Sorry I am so slow to finish this trip report, but here we go.
We woke up early on Monday ready to drive home. I had packed the night before, so we were ready to roll out. We had to load some things into the car and then say good-bye to Matt’s grandparents. Then we were gone.
First stop was the hotel where my parents were staying. We loaded their stuff in the car and headed to our next stop. Next stop was McDonalds for breakfast. Third and final stop before we got on the freeway was supposed to be the gas station for gas (and Diet Coke) but the gas station we planned on visiting was closed, so we hopped on the freeway with plans to stop again soon.
One of my favorite things about the drive in and out of Palm Springs is the wind farms. There are all these amazing wind mills! When we came in to the city the wind wasn’t blowing and the turbines were still, but on our way out they were spinning like crazy. It was fun.
We made our first gas stop in Twenty-nine Palms. This was the first test of my being able to get out of the car after an hour of sitting. I hurt – a lot! We limped around and filled up the drink mug and the car and tried to stretch out. I knew it was going to be a long day for my poor muscles.
Our trip home was the same way we came out, through the Mojave National Preserve, via Amboy and Kelso (don’t forget Cima!) We made another stop in Kelso to stretch again. I was not doing well, but at least on this trip I remembered to take my motion sickness medicine, so I didn’t have to worry about being car sick, just sore.
We tried to keep the stops short since we had such a long trip ahead of us. We made stops in Vegas and Mesquite for walking breaks. In St. George we stopped for lunch. Matt has a strange love for Jack in the Box (which I accept, but will never understand). So we stopped there and picked up some food.
The drive from St. George to Ogden is less fun for me than the St. George to Palm Springs part. Maybe it is because I have seen it before, maybe it is because we were on the Freeway and there was less to see. But I don’t remember much about this part of the trip. The road got more and more crowded as we got closer to Utah County. With thicker traffic came stupid people and bad driving. But we made it!
We got home in time to return the rental car and get a good night’s sleep before work on Tuesday.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Friday, March 5, 2010
Day 3 Part 2 - Palm Springs
After the race we went back to Matt’s Granparent’s house and cleaned up. We knew I would be in trouble if I sat down for very long, so we quickly jumped back into the car and picked up my parents at their hotel.
Our original plan was to go for a hike. Matt remembered doing this hike as a kid and said it was easy and fun. We drove around until we found the road the hike was on. It (supposedly) led to a beautiful palm tree lined canyon. However, we got to the gate and found out that it cost $8 per PERSON to go in the canyon. There was a line of cars we had to wait in. While waiting we decided it probably wasn’t worth $32 to walk around for an hour, so we turned the car around and headed to downtown Palm Springs.
We decided to just wander around the city and see what was going on. I was feeling pretty good, but I could tell my legs were sore and that it was going to take a while to get them totally up and moving. The other thing I observed during our walk was that it was really warm. It was probably about 80 degrees, and I was seeking shade! I reminded myself what I was coming home to, and it made it easier to just enjoy the heat.
We stopped and looked in a few stores, but mostly we were just trying to keep moving. As we continued to walk past restaurants and cafes we realized that we hadn’t had lunch, or anything to eat really, since the race. We decided take a short break at a cute little Mexican restaurant.
Unfortunately, it had the SLOWEST service I have had for a long time. We sat there for what seemed like forever until we even placed our order. By then I was almost full from chips and salsa (at least the salsa was spicy!). We finally ordered and ate and then sat waiting for the waiter to come back with the bill. This is when we realized that our car was about to hit the limit on where it was parked, so Matt and I hurried down the street while my parents stayed behind to pay. We made it back to the car before any tickets showed up on the windshield, which is good. Then we circled around and picked up my parents. They went back to their hotel to swim and relax. We went back to Matt’s grandparent’s house and napped.
That evening we were invited to dinner with Tom and Mary (Mary is Matt’s Grandpa’s Sister). Mom and Dad were invited too, so we picked them up and drove out to Tom and Mary’s house. There were a lot of people at dinner, and we had a good time talking and eating. It was getting a little bit harder for me to walk at this point, but we were still having fun. Matt’s Grandpa was bragging about us to everyone there, saying that we had finished the race. That felt pretty good (yes, I am vain).
