Category: Emma

Emma’s Track Season

5/16/2024

Emma’s senior year track season was a roller coaster of emotions filled with some challenges and some very exciting accomplishments. She started out her season in peak shape, having run over the winter with Kokopelli and raced in the UW Indoor track meet. The season started out a little slow but she overcame some obstacles and had her best track season ever. She had lots of PR's as well as some 1st and 2nd place finishes. She broke her high school record twice in the 3200m and qualified for both the 3200m and the 1600m in the State Track and Field Championship races.

MEET #1 - LEGEND TITAN TRACK CLASH
APRIL 5, 2024
1600M - 5:20.36 (1st place)

The first race of the season is always a tough one because the racing legs are not quite there yet. Emma showed up for her first race of the season all ready to rock. A few other fast runners were at the meet from Niwot and Cherry Creek. Emma was seeded 4th and placed 1st place, passing the girl from Niwot on the last 100m of the race. Even though her time wasn’t as fast as she would’ve liked, it was a good start to the beginning of the season.

MEET #2 - POMONA INVITATIONAL
APRIL 12-13, 2024
1600M - 5:23.69
3200M - 11:07.05 (2nd place)

Two-day meets are tough, especially when you are traveling to Denver both days to race. Emma ran in the 3200m on Friday evening around 7:30pm and crushed this race. She is definitely a stronger runner in the 3200m. She was seeded 4th and turned in a 2nd place finish, tying her time from the State race the previous year. I think even she surprised herself with how well she ran that race.

The following day we headed back up to Jeffco Stadium in Denver so she could run in the 1600m. A combination of nerves and fatigue set in and she wasn’t able to perform the way she wanted to in that race. She was a few seconds slower than the week before and that was hard to swallow. Still, on tired legs she ran the best she could for that race.

3200m

1600m

MEET #3 - LIBERTY BELL INVITATIONAL
APRIL 26, 2024
3200M - 11:05.92 (1st place)

This was such an interesting race up at Echo Park Stadium. The weather was already starting to turn colder, and the rain made for a slick track. Mike volunteered and was one of the ones pushing as much water off the inside lane of the track as possible. Even though it was cold and rainy, Emma ran such an amazing race. She and the 1st seeded girl from Heritage HS were neck and neck the entire race. By lap 6 Emma realized that their pace was not fast enough, so she picked up the pace for the last 2 laps and tied her previous PR and placed 1st. It was a remarkable race to watch and one that I will never forget.

MEET #4 - CHERRY CREEK INVITATIONAL
MAY 4, 2024
1600M - 5:07.16 (2nd place)

With the state meet on the horizon a good qualifying time was on everyone’s mind for the 1600m. Emma choose to run just the 1600m this weekend so that she could focus on getting a good enough time to qualify for the State Championships. There were a few other girls from Cherry Creek HS who were doing the same thing. Emma was able to go from a 5th seeded place to finishing in 2nd place with a new PR of 5:07.

MEET #5 - JOHN TATE ELITE
MAY 11, 2024
3200M - 10:54.98 (1st place)

It’s been an interesting several weeks of cancelled meets on Friday nights due to weather, only to turn around the next day and drive to a different meet. Fortunately, her last couple of meets have been her best. Today we witnessed the most incredible race Emma has ever run. She came into the 3200m today knowing that she needed to break 11 min in order to qualify for the State Championships next week. This race was not a competitive meet at all and there were no girls anywhere close to her pace. The competitive meet happened last night north of Denver and her coaches decided not to sign up for that meet this year. She had lots of support today, which was awesome. Her HS coaches and her club coach were all out there doing what they could to keep her on pace. It was fantastic to watch! Emma finished in 10:54.98, broke her school record by 6 sec and is now seeded 15th for state and will be running next Thursday in that race. What was so impressive about this race was the sheer grit and determination Emma had to run this race fast all on her own. Way to go Emma.

Lapping all of the other girls

Emma and coach Lisa Rainsburger

MEET #6 - CO STATE TRACK MEET
MAY 16-17, 2024
3200M - 10:51.23 (9th place)
1600M - 5:04.36 (14th place)

The celebrations continue as we watched Emma run in the Colorado State Track and Field Championships this morning for the 3200m. She was seeded 14th and came in 9th for a podium finish in 10:51. This is a new PR for her just 5 days after her last PR. Just to put this race in perspective, the top 18 girls in CO for 5A all had sub 11 times coming into this race today. The race was held at Jeffco stadium which sits at 5,551 ft. Needless to say, making the state meet in CO for the 5A division is tough. Emma ran another excellent race. The start was crazy with many girls almost flinching over the line before the gun went off because the starter took forever. Then right after the gun went off a girl next to Emma spiked Emma’s shin on accident and a few seconds later that girl lost her shoe. That girl ran the entire race with only one shoe. The front pack took the pace out way faster than most of those girls probably wanted. First lap was around a 74. By the first mile Emma was sitting in the middle of the pack and had well under a sub 11 time in her pocket. She kept clipping away to grab that 9th place finish after passing a girl on the last lap. It was amazing to watch her strength and grit. This girl knows how to get it done and I’m so proud of her for running such a strong race. It was so fun to have the grandparents in town to watch her run today!

