pathetic excuses... and a race

yeah, i suppose i am pathetic.
blogging... such a love/hate relationship.
honestly, there's probably only a handful of people that actually read here, (99% of them i know in real life) so i feel what's the need to do regular posting.
and since i'm pretty sure only 3 people read my blog, i don't have to feel guilty.
right?
i see my home page on the computer all the time...
and it seems to never change.
ha!
that's b/c i just don't have the motivation to do a new post.
ever since our trip i feel like i have to have awesome amazing trip posts.
but alas, i've not been motivated to edit through my hoards of photos to post.
so... i just keep walking by... not posting.
sounds sorta pathetic.
although i am busy.
we got baseball 2 times a week... swimming two times a week... and general 'having fun' as a family busyness.
plus, i sorta have been training for another 1/2 marathon.
so that takes up my time and energy too.
funny!
i keep saying, "when that is off my plate i'll get to it..."
but i still have oodles on my plate.
so i'll just have to have a few non-trip related posts for a bit 'til i'm done with picture editing.

i'll start with this one....
on mother's day (less than 48 hours after coming home from europe) i was able to run a 5K race.
not just any 5K race... this one was with my oldest daughter!

(pre-race)

yay!  first time ever running a race with her!
it was awesome and amazing!
my middle girl did a little kids run too.
also, her first race.
they both did fantastic.
but my big k... well, she was incredibly and inspiring.

(and... we're OFF!  you see us waving?  mamas behind their girls... that didn't last long.)

motivation for her came in the form of water stations (b/c it was hot)... sprinklers and hoses that people were spraying at participants... and the promise of treats at the end and some fun in the jumpy houses.
ha ha ha!
after a race the last thing i'd want to do is jump in those sweaty hot jumping castles... but that's my girl!

(after about a mile and a bit... just after a water station and feeling refreshed in the heat, the 4 of us trudge on.)

we got to run with one of my closest friends and her daughter (which happens to be big k's bff).
it was interesting to run with the girls since they've never run that far for that long before.

(you'd better believe i hauled out my iphone and took pics during the race!)

they see their mamas running all the time and so they're interested.
and because they could do the race together along with their moms... they were in!
during the race they kept saying, "we wanna be done... when's the end?"
or, "i'm NEVER doing this again!!!"

(after getting doused by water from a hose.  she was already pretty pooped but we only had just under a mile to go.)

they did amazing and our time was a little over 35 minutes.
i was very proud of my girl!
and guess what?
afterward, a few hours later, they both said they wanted to do it again next year.
ha ha!
i can totally and completely relate! ;)

(running into the finish line... so thrilling! little j ran just in ahead of us with a burst of energy at the end!)

i hope this is just the beginning to a great running relationship with one of my daughters.
hopefully all three will be hooked with running races in the future!

(right after the race... feeling hot but happy!)

knowing that they can run a race and accomplish a goal will help give them confidence in themselves.
it works for me... it'll surely work for them!
and nothings better than feeling the "runner's high" after a race!
clearly big K felt it too... for she committed to the race again next year within about 5 minutes (after she had some water and recuperated, of course).

(another shot of us after the race... a little more rested up!) 


here's some more shots of race day...

the kids waiting in line for the jumpy house after the race.
of course!

little k during her race!!!
she booted it for the entire 300 meters!
seriously loving it!

the kids race finish line!

pre race with my running pal!
us mamas were let off the hook a bit running with our 8 year old daughters. LOL

of course pre race... look at how pumped they are!!!
k and j!!

all four of us... embarking on the race!

my girl and i, pre race... love her smile!

neighbours... running partners... best of friends... these girls are life giving to me!
D did the 10K alone... so she didn't run with us... she booted it instead! :)

my regular running buddy... she just finished the 10K and i got to cheer her in!
we're doing the half in a couple of weeks... so you'll see more pics of us in running gear.
just you wait... we have matching shirts this time!!!  LOL

and one more picture of us at the finish line...
check out k's mouth.
just running hard... all the way to the end... her tongue is sticking out!
what a great race... and a fantastic day!
cheers to all runners out there!