But soon we had to leave and get back to pack and sleep. We had to wake up early the next day for the drive home.
Coming Soon – Day 4, the LONG drive
Our original plan was to go for a hike. Matt remembered doing this hike as a kid and said it was easy and fun. We drove around until we found the road the hike was on. It (supposedly) led to a beautiful palm tree lined canyon. However, we got to the gate and found out that it cost $8 per PERSON to go in the canyon. There was a line of cars we had to wait in. While waiting we decided it probably wasn’t worth $32 to walk around for an hour, so we turned the car around and headed to downtown Palm Springs.
We decided to just wander around the city and see what was going on. I was feeling pretty good, but I could tell my legs were sore and that it was going to take a while to get them totally up and moving. The other thing I observed during our walk was that it was really warm. It was probably about 80 degrees, and I was seeking shade! I reminded myself what I was coming home to, and it made it easier to just enjoy the heat.
We stopped and looked in a few stores, but mostly we were just trying to keep moving. As we continued to walk past restaurants and cafes we realized that we hadn’t had lunch, or anything to eat really, since the race. We decided take a short break at a cute little Mexican restaurant.
Unfortunately, it had the SLOWEST service I have had for a long time. We sat there for what seemed like forever until we even placed our order. By then I was almost full from chips and salsa (at least the salsa was spicy!). We finally ordered and ate and then sat waiting for the waiter to come back with the bill. This is when we realized that our car was about to hit the limit on where it was parked, so Matt and I hurried down the street while my parents stayed behind to pay. We made it back to the car before any tickets showed up on the windshield, which is good. Then we circled around and picked up my parents. They went back to their hotel to swim and relax. We went back to Matt’s grandparent’s house and napped.
That evening we were invited to dinner with Tom and Mary (Mary is Matt’s Grandpa’s Sister). Mom and Dad were invited too, so we picked them up and drove out to Tom and Mary’s house. There were a lot of people at dinner, and we had a good time talking and eating. It was getting a little bit harder for me to walk at this point, but we were still having fun. Matt’s Grandpa was bragging about us to everyone there, saying that we had finished the race. That felt pretty good (yes, I am vain).
But soon we had to leave and get back to pack and sleep. We had to wake up early the next day for the drive home.
Coming Soon – Day 4, the LONG drive
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Day 3 Part 1, the Race!
I woke up early on Sunday morning. I get so nervous about stupid things. I wasn’t worried about finishing the race or anything like that, I was worried about showing up too late and not having time to stretch out or not being able to find a parking place close by. Yes, I worry way too much. So we ate our breakfast (yummy oatmeal) and gathered all our stuff together and then piled in the car. We drove out to pick up my Dad at his hotel. The sun was already up at 6:30 – which was a bad sign since the race started at 7. We found a parking spot and didn’t have to walk too far to get to the starting line. There were a lot of people there, most in line for the porta-potties. We walked around and got ready for the race. Matt was running the 5K which started 15 minutes after the half started. Finally, it was time. Everyone lined up (the elite athletes in the front, me in the back) and soon we were off.
I had a plan for this race. I was going to add a little running, since I had been training with running I felt good about this. I was still going to walk the majority of the race because I wasn’t in good enough shape to run it. So my plan was to walk the first ¾ mile and to run the last ¼. This worked really well to start. I was having fun, and doing great. There were WAY less people in this race than the race at Disneyland, and most of the people in this race were very good runners. I was way behind the pack, and at times I was all alone.
Before the race we had printed a course map from the organizers website. I noticed right away that we were not following the course that I had mapped in my head. Very early in the race, about mile 3, there was a really long steep hill. It took me a while to get up it! This is when I started to see the elite runners going back the other way. (there were a lot of out and backs on the course). Once I made it up the long steep hill, I went steeply down the other side, around a couple blocks, then back up this hill. I could see the main group of runners on the other side of the turn ahead of me, but I was close enough to the pack that we didn’t pass each other going opposite directions.
Back up the hill, then down the long decent. I was feeling really good. It was about mile 5 and I had been on the course for about an hour. My time was killer and I was happy.