3200M

1600m

MEET #7 - RUNNING LANE TRACK CHAMPIONSHIPS (HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA)
MAY 25, 2024
1600M - 5:00.74 (12th place)

Emma headed to Running Lane in Huntsville, AL with the Kokopelli team. She was really hoping for a sub 5 min 1600m time and was super close. She finished the race in 5:00.74. She was so devasted at missing it by only 1 second. She did run her little heart out, busting her dragonflies by the end of the race. She even ran into an old friend of ours from our Dupont days who gave her a big hug. Even though she was upset by her performance, she still managed to get a PR and finish out her high school running career with a bang!

Emma's High School Graduation

5/14/2024

It was a wonderful day celebrating Emma and her graduation from Pine Creek High School. Emma earned the Magna Cum Laude medal, a department award (National Orchestra Award), and graduated with involvement in the English National Honors Society, German National Honors Society, Tri-M Music Honors Society, and the Seal of Biliteracy. Emma is so well rounded and incredibly talented. She worked so hard during her years in high school and deserved all of her recognitions. The ceremony took place at the Air Force Academy Cadet Fieldhouse which was the same place Andrew graduated. There were almost 400 students in her class, so the proceedings took a little time to get through, but we made the most of it and cheered really loud for her when it was her turn to walk across the stage. After talking with her friends and classmates after the graduation, we all headed home and celebrated with a family party and enjoyed a fantastic dinner put on by Mike who showed off his skills as a master chef. We ate from the amazing charcuterie displayed nicely in a boxed 24, bruschetta with buffalo mozzarella and our home-grown basil, salad, and homemade ravioli and fettuccine. It was perfect!!!

Emma's last orchestra concert

5/6/2024

Most people know what an amazing runner Emma is. What some people don't know is that she is also an amazing musician. Emma spent most of her high school career playing violin in the Advanced Orchestra and alto saxophone in the Advanced Jazz Band. During her last orchestra concert, she not only had a beautiful solo during the third movement of St. Paul's Suite, but she was awarded the National School Orchestra Award which is the highest honor you can receive in a high school orchestra and is given to recognize excellence in playing and contributions to the ensemble. This audition orchestra got superior ratings at State this year. They were truly amazing to listen to. Emma is the third of my musical children to have learned from and studied under Kate Margrave! She is so lucky to have had that experience, and I am a little sad that it is over. There is nothing quite like the influence and love of an amazing music teacher!

Emma's High School Prom

5/4/2024

Emma's high school days are coming to an end, and nothing tops it off quite like the last Prom. This year her longtime friend, Riah, asked her to prom! Those two are quite cute together even though they are just friends. They have known each other since the awkward days of middle school and have spent several years in band together. They went with a bunch of their music friends and had a great time at Spruce Mountain Ranch where Prom was being held. Afterwards they headed back over to our house where everyone snacked on treats, played games and watched a movie. It was a great ending to a great night!

Emma's Senior Graduation Photos

4/13/2024

After not having very good luck with weather during Emma’s senior photo shoot with a photographer that I hired in the summer time, we decided to head back to the same spot with various outfits plus her cap and gown and college sweatshirt and retake her senior photos. I don’t really know why I hired someone else to do her photos in the first place when I am capable of doing them myself. That is a mistake I will not make with Abby. We had so much fun together and it is an experience I will never forget! Emma is just so beautiful inside and out!

Senior Capping

3/13/2024

Mike and I loved being able to participate in Emma’s senior capping ceremony this year. Emma choose to dedicate her senior capping to me and wrote a really nice dedication. This is what she said: “As my biggest cheerleader, you’ve had to watch me fall. Even though you could only watch me from the sidelines, I never missed you cheering, “get up and give it your all!” Even in my worst conditions you never failed to stand beside me. Thank you for all that you have sacrificed to watch me become the person I am today. I love you very much.”

Emma's UW Indoor TracK meet

2/11/2024

The UW track meet was especially fun, and I am so grateful to have been able to go out and run at such a fast meet. This year I really enjoyed the trip. This is mostly due to the fact that the people I went with were absolutely amazing. It was mostly Coronado people, plus a few others and me. I roomed with Jade and Keegan which was just so fun! When we got to Washington we took the tram to the main part of the UW campus where we stopped by our hotel and eventually went on a run. That night we also got to go watch all the college athletes at the UW collegiate meet. This was cool because I got to see old teammates, and the BYU XC and track team. We then went to Chipotle and eventually back to the hotel. On the following night I ran the 3k which was more stressful than it was last year. I still think I did pretty good considering the competition. I really enjoyed running the 3k and couldn’t wait to race the 1600 the following day. Because my time was right on the cusp of the fastest group I was placed in the second to last group. This meant that I had to lead. Although I ended up getting passed within the last 300 meters, I learned a powerful lesson in strategy from leading. Overall, I am happy with my race considering I was going for time.

Emma's 18th birthday

1/29/2024

It’s not every day that you get to celebrate one of your children turning into an official adult. Emma had her 18th birthday, and we all did things to help her feel special. Mike took her out for a couple hour adventure to go shopping over the weekend while Abby, Mike and Madeline spent some time ordering her some fun gifts. I made sure her actual birthday was full of fun and joy! I put together a nice Japanese dinner for Emma with a beautiful strawberries and cream cake for afterwards. I found the cutest bags to put all of her gifts into that matched our strawberries and cream theme. She was so excited for the efforts that everyone put in to make her actual birthday special. It will be fun to put together a friend birthday for her after some of her indoor track meets are finished! I am so proud of Emma for the amazing woman that she has become. I can’t wait to see what incredible things she will do in the future!

