Memorial Day was a memorable day for me this year! A few girl friends and I ran a half marathon! This was my 3rd and final half marathon! I say 'final' and I hope I mean it. My last half I said I'd never run one again, and I did. But seriously, this time I mean it. This course made me never want to do one again. It was super hard! Hill after hill after dang hill! And where we trained, there were NO hills. So my body just wasn't ready for that. The first 5-6 miles were okay.. not too hilly and I kept a good (probably too fast) pace. Then the big hills came out and I slowed down... a lot! I stopped so often I was getting frustrated with myself, but I just couldn't muster up any more energy to keep going. Running is such a mental game. I tried to find ways out of finishing the half, but I knew I would regret it. So i kept going. At about mile 10, two awesome ladies were there cheering me on with big signs. Camille & Amanda ran with me up the next hill, encouraging me, and making me feel great!! It was so nice to have them there cheering me on. It's amazing how much a familiar face and genuine cheers will do for you! I finally got to the last stretch and I could see the Finish line!! Whoohoo!! About 100 feet before the finish line, Paxton pulled out with the kids in the stroller. He started running with me, and then suggested I push the stroller to the end. I laughed and said, "Ha, No way!! You do it!" I was using all the energy I had to just RUN to the Finish line. I definitely could not push a 40 lb stroller too!! So, I finally finished in 2 hours and 16 minutes. I had a goal of doing it under 2 hours, since my other 2 races I finished just minutes over 2 hours, but that did not happen. I think I need a flatter course for that goal. But like I said, I'm not running another one, so I guess it will never happen. I'm glad I did it, but I'm glad it's over!!
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| me, April, Amy, Lisa |
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| our cheerleaders - Camille & Amanda |
That evening we had a Memorial Day Block Party BBQ in front of our house. My neighbor and I hosted this event and we had a ton of fun! We had grills, picnic tables, lawn chairs, kiddie pools, and a bounce house. We blocked off a little section of the street with our cars and let the kids play! We were able to chat with a few of our neighbors and eat some yummy food! We are so blessed with wonderful neighbors!! Many are our age with 1 or 2 little kids. We always have so much fun together! That was definitely the first of many block parties.
These were all taken one day while they were happily playing in Ty's room!! They each sat by themselves with their own toys, doin their own thing, which rarely happens. I had to take pictures. So when i got the camera out, they stood up and had to pose!
