Ringing in Spring in Valpo, IN will always have a special place in my heart.... It was my first race, it's one of the biggest in the area, it's a relatively flat, easy course... and the crowd support is amazing for the type of race it is!!!
This year, I had my hubby, AND my sister doing it with me!!! I had corrupted Chris into the 5K world, and Jackie got sucked in somewhere along the way. Poor Jackie struggles to run/walk with severe shin splints, so she opted to run/walk this one. I was so very proud of her for all the hard work and effort she put into training for this, she is really dedicated, and it is truly inspiring to me!!! There were lots of times where I absolutely did NOT want to go out for a run, but just then, the running gods would smile down on me, b/c I would get a text from her telling me she had just run .75 miles!!!!! So, I'd get off my lazy, procrastinating hiney -- and go for a run.
We all met at Wal-Mart b/c parking over by the race is insane.... we actually parked at the high school and hopped on a shuttle to the race.... with all 4 kids in tow. After dropping the kids off at kiddie care, we had a good 30 minutes to get nervous, and cold. It was freezing!! No, really, i think it was actually at freezing. It was also really windy and wet -- it hadn't started raining yet, but the skies were gonna open up soon!!!! We all walked around for a bit trying to get out of the cold wind, peeking through windows to check on the kids, and making the mandatory 17 port-a-potty stops......
Then Mr. Ringing In Spring Announcer guy started talking in his bullhorn thing, but the wind was blowing the wrong way, so we barely heard what he actually said..... and then DING (the bell) we were off.....
I ran with Jackie for the first 4-5 minutes, then she choose to walk! She is a strong runner, she just doesn't know it yet!!! The girl has more determination than I do.... she just lets her psyche get in the way!!!
After Jackie began to walk, I made it a mission to catch up to Mr Hotness (that's Chris ~~ the hubby) After a few minutes of running, it started to rain.... but as it started to rain, the wind died down.... thank goodness!!!! About the 1 mile ,mark, I could see Chris up ahead of me --- probably only 10-15 yards ahead of me....I kept pace with him through the ENTIRE race, just barely behind him, but I knew if I passed him, his pride would kick into overdrive and he would hammer down past me, so I planned to keep a little in the reserve tank to fly past him in the end. Just before the 3 mile mark, I started to make my move...... this was gonna be so fun! Chris has a habit of flying past me at the very end of races (not like either one of us care, it's all in fun!!) so I was about to get my piece of the victory pie!
At the 3, I caught up to him, and we chatted for a mere 2 seconds, then I tried to pass him..... GURRRRR, some guy hopped right in front of me!!! And, a lady was beside him! So, to get around them, I had to pass 2 people, and that stinking Chris wound up beating me AGAIN!!!!!
***SIGH**** I guess there's always the next race.....
Chris finished in 29:07 and I came in at 29:10. (next year baby, next year)
This year, I had my hubby, AND my sister doing it with me!!! I had corrupted Chris into the 5K world, and Jackie got sucked in somewhere along the way. Poor Jackie struggles to run/walk with severe shin splints, so she opted to run/walk this one. I was so very proud of her for all the hard work and effort she put into training for this, she is really dedicated, and it is truly inspiring to me!!! There were lots of times where I absolutely did NOT want to go out for a run, but just then, the running gods would smile down on me, b/c I would get a text from her telling me she had just run .75 miles!!!!! So, I'd get off my lazy, procrastinating hiney -- and go for a run.
We all met at Wal-Mart b/c parking over by the race is insane.... we actually parked at the high school and hopped on a shuttle to the race.... with all 4 kids in tow. After dropping the kids off at kiddie care, we had a good 30 minutes to get nervous, and cold. It was freezing!! No, really, i think it was actually at freezing. It was also really windy and wet -- it hadn't started raining yet, but the skies were gonna open up soon!!!! We all walked around for a bit trying to get out of the cold wind, peeking through windows to check on the kids, and making the mandatory 17 port-a-potty stops......
Then Mr. Ringing In Spring Announcer guy started talking in his bullhorn thing, but the wind was blowing the wrong way, so we barely heard what he actually said..... and then DING (the bell) we were off.....
I ran with Jackie for the first 4-5 minutes, then she choose to walk! She is a strong runner, she just doesn't know it yet!!! The girl has more determination than I do.... she just lets her psyche get in the way!!!
After Jackie began to walk, I made it a mission to catch up to Mr Hotness (that's Chris ~~ the hubby) After a few minutes of running, it started to rain.... but as it started to rain, the wind died down.... thank goodness!!!! About the 1 mile ,mark, I could see Chris up ahead of me --- probably only 10-15 yards ahead of me....I kept pace with him through the ENTIRE race, just barely behind him, but I knew if I passed him, his pride would kick into overdrive and he would hammer down past me, so I planned to keep a little in the reserve tank to fly past him in the end. Just before the 3 mile mark, I started to make my move...... this was gonna be so fun! Chris has a habit of flying past me at the very end of races (not like either one of us care, it's all in fun!!) so I was about to get my piece of the victory pie!
At the 3, I caught up to him, and we chatted for a mere 2 seconds, then I tried to pass him..... GURRRRR, some guy hopped right in front of me!!! And, a lady was beside him! So, to get around them, I had to pass 2 people, and that stinking Chris wound up beating me AGAIN!!!!!
***SIGH**** I guess there's always the next race.....
Chris finished in 29:07 and I came in at 29:10. (next year baby, next year)
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