Tour de Cure

On June 11Th Brighton and I did the Tour de Cure for Diabetes. It was our first biking experience and what an experience it was. I did however enjoy it enough to do it again next year. I was not quite sure was I was planning on because I had never done a bike ride before but it went pretty much like all firsts go... Nothing like you plan.

We got up that morning and it was freezing. There were dark clouds every where and we were just hoping that it wasn't going to rain. On the drive down to Brigham city somewhere around the Lagoon area it was raining so hard we could not see the cars next to us. We both decided that if it was raining like that is Brigham city, we were going to pick up our shirts and go home. However, when we got there it was freezing but not raining so we stayed.

We got all of our gear together put on our raining jackets and went to get our numbers. We had left our water in our car so after we got our numbers, went to the bathroom, ate some breakfast, we went back to the car. While we were at the car the race started. Oops. Good thing we didn't have timing chips. The bikers were riding right by our car so we waited until all of the fast bikers pasted us and joined the group. We were only a block from the start so we didn't feel to sad that we missed the start and nobody really cared. It was just another first to add to my list. Jumping in a 'race' once it had started.

The bike ride was really pretty. We saw lots of fields, cow, horses, and my favorite, the mountains. It was away from the city. I actually thought it would be a great place to run. It was very windy though. Once riding we did warm up and took off our jackets but when biking (note for next time) wind is a killer!

We got to the half way point, ate some good food, and went back to the beginning. If I had thought the wind was bad on the way to the half way point it was AWFUL on the way back. I am pretty sure I could have run faster then I was biking. And that is saying a lot considering I run like a snail. At one point the wind was blowing so bad on the side of us that we were riding parallel to the ground. Okay not that bad but it sure did feel like it. It probably did not help that we were biking in mountain bikes. Some guy who was riding next to us and letting us draft off him was telling us that he did his first bike race on a mountain bike and they are like 3 times heavier then a rode bike. He said they are like night and day difference. So next time we do a ride will be on rode bikes. Oh wait... those are like thousands of dollars. So next time we will be on the same mountain bikes. :)

It took us twice as long to get back to the start as it did to get to the half way point. But once we got back we got our free lunch, jerseys, and made it back to our car right as it started raining. Perfect timing. We got a lot of wind but no rain.

Now that I think back at it, I am glad that I did my first bike race for the Tour de Cure. It made me feel kind of proud being out there and biking with Type I diabetes. All of the diabetics there got to ride with Red Jerseys and so when ever I would see a red jersey it made me tear up. Okay not literally the wind was drying my eyes out but I do like seeing other diabetics. I have never let diabetes stop me nor has it ever bothered me to have it but sometimes it is nice to know I am not alone. Just knowing that other people deal with what I deal with everyday is kind of relieving. So THANK YOU to all who donated to help Brighton and I ride to find a cure for diabetes! If they don't find a cure this year hopefully they will be one step closer!! It is something I will always remember and for sure be doing it next year!!

Brighton and I at the half way point! I am pretty sure our faces were slightly frozen at this point.

Standing in line to get our free lunches! I survived! Also, I have noticed that in a lot of my race photos I give a thumbs up. I need to do something different. I need some kind of 'I finished sign'. Any ideas?

Brighton and I in our matching jerseys! We joined the SelectHealth Group and these were our group jerseys. We kind of look like serious riders.

Me in my red jersey! I ride with diabetes!!

The back of my jersey!

Here's to hoping they find a cure some day and getting exercise at the same time!!

Fair Trade

The other day I came down into our basement and found Brighton sitting on our couch just like this.

He has been growing out his red beard until all of our summer adventures are over. I told him I think he looks like a homeless man when he is wearing all of his sweats and eating all hunched over. I also told him that if he didn't have to shave his face I didn't have to shave my legs. I think it is a fair trade. :)

Good Genes

It was my Uncle Norman's 90Th birthday. He is my Grandpa's brother, but we have always called him Uncle Norman. I am pretty sure good genes run in my grandpas side of the family because my grandpa is 94 now his brother is 90 and his other brothers seem to be following in his footsteps.

My Uncle Norman is the man in the top right of this picture.

This is my Uncle Norman with all six of his children.

And to make sure we all got the same genes as the Yates side of the family, they had chili dogs for lunch. Lets just say, they are messy and my sister and I had a fun time trying to see who could be the messiest while eating these. Unfortunately we only got a picture of me. :)

Happy Birthday Uncle Norm!!!

Cake Decorating

Last October we wanted to make a cake for my sister's birthday. We decided to try out fondant. We stayed up till two in the morning trying to make a cake and it turned out TERRIBLE! I was so embarrassed of it that I didn't even take a picture. My sister took it well but it looked like a pile of brown and pink poo. So after we got over our terrible attempt at making a fondant cake Brighton and I decided to take a cake decorating class. I unfortunately don't have to many fun pictures of the cakes we made but I do have some pictures. The one picture I took of a cake was Brighton's cake. My cakes were awful. We made a total of three each. Maybe I am just not cut out for cake decorating.
The course we started out with is the basics of cake making and decorating. It was all done with regular icing and then after we passed that course we could take decorating with fondant. Hopefully I will do better in that class. Only time can tell.

Brighton preparing the 1st cake layer for the homemade mousse feeling he made. (Homemade?!?! Show off.)

The mousse feeling. However, in the picture it does look like peanut butter. Look how concentrated he is. Maybe that is why his cake looks better. I am taking the pictures and he is actually doing the work!

