Up to this point, I have only done three 5K races. Back in 2004, Tony, my Mom and I walked the Komen 5K when I was about 7 1/2 months pregnant!! I can't even remember how we did- but I do remember passing lots of people even that pregnant! Our next race was Keller's Run in the Dark race this past September. We signed up through Daniel's school and it was CROWDED! Here we are at the start line. Tony looks thrilled you say??? He was less than happy about all of the huge crowds and worrying that our car would be towed! Most races are in the morning and this one being at 7pm was a little off. I was really nervous that day for some reason, but I think I did ok in the end. I give kudos to Tony for pushing 2 kids in a jogging stroller and finishing with a time of 26:20 (8:30/mile pace)!! I came in a little less than 10 minutes later at 34:07 (11:00/mile). I think I was shooting for 40 minutes and when I saw the time from a distance I thought I was over 40 and disappointed. Until I saw the actual time and was pretty happy for my first run!! Oh- and our car didn't get towed either!
I was really pumped after the run and already looking for another race! The races are fun, but you quickly realize how expensive they can get!! I did find another race a few weeks later that was essentially the same course as the Run in the Dark. This race was How the West was Run and was a morning race. We had safe parking so no worries there. The only problem was the weather! As soon as we got there, it started sprinkling. We loaded the kids up in the stroller with rain ponchos and headed out. I told him if it really started raining, I would stay with the kids and he could run (see, I'm such a nice wife). But we figured that we were all wet anyway so we might as well go with it. The turnout for this race was MUCH lower than the previous one partly due to the weather I'm sure. Here we are before the race...look he ALMOST smiled!!
Here are the little troopers all ready to go!! We did run into a problem with this race though. The ponchos were a last minute thing and we didn't think them through enough. Right at the beginning of the race, Daniel's poncho got caught in the wheel. He was fine, but we lost a couple of minutes getting that sorted out. I kept telling him to run and I would take them, but we stuck it out and we were off again. As I said, it cost us a few minutes, but we still had respectable numbers. Tony finished in 27:46 and I finished at 35:18. I was really shooting for 32:00, but wasn't overly disappointed considering our problem.
Here I am almost to the finish line looking like a drenched rat! Despite the weather I had fun!
Next up was our trip to Disney in October. We happened to be going during one of the Disney races so we decided to sign up. The 5K did not allow strollers so we knew only one of us would be able to run. We originally made the plans before ever running those two 5K's in Keller and I wasn't sure I could do it, so we signed Tony up for the 5K. After running the 5K's, I was secretly a little disappointed I couldn't run. But I knew that Tony would enjoy the run as well!! On Friday afternoon, they held Kid Races at the ESPN Wide World of Sports. It was at 4pm and so incredibly HOT and crowded. Daniel did a 200 meter dash with Tony and Arianna did a 100 meter dash with me. Both kids did awesome and had a great time!! Here they are before the race start!
I ran ahead of Arianna a few steps to snap a picture of her crossing the finish line.
And here is Daniel coming around the curve. He really got into it and gave it his best! 
We were so proud of the kids! And they were very happy with their medallions!
The next morning, Tony headed out for Mickey's Halloween 5K while the kids were still asleep. As much as I wanted to go watch him at the finish line, it just didn't work out logistically. He did awesome though!! The race wasn't timed, but per his GPS, I think he less than 23 minutes!!!
The final race of 2010, was the YMCA Turkey Trot. We debated on whether to run it or not and ended up going that morning to register. It was a cold and dreary early morning. The plan was for Tony to do the 10K with the kids and I would do the 5K. I think it was around 50 at the start of the race, but an hour later it had dropped into the high 30's. As we walked to register, it started sprinkling and I whimped out. I figured rain was one thing, but rain and cold was different and I didn't want the kids in the middle of that. So, Tony ran the 10K while we waited. Of course it never did really rain and a few times I wished I was running to warm up!! He said it was better that he didn't have the kids as he wasn't sure he could do 6.2 miles with them. He again impressed me with a finish time of 50:07 (8:05/mile pace). He is a strong runner for sure! Unfortunately, we didn't plan a meeting spot and that was a little crazy. I had both cell phones with me, so that wasn't an option. He ran right past me and although I tried to follow him, I quickly lost him. I looked for him for about 5-10 minutes and when I gave up and just stopped somewhere I heard his voice. He was talking with co-wokers a few feet from me- how lucky!! We got out of there pretty quick as the temperature was still dropping! I couldn't really feel my feet or fingers!I have been toying with the idea of doing the Princess Half Marathon for awhile. I was really excited about it, but when it didn't look like we could do it due to high airfare etc. I just gave up on it. Then Tony found really good airfare and said let's do it! I was still hesitant to register for such a challenge. I was watching the race website to see how fast it filled up. When it got to 88% this week, I bit the bullet and registered. So, there's no turning back now- I WILL be running in the 2010 Disney Princess Half Marathon!! I am both excited and nervous and just hoping I can make it!!! The race sounds awesome though- you start at EPCOT and run by the Contemporary through the Magic Kingdom and through the Castle. Then back out by the Grand Floridian and back the the EPCOT parking lot for the 13.1 mile finish!! There should be lots of entertainment and picture opportunities along the way to make it even better!! Tony keeps telling me to just enjoy the run and experience and take lots of pictures!! I have been training for a few weeks now and this Sunday will be a 6 mile run. This is definitely a challenge for me, but one that I am up for! Can't wait to run through the Magic Kingdom!!!
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