USAFA Tour with Emma

12/8/2023

Emma and I toured the United States Air Force Academy to get a feel for what it would be like for her to be a student athlete at the academy. It was intriguing to see what her schedule would be like and to see a little what it would be like to be a cadet. After the tour Emma ran with the team and had a really good time. She really liked the coaches and the team, and she didn’t seem to be nervous about the cadet life. Although I was trying to stay positive, I had my doubts that this was the right path for Emma. However, I tried to embrace what we have been telling her which is to keep all her options open.

Nike Regionals

11/18/2023

After an incredible cross-country season in Colorado, Emma was ready to crush one last race at Nike Regionals where she was hoping to PR at sea level. She was fortunate enough to be able to hang with some of the Coronado runners after the course run through. Since she had been training with that team and coach Lisa the last several weeks, they adopted her as one of their own. It was so sweet to see them all surround her with excitement. Everyone's spirits were high the night before the race.

Race day was a different story. What are the chances that this year’s course was rained out just like Garmin Running Lane last year? It rained all morning and when we finally got to the course it stopped raining and the sun came out. The problem was that the course was a soggy mess. Emma was in the very last race which was the Championship race for the girls and the course was already in such poor condition from all of the other races that morning. Even with 1-inch spikes the mud was so overwhelming. Even though she didn't get the time she was hoping for, she ran that race with everything she had. I couldn't be prouder of her for the determination and grit I saw on her face every time she passed me on the course. She finished this muddy and somewhat hilly course in 18:44.24.

course preview

race day

BEST COACH EVER

Emma's XC Season

10/28/2023

This was by far Emma's best cross-country season yet. She came off a strong track season and pushed to get back into shape after being in Jerusalem for 3 weeks and a car accident that followed. If there is one word I would use to describe Emma's passion for running it is DETERMINATION. When something unexpected falls in her path, she simply finds a way around it. This season she ran smart, and it paid off. Of the 6 meets she participated in, two of them she came away with a championship win. She ran at elevation for all 6 meets and yet, one of her best meets, was actually at 9,000ft in Crested Butte.

meet #1 - cheyenne mtn stampede
august 26, 2023
5K - DNF

Emma's season started out with one of those unexpected situations. The day before the first meet her shin started bothering her. She showed up to the meet and was contemplating whether to race or not. She made the decision to start the race and listen to her body. By mile 2 she knew that she needed to stop, so she did. Even though it wasn't in her nature to stop, her ability to listen to her body so she could be healthy for the entire season showed her growth and maturity.

meet #2 - liberty bell
september 9, 2023
5K - 18:18.20

This race is the most popular race every season since it is at lower elevation and a fast, flat course in Denver. Emma was the only one from her team fast enough to enter the Sweepstakes Division. So, all by herself, she warmed up and did her drills. It's not always easy to feel all alone when you are racing but Emma never wavers in her determination even though she walks to that starting line without any teammates. She ran this race smart and was able to pull a 6 second PR from last years' time on a relatively warm day.

Meet #3 - Coronado Cougar classic
september 21, 2023
5K - 18:39.30

Emma was ready to crush this race and was all pumped up before she ran. From the start to the very end, I could see the fire in her eyes, and it was marvelous to watch. For most of the race she was right behind the lead girl but during the last 800m of the race she started to pull away and kept running faster and faster so that she would have a big enough lead to the finish. Sure enough, she held that lead and came in 1st to win her very first HS 5K. It was such an amazing finish that a spokesman for the Gazette came over and interviewed Emma. As cool as that was, it was even more impressive when we saw the paper the next morning and found she and the lead boy were all over the sports section of the Gazette.

meet #4 - emma coburn's elk run
september 30, 2023
5K - 18:44.70 (9000ft)

Usually, the team heads to sea level for a mid-season race but this year the coach decided to go in the opposite direction and head to higher elevation for a different kind of challenge. It would have been nice for Emma to have raced at sea level, but this race ended up being a fun one for the team to participate in. At 9000ft, the team set off on a half paved, half trail 5K run through the town of Crested Butte. I loved how they had all the teams lined up 100ft before the starting line and then one by one the announcer called each team to the starting line. It was fun to see the Pine Creek girls run together as they prepared for their elevation 5K. The organizer at the start line got a little mixed up and didn't order the girls on the front line correctly and since Emma's team was one of the last couple of teams called to the starting line she didn't get pulled like she should and was a few rows back when the race started. That didn't stop her from jetting out and making her way to the front of the pack. She and another girl from Heritage HS led the race from start to finish. Emma pulled away the last 1/2 mile and finished with a 1st place finish in a time of 18:44.70. She had a 12 sec. lead over the second-place finisher. This race marked the second 1st place finish that Emma has had this season. She was thrilled to be able to perform so well and to be able to meet Emma Coburn who is a World Champion and Olympic medalist in the steeplechase. Even Emma's club coach, Lisa Rainsberger, was there to cheer her on. It was a great race and one in which she will always remember.

