by I couldn’t sleep Friday night because I was so excited for an easy 7.5 miles (65 total for the week) @ 8:43 pace and then to watch the trials with my friends.
I wish this happened every Saturday morning. I have some thoughts and questions, but they are jumbled, so here we go:
*It’s amazing how relatable the pros are…. Yes, Connor and Clayton are running 4 minutes per mile faster than me, but watching them help each other, the high-fives, the words of encouragement… We get it. I’ve had many races/workouts where the same thing happened with my friends and me, and you know how special that bond is. I loved watching it.
*Jared’s interview afterward where he got emotional… Such a class act. He had to drop from the race due to a high hamstring injury, but his joy for his teammates was touching.
*Was that blood on Fiona O’Keeffe’s bib?? Can you imagine it being your FIRST marathon and then winning the Olympic Trials?! The Olympic Trials record for the women was 2:24:38 (Shalane’s record), and O’Keeffe took 2:28 off that time for her first marathon. She ran a 5:09 mile at mile 25!
*Why do you think Clayton had Connor win? Is there something with Connor maybe earning more for 1st? I know they chose to tie and split the earnings in one race, so I almost wonder if something like that happened. Is it because Connor helped Clayton get to this level and pulled him? Was Clayton worried that Connor wouldn’t finish without him because he was hurting? Or was it because Connor has done that for Clayton in a different race? From everything I know about these two guys, they are as wholesome and amazing as it gets. They love their families, are honest, and work incredibly hard. These are the kind of people I want my kids to look up to.
*Another Utahn that I adore:
*I loved learning that Dakota Lindwurm was a division 2 walk-on athlete, and then she took THIRD for the women in the Olympic Trials.
*After taking 4th place in 2020, I was so happy for Leonard Korir. Do we think he will be able to go to Paris? I feel horrible for Zach Panning after he led the race for so long and fell behind in the final miles.
*My heart broke for so many, but especially for Sara Hall. She has worked for so many years to get on an Olympic team, and at 40 years old, she was just 35 seconds behind 3rd place. It was her best placement in the Olympic Trials, which is pretty incredible, and she set a new Women’s Masters US record.
*MY FRIEND (on the far right) TOOK 12TH AT THE OLYMPIC TRIALS! She was seeded 24th going into the race. I am so happy for her and can’t wait to celebrate with her in Spain (she is coming too)!
*I’m baffled why so many people didn’t think Clayton Young would finish in the top 3?! He was basically chit-chatting to Connor in the final 400-meter stretch. I love that he embraced the underdog mentality and didn’t let that hold him back.
*I really want to try the Puma shoes that Fiona was wearing!
*I will rely on you to tell me about any good podcasts that come out about any of the athletes.
*Dakota’s pink and orange color combo is my goal for a race this year.
*Clayton’s brilliant idea of switching hats and keeping the rules… they were in his water bottles!
*What is wrong with me…. Watching them all hurt so bad in the end made me excited to do it myself in 13 days.
The food we ate while we watched was another reason it was such a good morning.
*I need you to make this sweet potato and bacon hash dish. It was super simple, too!
Also, the Pecan Kringle from TJ’s reigns supreme over any other Kringles. I was skeptical, but it won.
On Saturday, we went to a UVU basketball game:
Winter showed up again:
Of course, it would be silly for all of the kids to be sick at the same time… we like to draw sickness out for as long as we can. Poor guy had a rough Sunday.
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Please give me your thoughts on the trials!
What was the best thing you ate over the weekend?
Had sickness in your house this winter?
Will you be watching the super bowl on Sunday? Brooke wants to know who you are cheering for (she is all about the 49ers).
