Five Things I Am Looking Forward To

It's been so long since I have been able to join the 3 fabulous ladies who host the Friday Five Link Up.
I quit blogging Fri-Sun over a year ago to give myself a weekly blogging break. But now moved to a new life, no job just full time college. My schedule has changed, and I am really excited to be able to link up with them again and get to know some of the other bloggers who link up who I haven't met (online) before!

I really wanted to go on their topic, but food and drink is something that currently I have nothing to share on. I'm a returning college student who still hasn't established the best eating habits. Though I am working on it!
To be honest I'd love to be the younger me college student and live off pizza and Pepsi, but if I did that now I'd likely be 200 pounds before the end of the year.

So that left me with the choice on what Friday Five things to share with you all.

Living in the desert again in the location that I do I have a huge list of things I want to do while I am here for the next two years. So I thought I'd share the top 5 on my list with you all. Because just quite possibly they may be things you might want to add to your list if ever visiting Southern Utah too!

1. Hike Angel's Landing.

I've probably done this hike over 25 times in my life and it never gets old. But I have not hiked it in over 10 years. It's not for those afraid of heights, especially since you climb with chains and will be standing at times on a little over two feet wide of rock with 1000 foot drop offs on one side of you, and 800 foot drop offs on the other side of you. But if you don't mind heights, the view from the top is amazing! If you've been on my blog even a few times, you likely know these things are right up my alley!
I'd really like to do this in September or October when the temps cool off and high's aren't in the 100's, but maybe the 90-80's.

2. Hike Zion Narrows.

Again, another I have done dozens of times in my life, but most of those were when I was a child. I actually haven't hiked that beautiful narrow river canyon that shoot up 1000's a feet above me in over 15 years. I definitely plan to do this, during a non-flash flood risk day in October!
The pic below isn't the narrows, but a view I took a few weeks ago just before you get to them.

3. Cliff Diving at Sand Hollow.

Truth be told, I will be there this weekend, but not to cliff dive. To watch my sister swim a mile in the lake and finish the rest of her Olympic Triathlon and I think she may have a fabulous chance of winning over all. She's put in some killer training!
I'd like to go back to swim in the waters preferably with some family or friends and jump the 30-50 foot cliff dive jump options. I was sick back in June and only watched my sister and nephew do them, (that's my sis jumping below) so it's my turn this fall! I'm hoping in October when my sister brings the paddleboards we can park them at the side and climb up for the dive!

4. Run all the trails in the area I live in.

Now this will likely take me the full two years to do them all. As I have been told there are hundred's of miles of trails in the area, and about half of them are even paved through the beautiful desert. I've already hit up a few of them already! This city/county has spared no expense when it comes to giving runners/walkers lots of places to go!

5. Run the St. George Marathon.

I've already done this one six times, it's one of my favorites in the entire country. I actually got into the lottery this year. But with moving and getting ready to go on this new college adventure so quickly. My training lacked and even I am big enough to admit I am not ready as I mentioned last week I will not be running it next month. But next year, I think I can score a guaranteed entry and there will be very little that can hold me back for sure!

If you want to visually follow me on these adventures, make sure you follow My Instagram page, as I am really active on there with travel/hiking and different location scenery posts from my days.

So tell me, what is something you have on your list of things to do before the year ends?

Marathon's Worth Traveling For - St. George Marathon

New for 2016 and starting today, Marathons Worth Traveling for. A new series I am putting together this year, that I hope you enjoy!

While I know there are many other destination race distances, I myself have only ever traveled for 26.2. So if you are a runner who loves the marathon, you may enjoy this series this year.

While I go for the race itself, when I pick a marathon the race is only about 75% of what I look for when I travel to run: I want a race that is known to be great, nicely organized, great volunteers. If I am coming to run 26.2 I want a race that makes me feel the marathon is their most important distance, even if they have other distances. (Though I am sure every distance wants to feel that feeling.)

I look for other things as well: Great location, a place I will want to stay a few days and explore. Races near National Parks or State Parks. America is a beautiful place, if I am going to travel to a marathon I want to see some of the most beautiful places in the country.

This week, I am going to introduce you to my favorite marathon. The St. George Marathon, this fall marathon has a special place in my heart. I used to live in St. George, and it happened to be my first marathon. But those aren't the only reasons I am recommending, here are a few others:

* The scenery is stunning. Beautiful red rock desert landscape. It's absolutely gorgeous, you'll be out on the course getting the chance to watch the sun begin to light up the landscape around you. Canyon's, Cliffs, you even get to run up and around a volcano.

* It's a fast course, yes there are hills but you descend over 2,600 feet. Almost everyone I have talked to, including myself have received their fastest times, PR or Boston Qualified on this course. It's listed in Runners World in the top 20 fastest marathons.

* It's focus is entirely on the marathon. You have no other distances to compete for road space with, all the focus and energy put into it goes toward making it great for each marathon runner.

* They do have a 2 mile walk/run that is the last couple miles of the marathon course. Mainly this is for the marathon runners family, or community who want to experience what it feels to cross that beautiful finish line. Gives those coming to watch you something to do, besides sleep in and go out to breakfast while they wait for you.

* Runners World has named it in the top 4 as a race to build a vacation around. They've also named it in the top 10 most scenic marathons in America.

* Talking about stuff to do, you are a short distance away from Zion National Park (above) which is one of the most stunning national parks in the country. Your also in the race running past the beautiful Snow Canyon State park. Your in beautiful red rock Canyon Country, you can't go wrong where you decide to go explore after or before the race.  Take your hiking shoes, mountain bike spend a week if you can. I guarantee there is so much to do and see in the area, you won't get bored.

* It's big, but not too big. Only 7,800 runners are allowed (it's a lottery each year). The volunteers are amazing, they give you the small town hospitality at each and every water stop. The military also comes out with their water trucks giving you that spritz you may need to get through on the years the October race is still getting warmer temps.

* It's a point to point course. You are go by bus to the start, so you don't ever have to run past the same part twice. You won't even need your headphones to keep your attention. The scenery is so amazing, you'll be focused more on that anyway.

* Of all the marathons I have ever run, it's the best organized race, with some of the best volunteers. The community here loves to come out and support the runners and they pull out all the stops. You'll feel their enthusiasm and joy of being able to serve you while you run the race.

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This is definitely a marathon worth traveling for @stg_marathon @runwybridlplanr #runchat http://goo.gl/KpCR58

Have you run the St. George Marathon before?
Or is this one on your list to travel to someday?