A race to the finish

A few weeks ago we made our first family trip which didn't involve driving to North Dakota! Dave made plans to run a 1/2 marathon in Mora, MN. For those of you that are just as clueless as I was-it is about an 1 1/2 hours drive northeast of Maple Grove. Since David and I didn't want to just sit and wait for daddy, I decided (a few days earlier) that we were going to participate in the 5K. So this would be David's 2nd 5k with mama, the first being when I was about 6 months pregnant.

Dave took off a little early to get a pre-race run in and David and I got to hang out at the cabin a little longer. I have to admit I was getting butterflies. We got all packed up, race gear on and we hit the road. Mind you, it was a 2 minute drive from the cabin to the race starting line! So convenient.

We spotted Dave at the starting line, gave him a quick good luck wish and waited for the gun to go off. Soon the runners were off and running in a very humid and sunny morning.

David and I then made our way to our starting line, just a block over. I was checking out our competition and there were 2 other mom's with kids in joggers and 1 man with a jogger and a dog. My plan was to walk the race, but as we started no one else was walking. Now what?! I'm not much of a runner to begin with and haven't done it since long before I was pregnant. Well, I decided to just pick up the pace and see what happens. I didn't want to be the only loser walking. I felt really good right away and before we knew it we were jogging right passed the other 2 moms. I figured this would come back to bite me and it did, I just didn't realize how soon.

I think I made it about a mile and then the lactic acid began to build. One mom/child combo passed us, then the other. So at this point, I decide to walk. At first, I pretended to just check on David, but I couldn't make myself run once I started walking. We were still ahead of the dog so that's a plus. After about a half mile or so I start running again. The wind is at my back, but it doesn't seem to help at all. We continue trucking along with intervals of running and walking. In that next half mile or so the dog passes us. Are you kidding? We are getting passed by this hefty 60+ year old man pushing a dog! So now my goal was to not lose to the dog. I picked up the pace and we managed to stay with him for a bit, but we soon fell back. Now came the last turn with 1/2 mile to go. The dog wasn't too far ahead.

 

 

 

 

 

By the time we arrived at the cones directing us to the finish line we were just a step behind. I became one of those people that sprint to the finish, but I didn't care we had to beat the dog. I think the man slowed up a bit to make be feel better and said "Go mama, you gotta get under 40". I crossed that finish line with a huge smile on my face (even though it took nearly 40 minutes-how sad) because it was over and we beat the dog! Woohoo!! Finish Line Photo I'm glad we did it, but uh-probably won't do that again. I'll save David's running experiences for his Dad.

This was David's first outing in the jogger and he did great, entertaining himself with the belt strap during the entire race.

David and I enjoyed some of the post-race goodies and waited for Dave. He had a great time of 1:22 and finishing in 4th, however, missing out on the great handmade wooden trophies (replica of town clock) they presented to the first 3 finishers. Dave said he would have run a little harder had he known the prize at the end. I guess there is always next year!

Someone on the street asked how David did (since he was wearing Dave’s medal). We told him “1st place”. The guy’s response “That’s pretty good with those short little legs!”