Race Days!

 Here I am after my one and only marathon.  I found a race on Saturday that I could run and it turned out that I had a few friends to run with.  Anne and I ran the Bayshore 1/2 marathon 5 years ago and I said to myself I would be back to do a full marathon and I did it.  It was the best race ever!  I ran the whole race and finished in 4:40.  I had so much anxiety the whole week because I didn't know what my race would bring me, but I felt good the whole time.  I know that God was my strength through this whole thing.

 Kevin and the family surprised me at the race which was the best gift ever.  When we drove home many of my friends came and put up banners to congratulate me on my race.  It was so kind of them.

 Maryanne and I trained together but she ran her marathon three weeks before me.  She was so kind to do a long drive to cheer me on and run the last 7 miles with me.  Friends are the best.

 Kristen and I also trained together on the short runs.  She did the 1/2 marathon while I did the full.  She already ran a full marathon and one was enough.  We drove up together the night before.  We wrote on our arms Phillipians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."  I can't believe how much that scripture helped me during the race.

 The night before we went to a lake and pondered the blessings in our lives.  It was a  peaceful experience.

 Here are all the banners and signs that were put up in front of our home after my race. 

 Here's my medal.  I still can't believe I ran 26.2 miles.  I am back to running again and sometimes six miles feels hard.  It was a miracle for me to run that much. 

 We picked up our shirts the night before.  My shirt was a bit too short so Kamren got to inherit it since he came and surprised me at the race.  He ran the last 7 miles with me and sprinted me in.  He truly amazes me when he puts his mind to something.  I didn't sleep well the night before and I couldn't even eat breakfast because I was so nervous.  I know it was the blessing I received just a few days before that gave me the experience I needed.  Christ truly does carry our burdens.

 Kamren ran a 5k with a neighbor a few days before my race.  He did a great job.  I love watching him serve others.  He is so encouraging to other people.

 Connor is having fun cheering him on.  He is such a trooper as he cheers for everyone else.  Someday he'll be able to be the one we are cheering for!

 Andrew, Connor and Brynn ran the fun run together after the 5k.  They all did great with dad.

 Ashleigh had fun doing Girls on the Run for the first time.  She ran a 5K with all of her girlfriends.  It was a 12 weeks program meeting twice a week.  It was a big committment but Ashleigh loved going each time. 

I am forever grateful for the good friends our children have.  Molly and Ashleigh are truly the best of friends.

 This program was amazing for Ashleigh.  It not only taught the girls to reach their goals but other things about respecting themselves and others.  Ashleigh has really gained a lot more confidence in herself.  She is such a good girl. It was a hot evening but we made it!  Ashleigh had the perfect running skirt to match her new shirt and we didn't even know what it was going to look like.

 A week later after my race, Kamren ran in a mud run.  I actually did it with him too.  All the money went to build water wells for the people in Uganda.  I love seeing the money go to a good cause.  Look at all that mud.  This is the perfect race for Kam.  He loves this kind of stuff.

 Kamren sprinted up the hills.  I took much longer to finish.  He is a fast cookie!

I'm so thankful for the month of May and all these races.  It's awesome to finish a race and cheer each other on as a family.  I don't have a picture of my husband up from my race because I forgot to get a whole family shot.  But he is the one who was my strength in all of my training.  It was a  hard training for me but he was always willing to take the kids so I could train for my race.  I had knee surgery in December so I could do this race and start training in January.  I dealt with aches and pains in my back, plantar fascitis, shin splints, aches in my neck, and feet, but it was so worth it.  After all the trials comes the blessings.  I won't do another marathon again because my knees have started arthritis and it's too hard on them but I'm hoping to do a bike race next.  I love a reason to exercise!