In the Zone It is Thanksgiving Day at the Thankful 13 half-marathon in Lehi, Utah. In a sea of runners, a 24-year-girl with a coral-racing shirt, freckles, and a blond ponytail swishing back and forth approaches the finish line. Her blue eyes focus straight ahead, ear buds in; she does not hear the cheers as she breezes by. She is “in the zone.”
For one so young, Laura Carlisle has been through “hell and back” as she puts it. To begin with, she has a host of allergies including peanuts, tree nuts, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, strawberries, grapes, poultry, MSG, chickpeas, dogs, and cats. As a child, she thought it was normal to have a stomach ache after eating. Her allergies are so severe that even being in the same vicinity with
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“My left foot was smashed; I had a concussion, and had cuts all over my body,” says Laura of her condition after the accident. Tragically Alan, her father died at the scene. “I loved my dad a lot. I was just getting to the age when I could appreciate that,” Laura states. No more skiing, for that was something she did with her dad. The local karate studio offered the family a free annual membership, but they turned it down. This too was family time with dad. At age 19, she completed her first half Ironman competition, which consists of swimming 1.2 miles, biking 56 miles and running 13.1 miles. After the race, tears surfaced for she knew Alan would have competed right by her …show more content…
Alice describes her daughter as, “fun, bubbly, friendly, and strong.” Her relationship is, “a close one. We are like best friends. She’s not perfect, but she’s a darn good kid.” Laura lights up every room she walks into with her positive energy. Her twin brother Earl admires his sister’s spirituality. “She doesn’t come off as spiritual, but her connection to God and her testimony have helped her overcome her trials.” This contrasts with the anger she felt towards God after the accident. Then came the test. For two weeks, she would live the Gospel to the best of her ability. If after the two-week trial she didn’t find answers, she would be finished with the church. On Thursday of the second week, she read in John 14:18, “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” The test was