Marathon Mayhem!

Salt Lake City Marathon. April 18, 2009.

It was a cloudy morning, the sun had not yet peaked its weary eyes over the east mountains. It seemed all that was missing was wet asphalt and the smell of fresh ozone after a rain shower. Team Zurvival's members all gathered at the starting lines of the Salt Lake City Marathon's 5K event and Half Marathon. The gun fired and the masses moved in one large wave of bobbing heads down the road. Team Zurvival weaved in and out of the crowd, passing the walkers and the strollers. Each member strained to get to the front of the pack and eventually worked to first, second, third, and fourth place, effectively blocking out all other runners. Fast they ran, pulling ahead of all other contenders and soon the finish line was in sight! The crowds hovered close to the gates that separated the athletes from the fans. They rang bells, clapped loudly and yelled and screamed as all of Team Zurvival created a mult-color line; running in unison. A blurr of red, blue, pink, and gray broke the finish line in record time! The crowd grows wild with excitement as the announcer yells "WAY TO GO TEAM ZURVIVAL! A RECORD FINISH FOR THE 5K!".



Ok... that's what could have happened. Here is the real story though. Team Zurvival did run the 5K event, and I did run the Half Marathon and we had a great time! But I can only account for what I ran as the rest of the team was miles away from me. I was running late as the Trax train wasn't there when I got to the station. I waited for the train and met up with a fellow B-12 runner who just happened to be there at the same time. Julie wasn't registered for the race, but was out supporting her friend (another B-12er) as a pacer. We were late already, and then the train had to stop and wait on the tracks making us almost 20 minutes behind. We arrived at Olympic bridge. Julie started off to find her friend (a herculean feat), and I headed to the starting mat to check in with my timing chip. I started down the road on the first mile and got into a good rhythm. At mile 2 I was starting to feel my heart rate raise and a small sweat start to bead. I was warm now and ready to run. Just before mile 3 I spotted Julie on the corner, "Have you seen her yet?" I hadn't and directed her down the road where I knew the runners would be and easy for her to head them off at.

I continued on hitting the first aid station at mile 3. Nature was calling, but I couldn't answer. I was going to break 2 hours this year, that was my goal, and that meant no stopping. The race turned downhill just past the mile marker and I lengthened my stride to take in the nice rest. Some people feel that the downhill on runs are hard on the knees, but I enjoy them. They give my calves a rest and my heart beat lowers giving me a boost at the bottom of the hill.

The split for the marathoners and half marathoners was on the horizon at the bottom of the hill and there was Julie again, sitting on the corner. Again she asked if I had seen Shannen yet. I hadn't. I told her where the runners would be coming back towards the finish line and she headed off to again head them off. Mile 5 was coming up and I was 43 minutes into the run, not quite my best time, especially if I was going to finish in my goal time. Another aid station, more Gatorade, another cliff shot, and I wasn't stopping. I was averaging just under 9 minute miles and I was in a good pace.

Mile 6, started to feel a little pain in my calves... blew it off. Mile 7, back is hurting... it's nothing. Mile 8, quads were tight, but on I went. Just 5 more to go I kept saying, just another 40 minutes. Mile 9 we were running through the neighborhoods of Salt Lake and the crowds were out in support of all the runners. Music, signs, and cheering people were keeping us all going hard. There were the select few that seemed to be taunting the runners though by cooking bacon on the sidewalk and yelling "Come and get it! Bacon! Get your bacon here!". Others were gathered on the corner in their bathrobes and beanies with a cup of joe scratching their scruff with a look of wonderment on their face as if they were thinking, "What are all these people doing? Are they crazy?".

At mile 10 I could feel the wall coming. I was slowing down a bit to 9:30 minute miles. I looked up from in front of me to scan the people I was still passing and there was Julie and Shannen! She had found her finally.



It was inspiring; I picked up the pace. Just a 5K to go! Mile 11 the wall hit hard. The smell of bacon was still in my nostrils, I was hurting all over trying to stay below 10 minute miles and there was a change to the course that I was NOT EXPECTING. A hill for mile 11 to 12! A slow, long hill all the way up State street towards the Capital building. It was cool to run downtown but this seemed UPtown! I was dying. I remembered the words that my friend once told me,"Just put one foot in front of the other dude." And that's what I did, all the way up the hill.

