Races

While technically they are races, both of the 5k's I did in March weren't completed as regular races. I walked them instead of running. And yes, I did beat my old times. Yay!

The first was the Shamrock Run in Portland (here's the post from last year's race: click). It's great fun and I did it with three girlfriends. Pre-race, hanging out, taking pictures...
Group shot, across the top, Christie, myself, Dawn, and kneeling, Misty.
Click the picture to make it bigger, this was our spot at the start line... can you see the line? It's WAY up there.
Might as well take another picture while we wait...
Crossing the first bridge...
Crossing the second bridge, we were stopped due to all the bridges having to be lifted.
Our time, not bad, I think we would have beat last year's time if the bridge hadn't gone up.

Cheers! Free beer for finishers.
Here's this year's number, last year's completion pin on the left, this year's on the right.
And the now traditional breakfast of Shamrock champions at Byways Cafe!

Two weeks later I did the Fort Vancouver Run, this time solo. Christian and the kids cheered for me and then did the Kid's Fun Run. (Last year is in the middle of this post: click)
Enjoying the free smoothies pre-race.
I was super nervous to do this race alone. I loaded the mp3 player with lots of fast music and just kept trying to tell myself I could do it.
The crowd in front of me at the start line.
And I'm off! I hard jogged the first quarter mile, then stuck to speed walking.
Walking along the river, it was dreary looking, but not raining and not nearly as cold as it could have been.
This hill was my biggest challenge, and I did it! I was so happy that I took a picture back down of the hill and the fact that there were actually people behind me!! I was so happy that I wasn't at the back of the pack.
And rounding the top looking forward, I was gifted with the mile 2 post, I was more than half done.
I just kept trucking, chanting to myself when needed, singing along to the music on occasion. The other "runners" probably thought I was nuts...
But it didn't matter, because I finished!! And not only finished, but beat all of my other times of doing it with friends!! Go me!
Finished, exhausted, but happy.
Then it was the kid's turn. Christian lined up with them...
And then they were off! (they're on the left, Christian's in the striped hat)
Wyatt was fast!!
Racing around people to finish!And Cordelia not only finished the first lap (last year she had to be carried after she ran the first half of the first lap)...
But finished the second lap too!!
I was so proud of both my kids!!