Meet #4 - Regionals
october 19, 2023
5K - 18:13.90

This is always the most important and most nerve-racking race of the season. Only the top 15 and the top 3 schools qualify for the State Championship. We were not worried that Emma had the ability to make it into the top 10 but wanted to make sure she felt good and didn't have anything unexpected happen during the race. With a lot on the line, she approached this race like a fierce competitor. She held her own against the Air Academy girls who remained the #2 girls' team in the nation at the time. Not only did she place 4th against a really competitive field of runners, but she broke an almost perfect score by the Air Academy girls' team, and she got a PR for the course. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect race for Emma to close out the main part of her season.

MEET #6 - STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
OCTOBER 28, 2023
5K - 18:21.10

The State Championship course in Colorado is one of the hardest high school state courses in the nation not only for the elevation that these kids are running at but also the hilly nature of the course. This year we were blessed with cooler weather than previous years. Emma was the only girl from her team to qualify to run in the state meet, however, many of her teammates came to support her and cheer her on. They even made the sweetest sign for her. As she made her way to the starting line for the last time during a state XC race, she was focused and probably a little nervous. Her head was in the game, but she had been struggling emotionally that morning. She went out and ran a good race, getting a 15 sec PR for this course, but missed being in the top 10 by 2 seconds. She was crushed that she missed being in the top 10 for the second year in a row but thrilled that she was able to snag such an amazing PR. In the end, Emma should be so proud of all that she accomplished this season. It really was her best season ever!

Emma's Senior Photos

10/8/2023

Even though I do have skills with the camera, I wanted to do something special for Emma by giving her a senior photo shoot with someone other than me. Turns out my good intensions didn't quite work out the way I had hoped. We had to reschedule three different times due to horrible thunder storms and intense rain on each evening we had planned on doing photos. Finally, we had to suck it up and try and make it work on the last possible date before cross-country season started. The first photos did turn out well but due to the lack of enough light, the photos are not that crisp when zooming in. I would know because I am super picky about that stuff. So, Emma and I decided to let me have a turn at taking some better photos for the yearbook. We had loads of fun doing this together and I regret not having done this in the first place. One thing is for sure, my girls know how to pose which made my job so much easier and more enjoyable!

First photo shoot...in the rain

second photo shoot with mom

Homecoming

9/16/2023

Homecoming is always such a fun time of year for the girls. Both of the girls looked beautiful in their new dresses. Emma went with her friend and teammate, John. They went just as friends and had the best time with some of their fellow teammates. Abby went with her group of girlfriends and had a blast. Apparently Homecoming this year was a step up from last year’s dance. Their biggest complaint – not enough slow songs.

ABBY
15 years old

sisters

emma
17 years old

First Day of School

8/15/2023

The older you get the more you dread the first day of school. Madeline, on the other hand, was so excited to head back to school so that she could be with her friends all day. Mike and I along with my parents all headed to the elementary school to wish Madeline off on her first day of school. I love how the elementary school has all the kids line up on the playground in their classes for the first day. It is a time for the parents to see which kids are in their class and to be part of a fun send off. It was a real treat to have Grandma Anne and Grandpa Franz there this year. The older girls choose to sleep in. Surprise Surprise! So, naturally we took a group photo the next day when the older girls had to go to school.

MADELINE
Second Grade with Mrs. Lindgren, Landsharks Run Club, Cello lessons

Excited to meet new friends
Most concerned about becoming stronger in math
Favorite class is Library and Science

ABBY
10th grade, Sophomore, Theatre Club, HS Musical, Honors World Literature, Chemistry, German 2, AP US Government, Geometry, Lifelong Sports, Study Hall, Seminary

Excited about being part of the theatre club
Most concerned about tests
Favorite class is Theatre 3 and AP Gov

EMMA
12th grade, Senior, Cross-country and Track Teams, Kokopelli run club, Violin, Piano, Chamber Orchestra, English National Honors Society, German National Honors Society, AP Calc AB, AP English Literature, AP German, US History, Women's Weights, Lifeguarding, Seminary

Excited about almost being done with high school
Most concerned college decisions
Favorite class AP Lit

Emma's Elite BYU XC Camp

8/10/2023

Emma has attended BYU XC camp in years past but this year they opened up a new camp for Elite girl runners. She roomed with a girl named Brie who was living at the Naval Base in Yokosuka and so they had loads of things to talk about since Emma lived there when she was younger. There were about 40 girls at this camp, and all were pretty serious runners which was amazing. Some of the girls on the BYU XC team came and talked with the girls. Emma even had two of the girls sign her Vaporfly shoes. This camp was more about inspiring these girls to make running a fun part of their life. During a time trial on the track each of the girls got to wear a BYU jersey and take a photo with Diljeet Taylor who is the head women's XC coach. It was Emma's favorite XC camp of all time.

Emma's Kokopelli Camp

7/29/2023

This summer marked Emma’s third and final high altitude cross-country camp with Kokopelli. She was a little nervous about her fitness after taking 3 weeks off in June and then another 4 days after her car accident. However, she later told me that although this camp was the hardest in terms of mileage, it was also the most chill of all the times she had been at Kokopelli. Her weekly mileage reached 50 miles which was the most she had run in one week ever. She recounted one of the hardest runs where they warmed up the first few miles all uphill. She learned the importance of hard work, comradery, and fueling properly. The food was delicious, and the other athletes were fun to be around. One of her favorite night activities was when they choose to watch a horror film. For some reason it had become tradition after last year’s camp. What makes these camps spectacular is her coach, Lisa, and the other counselors that Lisa recruited to be at camp. We will forever be grateful to Lisa for the amazing things she has taught Emma about running and life.