It was about 8:00 now, and probably near 70 degrees. I was hot and starting to get tired. We weaved around town for a while. I was still feeling pretty good. But that changed about mile 8. I just stopped feeling good. I had followed the course on another out and back and I was headed back toward the park where we started. The group around me was really thin, there were a few ladies I could see ahead of me, and some behind, but no one really close. During my run in mile 7 or 8 I stared feeling really bad. I decided that I would try to get more water, and that I wouldn’t try running again for a couple miles. Everything from this point on seemed to be up hill. It was hot.
About mile 9 I crossed a street to see Matt and my Mom standing on the corner! There were no people cheering on this course. It was pretty dead, so to see them made me happy. Matt and his Grandma had made signs and they were up on the trees as I ran past this block. They made me happy and I realized I had to keep going!
I hit mile 10 and was feeling bad, but I knew I could do it. I knew that even if I walked slow I was going to beat my time of 3:00 at the last race. I didn’t have to push it more than I could, but somewhere in the back of my mind a voice really wanted to finish in 2:45. It really REALLY did. I started to figure and think and try to decide how fast I had to go to get that time. I felt pretty good that I could do it – if I just didn’t die first!
The last part of the race was weaving up and down and around blocks near the park where we would finish. I kept thinking we were close, but then I knew it was only mile 11 or mile 12. Finally I reached mile 13 and turned a corner where I could see the finish. I decided to run again and I rounded the corner. Matt was there with some roses (it was Valentine’s day) and he followed me on the side as I came around the block to the finish line. Then – I was done. In 2 hours and 44 minutes (and some seconds). I sat down so they could get the chip off my shoe and then I was ready for a BIG drink. Sadly all they had left was water and some yucky old apples.
I tried to stretch out and then we walked slowly to the car. First stop – a gas station for a BIG diet coke.
Coming soon – Day 3 part 2, An Afternoon in Palm Springs
I had a plan for this race. I was going to add a little running, since I had been training with running I felt good about this. I was still going to walk the majority of the race because I wasn’t in good enough shape to run it. So my plan was to walk the first ¾ mile and to run the last ¼. This worked really well to start. I was having fun, and doing great. There were WAY less people in this race than the race at Disneyland, and most of the people in this race were very good runners. I was way behind the pack, and at times I was all alone.
Before the race we had printed a course map from the organizers website. I noticed right away that we were not following the course that I had mapped in my head. Very early in the race, about mile 3, there was a really long steep hill. It took me a while to get up it! This is when I started to see the elite runners going back the other way. (there were a lot of out and backs on the course). Once I made it up the long steep hill, I went steeply down the other side, around a couple blocks, then back up this hill. I could see the main group of runners on the other side of the turn ahead of me, but I was close enough to the pack that we didn’t pass each other going opposite directions.
Back up the hill, then down the long decent. I was feeling really good. It was about mile 5 and I had been on the course for about an hour. My time was killer and I was happy.
It was about 8:00 now, and probably near 70 degrees. I was hot and starting to get tired. We weaved around town for a while. I was still feeling pretty good. But that changed about mile 8. I just stopped feeling good. I had followed the course on another out and back and I was headed back toward the park where we started. The group around me was really thin, there were a few ladies I could see ahead of me, and some behind, but no one really close. During my run in mile 7 or 8 I stared feeling really bad. I decided that I would try to get more water, and that I wouldn’t try running again for a couple miles. Everything from this point on seemed to be up hill. It was hot.
About mile 9 I crossed a street to see Matt and my Mom standing on the corner! There were no people cheering on this course. It was pretty dead, so to see them made me happy. Matt and his Grandma had made signs and they were up on the trees as I ran past this block. They made me happy and I realized I had to keep going!
I hit mile 10 and was feeling bad, but I knew I could do it. I knew that even if I walked slow I was going to beat my time of 3:00 at the last race. I didn’t have to push it more than I could, but somewhere in the back of my mind a voice really wanted to finish in 2:45. It really REALLY did. I started to figure and think and try to decide how fast I had to go to get that time. I felt pretty good that I could do it – if I just didn’t die first!
