RRR and 12 Pink tacos to go....

After doing the Red Rock Relay last year I told myself as fun as it was once was enough.  I found myself not only doing it again this year but in charge of trying to get the team together.  Clints work was amazing and sponsored us.  Then Haley, Ris, Sun and I put our heads together and came up with a team rather quickly given a bump in the road here or there and the 12 pink taco's were born.  To come up with a name was the first thing on the list.  An all girls team deserved an all girls name!  The Idea for the name came from Sun's husband and snowballed from there. We bought shirts then the Inkspot donated all the printing.  Ris came up with some awesome tattoo's!I might add that we were the most talked about team in the race said one of the race directors.  In a good way!!!  Here we all are before the race!!

Melissa*-Tasty taco*--Biz*-Tan taco*--Ris*-Dirty taco--*Sam*-Jersey taco--*Sun*-24 hour taco*--Shar*-Talkin Taco--*Jenn*-Weeping taco--*Haley*-"Run"-ning taco--*-Shan*-Never ending taco*--Cass*-Vegas taco*--Anne*-Twinkle toes taco--*Kristen*-Turbo taco***
Everyone came up with a name that in some way defines who they are or goes with there personalities etc... 

This is van #1

**Sun, Jenn,me,Shar,Ris,Haley**

This year we all went up together.  Rented 2 suburbans and all stayed at Haley's father in laws house in St. George.  It made it so so nice to have somewhere to go before and after the race to hang out and SHOWER!!  We all had a blast together. Staying up way to late (not smart van 1) eating, talking and doing what girls do!  Our suburbans looked so great by the way!!  Getting them cleaned after was not so great.  But well worth it!! 

First up Was Sun.  She rode the chair lift up Brian Head ski resort and ran down the mountain to hand off to Haley.  Coming down a rocky terrain and weeds and bushes up to your arm pits is not easy.  She "rocked" it!!  She was always geared up to start the next group of legs.  On the start of the second group of legs she was already up and going before I could snap pictures of the hand off.  Her third and final leg started out with a big hill. Not what you are looking forward to at 5 am!  This was Sun's first experience with this as it was for many of the girls!!! 

Haley is up next to do the "Diablo."  Last year this leg was 4.4 miles.  You really have to do this to understand what it is like.   It was the hardest leg in the race.  I automatically thought of my sister.  She is tough like that.  3 weeks before the race they changed the legs up and lucky her it got shortened to 2.8.  But still 2.8 miles at 11000 ft and gaining 1100 ft!!  If you could see this hill though its a KILLER!!  She ran it like she was taking an average stroll on the sidewalk.  As she did all her legs and the extra leg she ran when one of the girls got hurt as well.  She truly is so tough!  She endures to the end.  Even if it kills her.   She is truly one of the most inspiring people I know!  I love that we got to do this together!!

Haley got to hand off to me.  Haley's leg getting changed meant I picked up her extra.  My leg went from 7 miles medium to 8.4 hard miles.  My map also shows all downhill with only slight "rollers."  I do not know who maps out this race but let me tell you they are full of shit!  Sorry but it is the truth!  I do not like hills.  Truth be told its because they hurt!  I know they are my weakness.  So to start my leg I look up and there is a mother of a long hill.  And hills all the way through.  No rollers! To add to this run it has started to sprinkle.  Sprinkle that turned to rain, sleet, snow and eventually hail,  thunder and lightening!!  I don't remember listening to my ipod I just remember telling myself the faster you go the faster you are done.  I swear it helps knowing you have 11 other people that are waiting on you to finish.  You have to give it your all.  I ran it in 1 hour 9 minutes at an average pace of 8.20.

My second run started around 9pm.  It was 4.6 miles of  hell.  It climbed for 2.6 miles of a 500 ft gain and dropped for 2.  This for me was my hardest leg.  It took me 41 minutes and it sucked!  I got done and was looking at pictures and realized I Ris had to peel the band off my arm.  I am still wondering how I got done and where I was.  This is one leg I truly wish Ris, Haley and I were not back to back.  I for sure could have used a partner to help push me.

My third leg started at 620 am.  It was 2.56 miles.  Knowing this is it I wanted to get in and get done.  took me 20 minutes average pace of 8.10.   Yes thats me bent over "looking" for something in the bushes!! 

I handed off to Ris.  The weather had stopped and made for such a nice run.  Still only 39 degrees out.  Thank goodness she had her gloves to keep warm.  hahaha.  She killed her time as I knew that she would.  Her second leg was nothing short of nightmare run!  It is one of those things you truly have to see to grasp the whole situation.  It is 5.8 miles of hill and pure dirt in the air and on the ground.  One of those runs that test really how much you can push yourself.   You can hardly see its so bad.  She did amazing as I only knew that she would.   She smoked all of her runs.  Its so great to be able to look out and see her singing out loud to herself as she is grooving along!  We really do need to come up with a way to not run back to back so that we can help each other out when we need it!!  she definitely pushes me on some of our mountain runs and I am so thankful for her in so many ways!!

Ris got to hand off to her sister Jenn.  She did awesome.  Coming from sea level and going too 11000 ft above sea level is tough!  She got to run the legs I did last year.  They are not easy and she did amazing!  Her first leg is a solid winding uphill.  Her second run was midnight and hills and solid dirt on the ground and the air.  Her last run is early am and it overlooks the city of St. George.

Jenn handed off to Shar.  Shar got recruited a weak before the run because someone had dropped out.  So glad they did.  Shar was perfect!!!  She was so much FUN to have in the van and she did awesome.  She for sure will forever be a "pink taco."  She is such a positive person as well as a fabulous runner!!  Thanks to her we all now know words to songs I am sure we were mumbling to ourselves before!  We all came home thinking we needed to step up our cooking skills as well!!