Emma's Car Accident

7/10/2023

It’s every mom’s worst nightmare when she picks up the phone and on the other end is a distressed child who has just been in an accident. The last time I experienced this was when Peter called because he fell off his bike while riding in the snow on campus. It was horrible. I thought I would have more time before getting another one of those calls but this morning I got a call from Emma who had just been in a car accident coming home from run practice. She was only a few blocks away when a lady pulled into the intersection at Lexington and Old Ranch Road. Although this accident wasn’t Emma’s fault at all, it was still extremely traumatic for her. Luckily, nothing was broken and the only injury that she ended up having was a burned wrist and shin from the airbag deploying. She was so lucky that was the extent of her injuries. Unfortunately, the RAV4 was totaled. It’s times like these that you thank your lucky stars that the situation wasn’t worse.

Emma's HXP Jerusalem Trip . Days 9-18

6/30/2023

DAY 9 . JUNE 21 . WEDNESDAY

Today we followed the path of the Savior’s final day. We started at the top of Mount Olive. We passed by the Garden of Gethsemane and onto the Court of Pilate. There we had some amazing devotionals about Christ's last day and the dilemma of Pilate. We visited the church of Flagellation and the church of Condemnation. We then headed down the Via Dolorosa (the road of Pain or “Painful Road”) to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. We did some souvenir shopping before leaving the old city for the last time.

DAY 10 . JUNE 22 . THURSDAY

We were able to visit the River Jordan where Christ was baptized! The water felt so good on our toes! From there we headed over to Elisha’s Spring in Jericho. It was amazing that the water was still pure and flowing! Some of us also opted to a ride a camel and some also got a big old smooch from the camel.
We visited Tel Jericho which is the oldest city in the world. Finally, we headed to the incredible Masada and King Herod’s Palace. It’s impressive to see what the Roman’s built!

DAY 11 . JUNE 23 . FRIDAY

Today was an amazing day. We hiked up Ein Gedi which is also called David’s Falls. This is the area where King David hid from Saul. It’s amazing to see the backdrop of the dry desert and Dead Sea in the distance while walking along the lush narrow band that’s sustained by the stream and falls. We walked through huge tunnels of reeds and then had a nice soak in the natural pools. That was a welcome treat after hiking in the heat of the Judean desert.

We also visited the Dead Sea today! Everyone was so excited for today. We were all blown away by how buoyant we were. It was a hot day and even though the waters of the Dead Sea were very warm, we found ways to make the most of it.

DAY 12 . JUNE 24 . SATURDAY

Today was a heavy travel day! We left from Judea (in the south) to get to the BYU Jerusalem Center for Shabbat. We enjoyed another great sacrament service. We took lots of pictures since it was the last time we would be there. We left the Jerusalem Center and headed north toward Haifa and each of us was gifted with our favorite snack for the drive. When we reached Haifa we made a quick stop at the Baha’i Garden. The grounds were so beautiful! The grounds are so special to so many that they do not allow gum into the garden. They also asked that when we communicated that we did so with a whisper. It’s very unique to be a part of something so special to so many.

DAY 13 . JUNE 25 . MONDAY

We went to Magdala this morning. It’s situated near the Sea of Galilee. Afterwards we stopped at a water park that is just off the shore of the Sea of Galilee. We swam and played in the refreshing water and warm sun. Once we finished up at the water park we stopped by Yardenit which is an alternative location of Jesus’ baptism. Then we stopped at Mount Arbel. It was a hot day, but we all had fun, stayed positive, and happily worked on drawing closer to the Savior.

DAY 14 . JUNE 26 . TUESDAY

We started our day off at Mount Tabor, aka The Mount of Transfiguration. Next, we were able to walk through a replica of the village of Nazareth. We saw reproductions of many of the same things that Jesus would have seen during His life growing up. While there, we also enjoyed a yummy traditional Nazarene meal of roast chicken, olives, hummus, lentil soup, pita bread, and salad. Next, we went to the Church of the Annunciation—the presumed location where the angel Gabriel told Mary that she was highly favored of the Lord and the news of her special role as the Savior’s earthly mother. At the end of the day, we took a walk on the boardwalk on the shores of the Sea of Galilee and enjoyed the beautiful sunset and ice cream.

DAY 15 . JUNE 27 . WEDNESDAY

Today we headed to the Tel Dan Nature Reserve. It was a beautiful, lush piece of land. There was a refreshing river and plenty of trees and shade—perfect for our devotionals that we held throughout each day. We also headed south to the Jordan river where we canoed, swam, and just enjoyed the warm day and beautiful surroundings.

DAY 16 . JUNE 28 . THURSDAY

We started off at the Roman ruins of the city of Beit She’an. It looks very similar to the Acropolis in Greece or the Roman Forum. It was complete with a theater, cobbled roads, and lots of columns and other Roman buildings. Next we headed off to Cesárea - a picturesque Roman ruin built by Herod the Great (who, let’s be honest, wasn’t that great). The ruins are right on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea where there are scenic beaches, crystal clear water, palm trees, and some impressive ruins. It was very beautiful. We enjoyed a pizza lunch before we headed to another beach nearby where we played in the waters of the Mediterranean, combed the beach for sea shells, sun bathed and just unwound and relaxed.