The last part of the race was weaving up and down and around blocks near the park where we would finish. I kept thinking we were close, but then I knew it was only mile 11 or mile 12. Finally I reached mile 13 and turned a corner where I could see the finish. I decided to run again and I rounded the corner. Matt was there with some roses (it was Valentine’s day) and he followed me on the side as I came around the block to the finish line. Then – I was done. In 2 hours and 44 minutes (and some seconds). I sat down so they could get the chip off my shoe and then I was ready for a BIG drink. Sadly all they had left was water and some yucky old apples.
I tried to stretch out and then we walked slowly to the car. First stop – a gas station for a BIG diet coke.
Coming soon – Day 3 part 2, An Afternoon in Palm Springs
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Trip Day 2
We woke up relatively early (for vacation) on Saturday. We cleaned up and picked up Mom and Dad from their hotel and headed to the Eureka! to get 
breakfast. Matt’s dad had recommended that we join the player’s club and get a discount on the buffet. So Matt and I went through the process of joining that (and got a nice free coffee mug). We had the buffet for breakfast, and I tried to be good and not eat too much – but it was a buffet! What was I supposed to do? So we ate for a while and then we were on the road.
breakfast. Matt’s dad had recommended that we join the player’s club and get a discount on the buffet. So Matt and I went through the process of joining that (and got a nice free coffee mug). We had the buffet for breakfast, and I tried to be good and not eat too much – but it was a buffet! What was I supposed to do? So we ate for a while and then we were on the road. There are different ways to get from Mesquite to Palm Springs. There is the easy, classic route via the freeway, and there is the scenic route through the Mojave National Preserve. (there is a third way – via Searchlight Nevada, but it is not recommended).
Prior to leaving we decided to take the route through the Mojave Preserve. I looked up information online and it seemed like it would be scenic. Also, after the night of freeway traffic Matt was ready for a drive with very few other cars to bother him.
We made a quick stop on our way through Las Vegas. My parents have never seen the fountains at the Bellagio. We pulled off the freeway, parked at the hotel/casino and made our way to the fountains. We stood there for a while, just waiting. I knew they would go any minute! There were quite a few people coming and going, some stopping for a few minutes, other walking right on by. Finally we went to one of the nearby shops and asked them about the show times. We were informed that the fountains don’t start until noon. It was only 11. We had already been there a half an hour, so we sadly left without seeing the show. I guess Las Vegas isn’t worried about keeping morning people happy.
Back in the car and on the way we headed down the freeway and then made our turn onto the small road that would take us through Cima and Kelso. The GPS unit we had with us was a little concerned about our plan – he didn’t really like it. He really wanted us to get back on the freeway. At one point he tried to send us down a little dirt road that he thought went back to the freeway. I now understand how people can get lost in the wilderness with these GPS units. You still have to know where you are going.
Luckily we did know where we were going and we were going to Kelso Station. It is actually a really cool old rail road station in the Middle of Nowhere. We stopped to stretch and look around for a moment. We were on a schedule, since we needed to be to Palm Springs before 4:00 to pick up our race packets. So we didn’t stay long at Kelso and soon we were back on the road.The road from Kelso to Amboy (the next sign of civilization) takes you past a really large sand dune area and some awesome mountains. It was a very pretty ride. I didn’t get to look around much, because I accidentally packed my motion sickness pills, and I was not doing well at this point in the ride.
The ride continued through Amboy, 29 Palms and then finally into Palm Springs. We reached the city at about 3:30. I was feeling good that we would make it to the store in time to get our packets. I plugged the address of the running store in the GPS and we were set. Unfortunatly the route we took through Palm Springs took us right down the main road, which is CRAZY on a Saturday afternoon. It took us about 15 minutes to get the 2 miles down that road. Finally we reached the store and picked up our packets. Now we were official and ready for the race!
We dropped my mom and dad off at their hotel and then drove to Matt’s Grandparent’s house. At this point I was DONE being in the car! I did not feel good and I was a bummer and took a nap. Matt and Ray (his Grandpa) went to pick us up some food while I slept. They brought back some pizza and we ate that while we watched the U of U lose a basketball game. I went to bed early and got ready for the next day.
Coming soon: Race Day
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