Hi my name is ASHLEY and I am a sugarholic. For those of you who thought Valentines Day was a holiday designed to express love and appreciation for the people you most value in your lives, I hate to tell you that you have been tricked. Valentines Day was actually a holiday created by Dentists and Weight Watchers to increase their business. I jest not! It isn't "single awareness day" or "hate my horrible life day" oh no, it is gain 5 pds. and get 5 cavities day. Ever been to your Dentist on Valentines? I guarentee he is smiling, just like the nice receptionist who hears the register ringing as you walk through the door of weight watchers the day after Valentines when you can barely cinch up the waist of your pants. Oh yes, it is a scheme to make money and damage self-esteem. Speaking of damaging self-esteem, as previously stated I am a sugarholic, always have been and probably always will be. My addiction to sugar is so bad that the last time I was in New York City I had to go to "Dylan's" candy store. for those of you who are exceptionally observant the Statue of Liberty behind me is made out of "Jelly Bellies." It is true, I had my picture taken next to a jelly bean portrait of Lady Liberty. If that isn't a hopeless cause, I don't know what is. With that in mind I am going to open my own sugar rehab center called the "Sweet Retreat." Yep, we'll strip your diet of sugars, you'll sweat and shake, hallucinate, blame your parents, draw your self portrait, befriend other sugar freaks like yourself, learn how to eat sugars in moderation, and then we'll send you back out into the world only to revert back to your old ways after a couple of successful months. But so is life, we win some and we lose some, or in my case we gain some and we lose some. With that being said, I hope everyone had a glorious Valentines Day and didn't make their dentists wallet quite as fat as I made Dr. Flynn's.
Being that I am a girl, I have always had a lot in common with my mother. We are definitely 2 apples off the same tree. Everything one of us loves to do the other loves as well (especially laughing). Needless to say, aside from surpassing my fathers hopes for me by being the first child and least expected to obtain a Bachelors degree we haven't ever had too much in common. The man is a genius, super successful, way competetive. He has never not won anything he has done, no exaggeration. So when I decided to train for the Salt Lake marathon we had an instant connection. I remember watching him finish the St. George marathon when I was a little girl and thinking "one day that will be me". April 19th is that one day. With this being said, I was excited when my dad
called me on Thursday night to ask me to accompany him on a date to see a movie that was playing one night only at the Century Theatres called "Spirit of the Marathon". He and I headed off to the show (diet Cokes in hand) excited to get our great seat. Surprisingly, the theatre was packed and most of the people looked like Auschwitz (runners all look skeletal) I was definitely the "big boned" one of the group, but the energy was amazing. The movie started with the history of marathons which involved a man running 26 miles without stopping proclaiming his message and then dying in a heap (this is pretty much what my 15 miler was like on Saturday). In honor of this act we now imitate it (in a way) without dying of course. The movie was inspiring, it included everything from a virgin marathoner to a 70+ yr. old guy who ran his 1st in his 60's. It made me realize that a lot of determination, hard work, and a great attitude can get you anything you want in life no matter your age or past experience. With that being said, when it comes out on DVD I say watch it! My goal is to finish in under 6 hrs. If I can do that I will be happy, what I would love to do is to finish in 4:30 min. This is idealistic, but after watching the 70yr. old hoof along I thought to myself, the impossible is definitely possible.
