About the Atkins

Dallen and I were married February 21, 2009 in the Rexburg Idaho Temple. We live Happily in the Grove Apartments in Pocatello, Idaho. Dallen currently is a Golf Professional at Juniper Hills Country Club and I am attending Idaho State University majoring in the Nursing program and then I plan on getting my masters as a PA. We absolutely love being married... even though we bicker a lot... but who doesn't! :) 

The Eventful Provo City Half Marathon!!

On April 4, 2009 Dallen and I ran the Provo City Half Marathon! As for our training for this event... Dallen ran only one mile and I ran about three miles the week before. Dallen's 24th birthday was on the 2nd of April, so we went down to Salt Lake City and stayed the night in the Plaza Hotel right next to temple square. We shopped, ate, shopped some more and then drove down to Provo where we stayed with our friend Mike and his two roommates.  

So... this being the night before the race; Dallen, Josh, and I ate at the Spaghetti Factory and each of us downed a giant plate of pasta followed by a small bowl of spammoni (ice cream). This... was not the best idea... there Is such thing as TOO MUCH Carbs before a race!! Our hunger got the best of us. That night we got in the hot tub and soaked for a while, which was then followed by a card game that we played until about midnight... Once again not the best idea before a race. After the card game was over we then tried to go to sleep. I consider it the worst night's sleep I have ever had! It consisted of Dallen and I trying to sleep on this horrible uncomfortable portable mattress in the middle of their living room, with Josh sleeping 4 ft away on the love sac... Another Horrible Idea! Josh then snored the ENTIRE night leaving Dallen and I with only 1 hour of sleep!  

0530 we woke up to get ready for our race. Our pre race warm up consisted of a quick stop at the Smiths Grocery to buy some delicious hot bagels (blueberry) that had just come out of the oven and a powerade! We then arrived at the starting line with about 30 degree snowy weather. I can easily say it was freezing. We were 3 of about 1200 people. There are those that are expert runners who run the half in a little over an hour, and then you have Dallen and I who only ran a few miles for our training. As we waited to start, the blue room urge came to me... but I was unsuccessful. That huge pasta dinner didn't end up leaving my body when it needed too. So about 5 minutes later with my urge still an urge the race was about to start. 

As we all merged to the starting line there were a TON of people of all different shapes and sizes! We all huddles together until a giant cannon went off... almost scaring the crap out of me... literally! So the race began! Josh blew ahead of us and we didn't see him the rest of the race. As for Dallen and I, I didn't want to leave my hubby running all by his lonesome so I stayed with him until about the last mile. So during the race, my urge got worse around mile 2 and there wasn't a porta-potty until mile 4, so I had to hold and run at the same time... NOT COMFORTABLE! Mile 4 finally came and I waited in line for about 5 minutes, spent about 5 minutes in the potty... and of course was once again unsuccessful! So Dallen and I began running again.

Mile after mile after 5 miles and then more miles went by and the entire time I had the urge to go... but it was stuck so I suffered through the 13.1 miles. I didn't really suffer, It was just really uncomfortable. As the course was coming to an end with about a mile to go I left Dallen and started to run faster... I wanted to pass some people ahead of me! So the finish line was near and I had my Ipod blasting Miley Cyrus and I was Pumped!! People were cheering you on all along the last stretch to the finish line! It was the best feeling I had ever had! You can see the giant clock just counting down, the announcer yells your name through the microphone as you cross the finish line, and there are camera's everywhere taking pictures of your victory!

Minutes later Dallen crossed the finish line only to receive a Giant Sweaty hug from ME! We all finished and it felt great! Josh's Achellis tendons were gushing blood from his crummy shoes, my right knee hurt, and Dallen's ankle hurt, but we were all gleaming with joy! The race was finished and we loved it! We then drove all the way home to Pocatello! :)