I sadly don't have a lot of pictures of van 2.  All I know is that they were all amazing.  We were with them on the final legs of the race.  Seeing them run those uphills in the dead heat was crazy!  All in all could not have asked for a better team!!  It took us 28 hours to finish.  We ended up coming in 5th for the girls over all and 50th out of 212 teams. I think of this race kind of like child birth.  You are so excited and scared to start. Then comes the pushing, exhaustion, can I do this, no sleep, getting sick, dry heaving/throw ups etc.. Then when its all done you forget the pain and you are left with a feeling of accomplishment and "did I really just do that!" I always say that I won't run it again but I am sure I'll be in and ready to go for next year!  One thing is for sure I could not imagine doing it without my sister and best friends!  It makes the WORLD of difference knowing they have got your back!

This is probably one of my favorite photo's from the race.

For more insight go here and here!!!!  I love reading every one's different views from the race!!!

Clint's second love..or is it his first?!?!?!

I know Clint loves the Fall as much as I do.  Maybe him even more but for different reasons.  Me, I know that Peaches are over, bring on the pumpkins, leaves changing and cooler temps.  Him.....THE HUNT!!!

I have known from day one what I was getting into when it came to his hunting.  Even more knowing I have three boys.  Especially Colt who is a mini Clint!  Clint LOVES knowing he has three boys to try and get away with every hunt, gadget and gun that he can. Examples...he will say things like "well Colt really needs this gun" or "Dakoda and Gage would have so much fun with this hunt."  Really honey, you have got to come up with something else.  I really try not to complain..meaning-how long you going, when will you be back, who is going and HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?!?  He knows how much getting out with my friends, running, and just me time mean to me.  I know that this is his version of "running." I really try not to touch the subject!

I will say this Elk hunt is way over due. So glad he got a nice one.  I have seen him there for everyone else so its nice to see him get one for a change.  He also went to Montana and got a nice buck.  As nice as all this is I have to say its even nicer that he is finally home!!  Between work and hunts he is over due for some home bonding time!!!

Americas next top model hitting new stands...

So remember when I posted some of the pics from Clint's photo shoot, well they finally went public. Our good friend is making a go of his new project and it is looking so good for him. This particular add is supporting to find a cure for cancer. I am very happy for him and and even more happy that he is supporting such a great cause! I must say that I am kinda proud of my modeling hubby! He He.

Clint and the boys...

More hunting...Clint's dad had a deer tag so Clint decided to take the boys up just for the night. They all stayed out at a good friend of the family's cabin. A BIG thank you to him for giving my boys a place to stay so they would not freeze. They always have so much fun there. Clint stopped on the way there and took them fishing off the bank and they caught some nice fish. Lucky for me, my kids can run the basics of a camera. They got some pretty funny pics. I should say about 150 pictures, here is just a few. Then they headed off to meet Clint's dad. It was a quick one because Clint had to be back for work but the kids had a blast!

on the way down the mountain the kids wanted to ride in the back of the truck. When they finally hit the bottom this is how they found Dakoda. He rode the whole way down this way dead asleep. I can not imagine it was that comfy. I guess when your tired any thing will do!

moose extravaganza...

This is not exactly how I planned to spend this rainy cold Saturday. I was all snug in my bed when...
The story starts with...My dad has put in for a once in a lifetime moose tag for 24 years and finally drew it. He put in for a different area then he has in the past only to find out that there was a massive winter kill in this area so his chances were looking slim to non. Needless to say he has been so bummed. They have put in some pretty grueling hikes and camp outs looking for a moose.
So Clint and my dad got up at 4:30 in the morning to head out before they left I told them they were crazy cause it was raining and cold. Then Clint called around 9:30 to tell me they got one and that I needed to get his frame pack and other supplies and head his way. Gabe, Haley and I took off not knowing really what we are in for, there for I was not dressed the part. Luckily Clint was prepared for both of us. Well I should say that he took his rain gear off and gave it to me cause in his words "he is a freaking mountain goat". It was raining and muddy and cold. We hiked up a pretty steep mountain and finally got there. They had to call in some good friends to bring in the horses and mules to get the sucker out. I am very grateful for that cause I could not imagine trying to pack that out of there down the mountain. A friend of a friend of Clint's showed up who we have never met to help, how nice is that?!? A huge thank you to the Hadlock boys for all there help as well. All in all it was an adventure and I am very happy for my dad!

Sorry if this post makes no sence I am trying to make a very long story short!




I found these pics of my kids on Clint's camera they are from two weeks ago on a trip up the mountains...

Going down the mountain the antlers were sliding all over the saddle so Clint decided to giddy up and pack it down the mountain.

You see the road clear down there...and we are only half way there...

In the end it took 5 horses and a mule and 9 people to get it all done...

The MIGHTY hunter...

I guess I should to do a little posting for my hubby since this blog is about him too, and if I am going to post for him this is what it should be about. Clint LOVES the outdoors and is very passionate about wildlife. Clint finally drew out for the once in a lifetime moose hunt and he got one! You can only draw this tag once and if you do not get one that is it! He was so excited I am sure they were all like kids in a candy store. My dad also drew after 20 years of putting in. He decided to try and put in for a different area and as luck would have it Clint and my dad both drew this year. Clint, Gabe, and my Dad had went the week before and returned looking like they got beat up with a baseball bat and with out a moose. After seeing the video footage they took I knew why. His will be a lot harder but they are bound and determined to do it. Clint lucked out and had a pretty easy hunt. This is when I know Fall is really just around the corner because of the hunts. I am glad that Clint has such great family and friends to hang with and to help out in these situations. His good friends Jake and Steve went and his dad. They all had such a great time and they are looking forward to the rest of the hunts for the season I am sure!