Last mile, I picked up the pace. I was 4 minutes away from 2 hours and I knew that I had failed to meet my goal, but I was going to go out strong. Running up the final last quarter mile I broke out into a dash and then a sprint as the crowds cheers raised up the strength within me.

The finish line was just a few steps away. There were the other members of TEAM ZURVIVAL cheering me on! Taking pictures! Shouting and clapping! I was done! Yes! Time for a cup of coffee! and maybe some bacon? We all celebrated at Starbucks and dined on coffee candy and great hot steaming cups of joe. Another memory in the books for Zurvival! Congratulations to Lindsay & Andrew Taylor, Ettienne Butler, Kristin Vincent, Gabe & Brian Zettel, and Chris, Holly, & Tally Martineau. Team member Liz was missing in action, but we will catch her next time!



2:05 was my final time. Next time I will break 2 hours. And next time maybe other team members will run with me. Team Zurvival would like to thank all those who supported us on our run and in our rund raising for Huntsman Cancer Foundation. We met our goal and had a great race thanks to all of you. Thanks to the B-12 running club for all your support as well and help with training. Now its on to the Sapper Joe in May! GO TEAM ZURVIVAL!

Easter Camping!

Easter weekend, forecast of rain and possibly snow. The Zettler's headed out to Antelope Island for a weekend of fun-filled, egg hunting fun. White Rock campground was our destination, which is kind of funny since this is number 2 camping trip for the season and both have been to a different White Rock.

When we arrived Gabe and his troopers were already set up and ready and dinner was on the fire. It was only noon, but this trip we had the pleasure of having a real chef cooking dinner. Joey, a cousin of Gabe's had a chili verde on the fire as well as a made-from-scratch macaroni for the kids. When dinner time came around we were all hungry little wolves and we tore that awesome verde up! I recommend the recipe to everyone!


Here it is for those who would like to find out how good it really was:

"Here is the general recipe and you can make it larger or smaller depending on how many people you have.
Sautee about six ozs. pork and a half a onion until browned. Add a touch of corn starch, a pinch of cumin and stir and add three roasted and diced Aneheim and a jalepeno (more if desired). Add enough water to cover meat. Simmer until pork is tender, usually two to four hours. Sautee onions and rice (already prepared) then add water, chicken base and tomato sauce. Simmer until cooked all the way through."

We ate until we could fit no more into our bellies! Then we all sat back and relaxed into the evening as the kids played and dug a large hole out in the open area near our campsite. On the horizon we could all see a nice storm headed our way. The front was closing on us fast so we started to ready the camp for rain. And rain it did.

For around 2 hours we all endured the cold misty rain, hovering under the canopy or hanging out in the tent until it let up. All except for one... Andrew. He ran around outside with his little face turned up and his tongue hanging out as he tried to catch the rain in his mouth! He got soaking wet.

The rain subsided and everyone gathered around the fire to dry out and get warm as they ate the warm S'mores. The night air became cool and as the fire died out we all retired to a warmer sleeping bag.

(On a side note, if you are ever camping at Antelope Island, make sure you camp at Bridger Bay and not at White Rock if you want to see a beautiful sunset. We drove over to Bridger because we knew from previous trips that the sunsets were beautiful on that side of the island).

The next morning the Easter Bunny came. Once all the kids were up and outside the hunt was on for the Golden Egg that the Easter Bunny had hid very well. All the youngsters swarmed the field looking for all the eggs filled with money, candy and toys. They had a great time and finally found the Golden Egg.


Shortly after everyone was busy eating breakfast and then helping pack up camp. We had all decided to head over to the Bridger Bay beach and spend the rest of the gorgeous Easter day in the sand.

On the beach the kids played with the seagulls and dug more holes in the sand.


We all walked to the edge of the Great Salt Lake and skipped stones and waded in the water. All except Andrew... he ran into the water, shoes on and all. That kid loves the water!


A great trip and a great way to spend Easter. We all went home with sunburns and sand in our shorts!