DAY 17 . JUNE 29 . FRIDAY

Today we started off by heading towards the Church of the Beatitudes. It was so pretty to see the meshes of mosaics lining the interior church. We talked about the Sermon on the Mount and the importance of it. We then continued to Capernaum where we walked around and looked at the ruins. We had some of our own time to look at the shores of what I believe was lake Tiberius. The funniest part of this day by far was embarking on the "Jesus boat." We each got a certificate and everything. We were able to look out on the Sea of Galilee and also play some pretty awesome party music. From there we found a spot behind a building, I am pretty sure it was an art museum, and we had a testimony meeting together. It was pretty awesome. On the way back I got to hang out with Emma (other Emma) even more and I could really tell we were becoming close. We had about a few hours to sleep when we got back to where we were staying. This was before we would embark on our long journey from northern Israel back to the airport.

DAY 18 . JUNE 30 . SATURDAY

Overall, the trip back to the USA was one to remember. We started off very early in the dark of the morning on our very massive bus. I sat next to Emma and we played the best music, and we also used each other as pillows, so our arrangement was pretty sweet. When we got to the airport, it was pretty bittersweet that I would have to come home, but overall I was excited. When we got to the airport we had to wait in line forever at customs and getting through an entire group of kids with bags that needed to be under a certain weight was definitely a challenge. Fortunately for me, I don't like buying things I don't need, so I actually came home with one of the lightest bags! Customs went smoothly for me. Once we were through customs we travelled through the painstakingly task that is security without TSA. After all was said and done, we all found our terminal and collectively split off to find food. Emma and I found smoothie bowls, but unfortunately we weren't able to get them because they only served between certain times (we waited in line forever). All was well and we got "healthy" little pita snacks instead. They didn't taste great, which was fine because I stole some McDonalds chicken nuggets from someone else as well. There was an HXP survey we all had to fill out, so I got my phone back temporarily. It was so weird to hold, decently heavier than I remembered. Turns out, our flight got really delayed, so to pass the time, almost all of us fell asleep. Once we boarded the airplane we made sure we had everything, but ultimately, all of us ended up sleeping. We then proceeded to land in London again with a quick transfer. We quickly got through customs this time, and eventually made our way to JFK. Once in JFK, we all got our bags and eventually parted ways as we were going to different terminals. We all took one last picture and split off with the people who were going in the same direction. I ended up seeing a few of my closest friends from that trip before I headed home. It was definitely bittersweet, but super nice to finally be going home.

Emma's HXP Jerusalem Trip . Days 1-8

6/30/2023

DAYS 1 & 2 . JUNE 13-14 . TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY

Jerusalem Group 4 has made it to Jerusalem! After arriving, the day was spent getting to know each other more and getting settled in. We ended the day with a gorgeous view overlooking The Old City, reviewing important trip items and journaling.

DAY 3 . JUNE 15 . THURSDAY

The morning kicked off with overlooking Jerusalem. Then we toured the City of David with Warren’s Shaft and Hezekiah's Tunnel. There was an extra special opportunity for personal reflection at the Southern Wall and its steps at Temple Mount where Christ frequented. Everyone in this group made it amazing during our first full day in Jerusalem!

DAY 4 . JUNE 16 . FRIDAY

Today was another great day in Jerusalem. We visited the Jerusalem Holocaust Memorial Museum. We learned so much and showed amazing reverence in such a sacred place. Our parents would be so proud!! We went to the well where Mary and Elizabeth met (and where their babies met for the first time). We went to the church on the hill where it’s believed that Elizabeth hid John the Baptist from the murderous King Herod. We prepared for the Jewish Sabbath (Shabot) with our amazing tour guide who taught us an amazing, reverent, yet fun way to start the Sabbath! After that we grabbed a delicious shawarma dinner in the Muslim Quarter. From there we visited the wailing wall where there were hundreds upon hundreds of faithful, devout Jews sending up prayers to God. Anyone from our amazing group who wished to do so, went up to the wall and sent up a prayer to the very same God! The combined faith and devotion was so powerful. The Jewish people were so welcoming and glad to have us in their midst! All in all, a very amazing, blessed day!

DAY 5 . JUNE 17 . SATURDAY

We started off the morning by visiting the garden tomb, but He wasn’t there. However, the Holy Spirit definitely was. We joined a bunch of our LDS brothers and sisters for Shabot Services at BYU Israel. We found it cool that we observed our regular Sunday services on Saturday instead of Sunday. From BYU-Israel we visited the tomb of the prophets where Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi were buried. It was a short walk to the Garden of Gethsemane. The spirit was so strong in such a holy place. Everyone showed reverence and humility throughout our brief stay at this holy garden! We each got to spend some time in the garden, pondering and praying.

Next, we headed to the pool of Bethesda and a magical visit to St Anne’s church that was erected nearby. We sang Hymns in the Crossing (the part of the church between the Nave and the Alter/Chancel/Apse). The acoustics were amazing! We sounded like the legions of angels singing praises to Him!!

