Summer Running

This summer has been so fun! I've tried to participate in a running event each summer for the past couple of years and this year I've done 2 really fun ones. In June I ran the Ragnar WBR, this was my 4th time and by far one of the very best years! My team was awesome, I didn't fall and have to get stitches, the race was so smoothly put together, and it was such a blast. I love doing this race for a few reasons. 1) Its absolutely gorgeous to run through the smaller towns on the backside of the mountains. 2) It's an emotional expieriance to be with 5 other people, some you don't even know at the beginning. But after 30 hours in a van, cheering eachother on, sharing laughter, tears, and alot of information (Sorry Mike!) they become people that you just love. 3) I love being able to do this with my sister Kristin. She's amazing in a million different ways but she is one of my biggest cheerleaders and my admiration for her grows so much each year we do this together.
I not only got to run with Kristin, but also my freaking amazing sister in law Marci. She came down from Eugene, OR to run this with me and I love her so much for doing that. It was so cool to be with her and spend that time with her. Thanks to her awesome husband for letting her come. While I'm at that, thanks to my awesome husband who is so supportive of my running. Watching the girls, coming to cheer me on, dropping me off places to run, getting up early to watch them while I go run.....love you babe.
Anyways, this is our team S.W.A.T. Speed Walkers and Trash-Talkers. I'm pretty sure we didn't do either of those things, but it was fun to dress up 80'sish stuff :)

At the starting line....Pumped and ready to go! We definately aren't looking much like this at the finish line.

The only two boys on our team. I'd say I felt bad for them but I really didn't....look at them! Actually, Mike was in our van and he had no idea what kinds of things he was gonna be seeing or hearing. I'll leave it at that :) He was a good sport and such a blast.

Marci, Me, Mike, Debbie, Sara, Kristin, Jacee

She's awesome. She just ran a ridiculous leg right before me, and then got out to wipe my tears while I ran this one. I'm so not ashamed to admit how much I cried during this weekend :)

At the finish line!

Debbie was such a stud and let us take her BRAND new van. I thought it was pretty funny that we were the trash talkers but that we had flowers all over. If you look close you can see that the runner on the back window is carrying a gun. and shooting at something. Apparently that's what speed walkers do :)


The other event I did this summer was the Legacy Midnight Half-Marathon. It was awesome because Brandon and Marci (my bro & sis-in-law) ran with me. And it was at night which was fun. But it wasn't one I'll probably do again. I love half marathons....I really think they are so much fun.

It was actually really cool.....they gave every runner 6 glo-sticks to put on but a lot of people went all out. While we were waiting an hour before for the race to start we just looked at all the people with glo sticks taped up and down their legs & arms, all over their shirts and around necks. Had to laugh because we were just looping them around our shoelaces, knowing that running with them on would be really obnoxious. The first mile or two however was just covered with glo sticks that people had just dropped :)

My sweet love who stayed up waiting for me to come across the finish line at midnight. He and he dad and my mom cheered us all on at a few different places and it was so helpful to see them. He's awesome.

Good times guys! Love you and thanks for doing this with me. Next time, you pick the event :)