GF Life change

The time has finally come. Sadly, I have avoided this moment for two years but I couldn't avoid it any longer. It is time for me to be completely GLUTEN FREE! Two summers ago, I was told that I was gluten intolerant, meaning (to me) that I wasn't going to be able to eat a darn thing for the rest of my life. So naturally, as any poor, independent college student would do: I tried it for a few months, gave up on the expense of GF products, and I continued eating pizza, cookies, sandwiches, cake, crackers, bread...but it has finally come to an end. On the first of June, I converted.

At first I was sad, I thought about all the food I wouldn't be able to eat and thought back to how I starved when I tried the GF life at Utah State. When my mom came into town a few weeks ago when went on the most interesting shopping spree I have ever been on. We bought buckwheat flour, rice flour, GF oats, Xantham gum, all the veggies you could imagine, and any sort of GF product that looked yummy. THANKS MOM!

So far I have actually enjoyed creating new kinds of recipes, I made the yummiest chocolate Zucchini bread and banana muffins mmmmm. Also, my early Christmas present was a Bosch and I have loved making my own bread so far! It really makes me feel like a little homemaker :) The only time I get really sad is when I see Ryan eating those yummy crackers, or pizza, or anything bad for me. But! What makes it all worth it is how I feel. I no longer feel constantly full, and heavy and tired. I have way more energy and have learned how to cook many new and interesting things!

As a Man Thinketh

"You will be what you will to be;
Let failure find its false content
In that poor word, "environment,"
But spirit scorns it, and is free.

It masters time, it conquers space;
It cows that boastful trickster, Chance,
And bids the tyrant Circumstance
Uncrown, and fill a servant's place.

The human Will, that force unseen,
The offspring of a deathless Soul,
Can hew a way to any goal,
Though walls of granite intervene.

Be not impatient in delay,
But wait as one who understands;
When spirit rises and commands,
The gods are ready to obey."

The Legend of Pheidippides

The name "Marathon" comes from the legend of the greek messenger, Pheidippides. In the legend, it states that he was told to run from the battlefield of Marathon to Athens to announce that the Persians had been defeated in the Battle of Marathon (490 BC). Many historians believe that the distance was 26 miles long, that he did it in a time of three hours, and that he collapsed and died after proclaiming that they had won, some even state he said "nike", or "Νενικήκαμεν".

I had always been curious about the history of a marathon, especially since I was going to run one. Oh ps...I DID IT! June 4, 2011 will forever go down in history as the day Lauren Folsom miraculously finished her first marathon. Here is a little sum up of the run: The first three miles were all hills, by mile 17 I was toast and totally cramping, my dad ran with me and encouraged me every step of the way, even offered his earphone if he had a good pump-up song :). My mom and Ryan drove by in the spectator bus at mile 18 and gave us a wave and encouraging words, which helped so much. At mile 22, Ryan joined in and ran the rest of the race with me and my dad. I don't think I would have made it without those two. (Poor Eric, we passed him at mile 21 and he had the biggest blister on his foot so he was unable to finish as strong as he wanted to). I finished with a time of 4 hrs and 30 something minutes, which isn't too impressive but for me, I finished and that was my goal. I think the next time I do a marathon, I will try and finish closer to 4 hours flat.

Alison, John, my mom and Ryan all came to support Eric, Dad and I and it was so fun to be cheered on by my family. The Newport Marathon is beautiful and I am so glad that it was a good experience, because now, although not too soon, I am actually wanting to train for another marathon!