!!

... that was in 2007. 

HA! so yes, this has been on my to-do list for 7 years. and on labour day, i finally finished. 350 yards swimming, 12.5 miles biking, and a 5k. woo!

we're all so happy to be posing in our swim-wear. 

here i am, waiting to start. i was mainly thinking, will everyone laugh at me if i plug my nose when i jump in?

then at the end of the bike and run. if you think i look extraordinarily happy it's cause I WAS! i felt so happy and accomplished. you know sometimes, in special moments, when you feel like you're really living life to the fullest, getting the most out of what heavenly father has given you? this was one of those moments. i'm so grateful for my healthy body, and for my recent desires to be active. for this time of my life where i've had the chance to cultivate new hobbies and talents. i'm grateful to have the opportunity to compete in these kinds of races and to live in a place that offers them, that i was born into a family of adventures/lovers of life, for good weather, for swimming pools, my blue bike, for music that pumps me up. i'm grateful for it all and i know to whom i should offer my thanks.

i did the race with a bunch of extended family, and my dad and sister. it was a blessing training and racing with them. my family has always been my biggest cheerleaders. part of my joy upon finishing was brought by seeing my dad and sister finish.

and here's the whole tri crowd. from left to right, my uncle, me, cousin kenzie (whose influence helped me to sign up, train, and actually DO the race, thanks kenz), sister paige, dad (or roy orbison?) cousin davis, and cousin maddy.

some other things i've been checking off:

- conquering a headstand

- getting a NEW JOB!!! (more information forthcoming) 

- hiking "the living room"

- eating at spitz (a new salt lake city favorite)

- trying a fried oreo (A+++++)

9. hike mount timpanogos and/or the narrows.

16 miles, 11,749 feet, second highest summit in the wasatch range, 10 hours. i did it! i finally did it! i hiked mount timpanogos!

this item has been on my to-do list for years. i first wanted to do it when i heard about hiking up to the top and sliding a glacier down to the bottom. sounds like a blast but actually it's really dangerous. instead we chose the fail-safe hike-on-foot method and came out (nearly) unscathed.

i say nearly because really i WAS SCATHED. i thought my knee caps would burst while hiking 5 hours down the mountain. then my feet! ouch. the day after, the calf, quad, hip, groin, and shin pain set in. i'm recovering, but my hot yoga class will be wholly welcomed this evening.

ok but guys, the scenery! oh man, i didn't even know! just the view from aspen grove is breath-taking. we did the aspen grove trail and went through pines, aspens, rock fields, and snow; passed a few waterfalls, fields of wild flowers, un-touched streams and lakes, then to beautiful emerald lake. we saw pheasants, mountain goats, and moose. it was all SO beautiful.

next time around i'd like to hike to emerald lake, camp, wake up the next morning and hike to the summit then back down. sounds like the dream backpacking trip to me!

all in all, SO glad i did it. big shout out to my hiking companions steven and tiffany. you guys are the best.

we started hiking when the sun was just coming up. this is the first waterfall you come to.

 

you see vast landscapes on the hike. there are areas that the snow never melts. and it's just so green! 

i loved this little area that looks almost untouched by mankind.

emerald lake was one of my favorite parts. it's about 5 miles up, surrounded by fields of wild flowers and has some of the bluest water i've seen. 

this is looking down on emerald lake from the top. you can see how blue it is from here. to the right you can see the glacier slide that you can ride down from the top.

on the way back we took a good rest on the banks of the lake. so serene.

steven taking in the view from the top.

it was SUPER crowded the day we went. i'd say anywhere from 100 to 150 people were hiking it with us. while doing some research after the hike i learned that prior to 1970, provo held an annual event called the "timp hike" that sent thousands of people up the mountain's slopes. it generally took place on the third or fourth weekend in july (we did it saturday the 26th, the fourth weekend). i take that to mean we chose the best, most historic weekend to hike.

   

the three of us at the top. look at that view!

  

looking south.

  

and here's the finished product, us at the end of the hike. all i wanted to do at this point was take off my shoes and sleep for two days (which is pretty much what i did).

HAPPY! hooray for accomplishing goals! WOO!

26 things to do before i turn 27.

^^^ this is how old i feel. 26! the sound of that is just dripping with antiquity. guys, i've got a lot to do in my life. here's what i'll focus on for the next year:

1. participate in a sprint triathlon.

happening september 1st!

2. ^^^ take swimming lessons to prepare. 

3. read the old testament.

4. read the new testament.

5. make pickles.

6. write and mail at least one snail-mail letter per month (preferably to a different person each time).

i'll count this as checked off, but i was REAL good at the beginning and then trailed off into awful.

7. throw a "pop-up" dinner party.

i'm counting a progressive dinner we threw in february for this one.

8. get a passport.

9. hike mount timpanogos and/or the narrows.

10. go camping at least 5 times.

11. search for the best late-night eatery in salt lake.

12. take a cooking class.

13. paint something.

14. become a rock climber.

15. go to a full day at the movies.

16. participate in a random act of service.

17. do a front flip into a pool.

18. grow trash can potatoes.

19. write a letter to my 30 year old self.

20. do stuff by myself.

21. stay at a dude ranch, do dude ranch things.

22. take a trip via train.

23. get a deep tissue massage.

24. make (and eat) and 6 course meal.

25. create a time capsule.

26. get acupuncture.

to see how i've fared in previous years, here's 25 things, and 24 things.