RACE DATE: MAY 8, 2011 (Mother's Day)
I have planned to run this 5K for a couple of months because Holly and Sueann have planned and directed this entire race to benefit Leukemia through Team in Training. All of the profits will go directly to their pledge. Not only that, but the entire run is on the hard packed sand of New Smyrna Beach and I get to see my NSB running peeps! <3
Snag......my sciatic nerve has been giving me fits lately and I've been told not to run at all until my back is straightened out. I find out later not only do I have degeneration, but also a herniated disc, a bulging disc, stenosis and arthritis. I decided that I would walk it; it's a great cause and....
As an added bonus, I have guilted M, B, and H to run with me as a Mother's Day gift. I must be the HAPPIEST MOMMY on the earth this day because I cannot imagine being more proud of my family! We woke up early, drove to NSB and got signed up. These girls were doing a jam up job running the registration and packet pickup early this morning! The only negative is that the city never came to open the bathrooms that were there, so we had to cross the road and borrow the one at 7-eleven, which wasn't so bad. The awesome things that Holly and Sueann had at this race (besides the perfect location!) was a great photographer, a water stop at 1/3 and 2/3 the way, and lots and lots of door prizes at the end of the race - H won a poster of the race logo and I won a free year of Road ID!
The race itself was great! There was an official race clock, but no chip timing, which was completely fine because it was a small manageable (and laid back!) race! The first mile was pretty slow, but then M & B started to jog a little....and I was raring to go as well. But H...not so much! She did good for almost a mile and then she sat in the sand and said she was quitting. B offered to stay with her and M & I jogged on. We actually jogged for the rest of the race, even though I wasn't suppose to! It just felt so good to me :) It was so much fun!!!!
So, after we crossed the finish line, we were headed to the pavilion to get...something...next thing I know, people are yelling at me that B&H are crossing the finish line. I missed it! But the photographer got a fantastic pic of them! I am so proud of both of them. I am proud of my boy for being patient with his sister and coaching her to the finish line. I am so proud of my girl for running her first 5K :) I dont remember our exact times, I think that M & I had a time of about 36 minutes and B & H was around 38ish, I think.
It was such a wonderful day for me. The fact that they woke up before the crack of dawn, and spent the morning doing something that wouldn't be listed on their top 10 things to do this morning, just warms my heart more than I can explain.
After the race, we hung out for a while while they were drawing the prizes and chatted with a few friends that I know from sparkpeople.com. This is what the end of the race looked like.
