Moab, Moab, Moab.....

Us at the park relaxing in the Spring Moab sun!

Well, what a couple of weeks we had! Teeny and I were busy packing and unpacking for a week it seemed. Our first outing was to Moab for the annual Half Marathon. I was the only one of us two who was lucky, or unlucky (keep reading to find out why), enough to be drawn out to run in the race. We were stoked because the weather was going to be awesome (mid 70's to mid 80's), and most of the fam was going to be down there (missed ya, Rachy, Ava, and Doug) . We hadn't seen temps like that for a long dang while (was it just me or was it one bitter winter??!). So the marathon people told everyone to hydrate well and so I did. I had a giant thing of Gatorade for the three days previous to the race and then a big ole jug on the day of the race. It didn't start til 10am so it was plenty hot by the start time. No worries though, right? Ha ha ha..... I get down the canyon (10.5 miles into the 13) about the time I was expecting and was on track for a 2 hour half marathon...super! Everyone was there to pump me up for the last little push to the finish line and I felt pretty good. Chug, chug, chug, I was getting a little tired, but could see the next water station half mile away, straight into the sun (it's gotta be 80 degrees by now). Then, BAM, it hits me.....groggy step 1..2......3........4........you get the idea, and before I knew it I'd passed out. I have no recollection of what happened between the time I went down and loading me in the ambulance, but they say I never lost consciousness. Luckily, a doctor was right behind me when I went down and he stuck with me throughout the ordeal not finishing his race. Granted, he was a doctor and was only doing what he should, but I can't be more thankful to him for staying with me. I remember him being a large part of the ambulance ordeal and getting me stable and the hospital. I asked him his name before he finally left, but in the state I was in I totally forgot it. Thank you, whomever you are, for stopping and caring that much. All the while Teeny and the fam where all waiting at the finish line for me to come hobbling in. 10 minutes, 20 minutes, half hour, 45 minutes....where the stink is he? Teeny was sure I was dead in some ditch and so she started to back track the route. Now I don't remember a lot, but I remember telling people to call my wife, call my wife... Her cell number was one of the few things I remembered, but they never did. My dad finally went to the medical tent and found out that I was in the hospital, but doing OK. He, my ma, and Teeny hurried over. I sat in the hospital room for a good hour before I saw anyone familiar and let me tell you, the most confusing hour of my life. I couldn't see my future, if that makes any sense. Scared and shocked that all this had just happened to me. Then, in walked Nate and Jodi and family....getting better already, and then Ma and Pa, better still, then Teeny....finally good. It was a little scary for both of us, but having family around helped my little pea brain put the pieces back together. I couln't spell words backwards for the doctor like "world" which was a little concerning, but all the tests and labs came back fine. About 4 hours after I collapsed, I was released and was able to go back to the motel where I slept the rest of the day. Of all the people to thank my family has to be first. Thanks Nate and Jodi for watching A, checking in on me, and being there to support me. Thanks Ma and Pa for watching the twins and the blessing (Nate too here). Thanks Jesse and Lindy and Kris for gathering my stuff and just being there. And thanks Teeny for being my wife and for the concern, hope and comfort you gave me in those first moments we saw each other. You helped me recover more than anything.

Me and A at mile 10.75 probably, I made it about 11.5, but here I felt great

After all this the family went up to Delicate Arch, where A climbed like a champ, all while I was sleeping off the collapse. The next day, I woke up feeling normal and we were able to hit some arches on the way out of town before heading home. All in all it was a memorable event, but always a bummer to part with family after such a great weekend together.

Ma, Teeny and the boys at Delicate Arch

Teeny at Landscape.....HOT!