This cake so far is going much better then my sister's birthday cake! The layers are even!

Icing. I learned that there is an art to icing a cake. Who knew?

Our cakes in the fridge, waiting to go to class. :) Brighton's is obviously on the top and mine is on the bottom. This is the ONLY picture you will see of my cake attempts. And after you see it, you will understand why.

Brighton decorating his cake.

TaDa! All done! I would like to take credit for this cake, but nope. It was Brighton's. Who knew he would be so good at decorating cakes!

Our certificates proving WE passed!

We actually did learn a lot from this course and we can't wait to take course number two! I will hopefully take more fun pictures that time around. And hopefully my cakes will look better too!

Tour de Cure - Diabetes!

Dear Fellow Friends!!

On June 12th Brighton and I will be joining more the 50,000 fellow riders from across the country in this year's Tour de Cure to raise money for the American Diabetes Association. I, as a Type I diabetic myself (and have been since 7th grade) have decided to challenge myself and some of my family members and join other bikers in training and riding the 25 mile distance.

Brighton and I are asking for all of your help by making a donation on my behalf. You will be helping the American Diabetes Association further their research on diabetes care, and someday to find a cure!

Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not properly or produce use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. There are 23.6 million American living with diabetes and I am one of them.

We are hoping that our participation in this year's Tour de Cure will help make a little bit of difference, with your support. With the help of people like all of you our goal is to raise $150.00 each! PLEASE help us reach our goals by supporting us for this year's Tour de Cure. Please either go to mine http://main.diabetes.org/site/TR/TourdeCure/UtahArea?px=5979817&pg=personal&fr_id=6894 or Brighton's website http://main.diabetes.org/site/TR/TourdeCure/UtahArea?px=5991988&pg=personal&fr_id=6894, to make a secure donation. If you do not want to donate online, please make your checks payable to American Diabetes Association and include your donation in the same envelope. Please mail your contribution to either Brighton or I! Email me for our address. brookellyn16@hotmail.com

Please help us in stopping diabetes, pedaling one mile at a time!!

Thanksgiving Point

I ran a half marathon on Saturday April 24Th at Thanksgiving Point. I won't lie, I did not train very well for it and I was super nervous. It was the first time Thanksgiving Point was putting on a marathon and you never know how well these things would be run and last time I ran a half untrained, I threw up. Three times. All over Brighton's driveway. So I was nervous.

But the race went amazing!! If all races went like this one I would run a million of them. The weather was perfect. It wasn't too hot and it wasn't raining (like the day before). I wore a long sleeve shirt the whole time and I didn't freeze to death. Also, Thanksgiving Point put on an amazing 1st half marathon. It was organized so well. They had great shirts, medals, and it was organized better then some of the other halves I have run. I recommend it. The course was beautiful (for the most part) and best of all? I felt great after! I felt so good after I even went mountain biking. I felt like I had just run a 5k. I think it was because the course was not downhill like all of the other halves I have done. It was mainly flat. I didn't feel like I had just pounded the crap out of my legs. My knees felt good, my quads felt good, and my calves felt good. It was such a sigh of relief. It felt great!!!

I also think I enjoyed it because I was not in any rush to get a good time. I really didn't care when I finish. I didn't get my worst time but I didn't get my best time. I decided while I was running that I was going to talk to as many people as I could and see what their stories were. I talked to five different people with five different stories and I loved it. It made time pass by fast. The last mile (always the hardest) was taking forever. So I ended up talking to this girl, who I thought was my age but she was a mom of 4 kids with her oldest being a 7 year old. Her story inspired me and before I knew it the end was right there. It was fun! And Brighton was good enough to be there for me and of course be my picture taker.

Here is a picture of my friend Amanda and I before the race. (Cold!!!)

Right before the finish line.

Amanda and I after the race!! Another one bites the dust.

Salt Lake City Marathon

April 17Th was the Salt Lake City Marathon. I was super excited it for several reasons.

1-I was not running in it. I got to watch it.
2-My friend was running in it.
3-Mile 21 runs right by my Grandpa's house so all I had to do was walk to the end of the street and enjoy the fun!


Well I ended up running along part of the course (to help me train for my half marathon) but after I ran, I got to watch the marathon runners!! My neighbors set up an unofficial aid station at mile 21 so I was lucky enough to help them by handing out food and drinks to the runners. I was surprised at how many runners stopped to get something but my friend who ran it was telling me that it was the only aid station that had food. Crazy!! I won't lie, I was super grateful I was not running it myself. At mile 21, people don't look too fabulous and it brought back a lot of memories. :)

Here is my friend Jason and mile 21. He was so hungry that he stopped to talk to us while he ate.

While watching the finishers and all of the different looks on all of the their faces I couldn't help but think of my own marathon. I went back and read my blog post about it and I just have to apologize because I was so negative about my whole marathon. I still have mixed feelings about it but I am grateful I accomplished my goal of running a marathon! I sometimes think about running another one but it will be a long long long time from now. They are a lot of work. :) I do however, LOVE watching marathons. I was grateful I got the chance to watch the SLC marathon. I am so proud of all of those people!!! I couldn't help but cry as I watched the finishers! Yes I am a baby but I just love it!

On another note we got out our BBQ for the first time this year! We pulled out our little portable grill and grilled some steaks! They were fabulous!! I love Spring, even though it is snowing right now.