Everyone was really excited for a delicious dinner. We also visited a fun shop where we bought some amazing olive wood gifts.

the garden tomb

BYU Jerusalem

tomb of the prophets

garden of gethsemane

pool of bethesda & St. Anne's church

DAY 6 . JUNE 18 . SUNDAY

Today we went to Bethlehem, which is in Palestine, we had to cross the borders in order to see where the savior’s supposed birthplace was. We went to the Basilica of the Nativity where we entered into multiple churches such as the church of the nativity and the Church of St. Catherine, (which is one of my favorite churches). The church itself is made up of a main building that is designed like a typical roman basilica with five aisles made up of columns, featuring mosaics on the upper ceilings. The doors to the Basilica are very low. The church was original very old and features old medieval mosaics of various types, representing angels and disciples of Christ. There is a grotto where it Is said Jesus had been born, overall, it was a chaotic experience, there were so many people crawling their way in, fighting with each other and clawing at each other’s hair. Overall, a very chaotic experience that many of the youth could agree, drove away the spirit of the place. Outside of the Main area were open hallways that surrounded the Church of St. Catherine. I loved the Church of St. Catherine, the decorations were simple and beautiful, and it was a much-needed break from the chaos we had just experienced. After the church of the nativity, we ate lunch and were then able to look and buy some olive carpentry. Most of the youth poured out money to buy things like nativities and chess boards, I was determined to simply pick up an ornament at best. Near the end of the day, we got to do one of my favorite things that we ever did and visit the Mormon shepherds field. It was a moment of reflection and a lot of peace.

Today was Father’s Day and so we each videoed a special message to our fathers.

DAY 7 . JUNE 19 . MONDAY

We started off the day by visiting a picturesque green space outside the Old City walls where we played a fun game of cat and mouse. The game was a great object lesson on which barriers hold us back. We already had breakfast when we visited the upper room where the last supper was. No food there, but it was a great place to talk about the Savior. Next we headed off to Dome of the Rock that’s situated on top of the Temple Mount. It is an incredibly beautiful structure, and the grounds are nice too. Our tour guide took us to an abandoned Jordanian king’s palace that was never finished. It was a great opportunity to talk about the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and some of the extremely complex political/cultural/religious aspects of life in this region. Our guide was amazing at being open to any questions we asked. It was an eye-opening experience for everyone. In the evening, we returned to the green space where we had started the day. There we were greeted by another tour guide who answered even more questions from a Palestinian perspective. We enjoyed a picnic dinner in a nearby park and then most of us played on the splash pad as the sun went down.

DAY 8 . JUNE 20 . TUESDAY

It was another beautiful day in Israel. Today we boarded the bus and headed for a few unique sites outside of Jerusalem. First stop was a place called Neto Kevin where we worked on leadership training and team building exercises that included herding goats and sheep!! We learned to make some traditional shepherds’ food like flat bread and toasted wheat kernels. Next, we stopped at a cave system called Bar Koth. It’s a world heritage site and is an amazing example of the beauty and complexity of the world created for us. We also visited the valley where David faced-off with Goliath! It was awesome!. Finally, we made our way back to the hostel where the resident cook taught us how to make some amazing falafels. He shared the recipe with us so we can recreate it at home!

Emma's Track Season

5/19/2023

EMMA’S TRACK MEET #1 – BANANA BELT CLASSIC
MARCH 11, 2023

Emma’s first track meet was down in Pueblo at Dutch Clark Stadium where she ran the 3200m. These aren’t my favorite track meets early in the season because there is no competition for the distance runners. Emma’s goal was to get under 11:15 which would give her a pretty hefty PR. She and I figured out her splits and came up with hand motions for me to give her after each lap so that she would know if she was on pace. It’s too bad we can’t rely on the coaches to help her out. They all don’t seem to know how to coach her which is why we hired her club coach during the season to give her workouts and tell her what races to run during the season. Emma crushed this race, beating the next girl by 1 min and 15 sec!. She got a huge PR, finishing 1st in 11:12.27. If this wasn’t amazing enough, she also got nominated shortly after by Mile split as one of the top 5 female performers in CO for that week. After a week of voting, she ended up as the 2nd most voted. Way to go Emma! This was a great start to her official HS track season.

EMMA’S TRACK MEET #2 – LARRY PICKERING INVITATIONAL
MARCH 18, 2023

Well, it was another amazing race by Emma today! She ran the 1600m this week and was only seeded 5th since her previous times have never been that competitive. She knew the #1 seeded girl broke 5 last year so she had her sights on that girl. The goal today was to break 5:15 which would give her a 15 sec PR. She ran a smart race, running right with that girl for the first lap, a little behind her on lap 2 and 3 and then on the 4th lap she started to pick up the pace. At the last curve she pushed it into high gear after listening to her head coach’s words of encouragement. By the 100m mark she was right in line with the other girl and just like that she passed her and kept going to finish 1st in a time of 5:11!!! It was incredible! We were all stunned and so proud. I’m still in awe at what she did today and how much time she has cut already this year. Way to go Emma!!!

EMMA’S TRACK. MEET #3 – POMONA INVITATIONAL
APRIL 14-15, 2023

After driving over an hour to this track meet in Denver and battling the snow, wind, and rain to get there, we hunkered down in the car while Emma went back and forth between the team tent and our car. Eventually they took down the tent and had all the athletes sit in the bus to stay warm. Despite the crazy weather conditions, this meet was an exciting one to watch as she ran against some of the top distance runners in Colorado. Although she was a little frazzled before the race with where to check in, when she stepped up to the starting line she was focused. Luckily the snow and rain had stopped when the race started. She shot out and just like that she was running faster than she did during the first 3200m of the season. She ran this race in 11:05.54 which was a new PR. Afterwards she quickly cooled down and then we headed to get her some dinner before heading back home in the rain and snow. We helped her repack her bag for the next day's race and all went straight to bed.

The next day we headed back up to Jeffco stadium to watch Emma run in the 1600m. After not a great nights sleep and tired legs, Emma struggled during this race. For the first lap or so she was right on target but by lap 3 she had lost that mental focus and she just ran to finish. It definitely wasn't her best time but it also wasn't her worst time. This race was a learning experience for her and one in which she needed to not repeat.

EMMA’S TRACK. MEET #4 - COUGAR CLASSIC
APRIL 28, 2023

This was a tough race for Emma since she once again did not have competition, and she had to run the 1600m against 17mph winds. She still gave it her all and ran a good race considering the windy conditions. She finished the 1600m in 5:23.65. In hindsight, she probably should've skipped this race.

EMMA’S TRACK. MEET #5 - SPARTAN INVITATIONAL
MAY 6, 2023

Emma was really hoping to break 5 minutes in the 1600m today and ran with this goal in mind. With no competition today she really had to push herself to reach this goal. She was on pace for the first half of the race and then lost a little momentum during the second half. Although she didn't break 5 minutes, she did run in a new PR of 5:10.98. Way to go Emma!

EMMA'S TRACK MEET #6 - ST. VRAIN INVITATIONAL
MAY 12, 2023

As the last meet of the season to qualify for state, Emma entered the 1600m race. She needed at least a 5:05 to qualify for the extremely competitive 1600m field this year. Unfortunately, she wasn’t able to pull that off this race. She was extremely disappointed in herself this race, even though she gave it her best with the energy and will power she had for that day. She expended too much energy getting pushed around to the second lane and then getting stuck behind slower runners. This race is so fast and short that there isn’t any time for the field of girls to spread out. It’s always so hard to run with that much pressure on the line. We were so proud of her for pushing herself and still getting her 2nd best time of the season with a 5:11.90. This time would’ve qualified her for state last year. For some reason this year is ultra-competitive. At least she has one more year to qualify for state in the 1600m.

EMMA’S TRACK. MEET #7 - CO 5A STATE TRACK MEET
MAY 19, 2023

If there is any race that has incredible amounts of pressure it is the state race. As Emma’s official first solo event for state in track and field, she was both excited and nervous. With only the top 18 girls to qualify in each event, she was fortunate enough to qualify early in the season for the 3200m. Seeded 15th, she went out with the pack of girls who all stuck together for the first mile. During the second mile is where things got interesting. The lead pack took off and ran that second mile faster than the first while the second pack was just trying to hold the pace they were already running. Emma didn’t get the time she wanted, but she did manage to come in 14th which was one place higher than her seeded place and was only shy of her PR by 2 seconds. She ran this race in 11:07.63. I have no doubt that next year she will achieve her goal of breaking 11 minutes.

Season Results:

The Banana Belt Classic
Dutch Clark Stadium, Pueblo
3200M – 11:12.27
March 11, 2023

Larry Pickering Centennial Invitational
Dutch Clark Stadium, Pueblo
1600m – 5:11.92
March 18, 2023

The Pomona Invitational
Jeffco Stadium, Lakewood
3200m – 11:05.54
1600m – 5:32.06
April 14-15, 2023

Cougar Classic Invitational
Garry Berry Stadium, Colorado Springs
1600m – 5:23.65
April 28, 2023

Doherty Spartan Invitational
Garry Berry Stadium, Colorado Springs
1600m – 5:10.98
May 6, 2023

HOKA St. Vrain Invitational
Everly-Montgomery Field, Longmont
1600m – 5:11.90
May 12, 2023

Colorado State Track and Field Championships
Jeffco Stadium, Lakewood
3200m – 11:07.63
May 19, 2023

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race day

​meet #1 - cheyenne mtn stampedeaugust 26, 20235K - DNF

​meet #2 - liberty bellseptember 9, 20235K - 18:18.20

​Meet #3 - Coronado Cougar classicseptember 21, 20235K - 18:39.30

meet #4 - emma coburn's elk runseptember 30, 20235K - 18:44.70 (9000ft)

Meet #4 - Regionalsoctober 19, 20235K - 18:13.90

MEET #6 - STATE CHAMPIONSHIPSOCTOBER 28, 20235K - 18:21.10

First photo shoot...in the rain

second photo shoot with mom

ABBY15 years old

sisters

emma17 years old

the garden tomb

BYU Jerusalem

tomb of the prophets

garden of gethsemane

pool of bethesda & St. Anne's church

Archives

Categories

meet #1 - cheyenne mtn stampede
august 26, 2023
5K - DNF

meet #2 - liberty bell
september 9, 2023
5K - 18:18.20

Meet #3 - Coronado Cougar classic
september 21, 2023
5K - 18:39.30

meet #4 - emma coburn's elk run
september 30, 2023
5K - 18:44.70 (9000ft)

Meet #4 - Regionals
october 19, 2023
5K - 18:13.90

MEET #6 - STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
OCTOBER 28, 2023
5K - 18:21.10

ABBY
15 years old

emma
17 years old