BK1K for the kids!

We had racing fever in our house for a few weekends- and it was Peter that was the racer! The week after Trinona, there is the BK5K for adults and then a 1 kilometer run for the kids to do. We drove down to check it out and both Peter and Emelia were up for the challenge! Emi needed a little more assistance and lined up with Shana (who was going to run with Claire) and Claire, but Peter had no issues with getting up there with the other 5/6 year olds and giving it his best shot.

After the run, Peter did tell me, "It was fun, but I still like biking more... you know??"

Trinona- Kids. Year 2.

Peter competed with his friend Finn in Trinona for the second year.

When we were talking about if he was going to do it, he asked about what it means to race and if he would be allowed to pass people. When I said of course- he told me that he was going to pass them two at a time on the bike and then one at a time while running.

He did a great job of swimming in the pool. Last year, he didn't start until 30 seconds after they said go, but this year, he started to paddle and kick right off the bat. He swam the whole time and didn't use the lane lines for any help. When he started to bike, he put his head down, elbows out and peddaled as fast as he could. The part that I was the most surprised at was the run. He actually passed another kid running in front of him, and when the kid passed him back, Peter kept working hard and caught up to him again. The other kid did outsprint him to the finish line, but he did a great job of working hard from start to finish.

Peter said he had a great time- especially while biking- and I think that his smile speaks for itself.

Trinona-- Peter's Big Race

We went to see Trinona- kids last year and since then, Pete has been talking about it. Where the kids parked their bike, how they ran to the track and around it. We had asked the race director if he could do it before he was 5 since he was showing so much interest and he said absolutely! So, we signed him up! I knew he would have no problem finishing as long as he started.

He did a great job of lining up and getting into the water in the pool. I am pretty sure that he didn't really know though, when he should start swimming. He and the little boy he was sharing  a lane with just hung out for a minute or so. It was also loud in there, I'm sure, so he looked like he was a little distracted then as well. But he ran out of the pool area, got some help getting dressed (tried to take off his wet swim suit as well!!) and was off on his bike.  At the next transition he found the water stop and stood drinking and drinking before ran.

Afterwards I asked him what the best part of it was- Swimming!!

The Few Belly Pictures that were taken.

I did an awful job this time around of taking pictures of myself and belly throughout this pregnancy. I had told myself at the start that I would do a GREAT job of it, which of course means that I didn't do it at all...

Here is what I have:

After the LaCrosse Octoberfest Half Marathon. September 29 about 15+ weeks. Time was a little over 2 hours I think and it was a great day to run, saw a number of old friends and it was fun to let them know- there was a baby on board!!

This was at the Monster Dash half marathon- the last race that I had paid for before getting pregnant- Last weekend of October- so about 20 weeks along. This was a lot harder than the first half and despite it being a much easier course my time was slower- 2:11 but it was still a really fun race and I would try to do it again for sure! I had to pee every single time I saw a portapotty and as soon as I took 3 steps away from said portapotty I had to pee again!! There also was a 10 mile race that was run at the same time and the finish line was at mile 10 of the marathon- there were buses available to take you to the finish line in fact. I was really tempted to stop, get on the bus and get a snack- I even thought about running back a 1/4 mile to "finish" while I was in the bathroom taking a quick pit stop! But I plugged on- now that I think about how many stops I made, my time doesn't look so bad!

 I must have either felt like the baby was popping oiut at this point- or maybe that I looked cute? Either way this was about 6 months-- first week of December.

 Mid January- still was going out running and was having a hard time with my jacket stretching over my belly. Had to wear a few layers and make sure one was long enough to tuck in!!

 

 This is the last race that I ran and one of the last pictures-beginning of February- this was after a 5K in Winona that I snuck out and ran real quick one morning. Garrick and the kids were all sick but getting out in the fresh air was just what I needed! At this point, my legs were falling asleep all of the time when I was running and I had to take a lot of walk breaks. 

Looking at all of these running pictures is making me antsy to get back out running! This weekend might be a good time to start up again SLOWLY.

Camping and Racing

 We went camping this past weekend at Willow River State Park which was a little ways outside of Hudson. It was perfect camping weather- cool nights and  warm sunny days! The only downside of the camp ground was that the beach was really scummy- especially for kids that drink lake water like it is chocolate milk!! But we played and played and played in teh dirt at the site, went on some nice hikes and also the park had nice playgrounds all over.

 There was a big hill off of our site that Emelia loved scoooting down and getting caught.She was my early bird this time and would wake up ready to play at 6 or 6:30 each day- she usually sleeps til 8 at home- so we would go off on a long slow walk each morning in our jammies. I think she walked 2 miles on our second day's walk!

 We also went out for ice cream one night. We all had our own execpt Emelia who just walked around the circle getting her share of everyone's icecream! I wish I had gotten a movie of it- it was adorable! She definitely lived up to her nickname!!

 We were up there becuase Garrick was doing a race on Sunday. The series that he is doing also has a kiddie race that we asked Pete if he wanted to try. He was all about it until we got there and got his number (3- they let him pick) and then he was a little nervous. But when he saw all of the other kids lined up he was all about it and had big smiles. He plugged along behind all of the kids and had lots of fun. Of course the best part was getting his medal at the end.

Garrick won the single speed division which was awesome as well. When he came home and showed Peter his medal all Peter had to say was "Why aren't you wearing it?" since he still had his on hours later!!

Garrick's Half Ironman

 Garrick did a half-ironman this weekend up in the cities. He left for the race much earlier than we did and we got to the race just as his wave was being called into the water which was perfect timing. I got my watch started and tried to find him in the sea of green swim caps and black wetsuits.

 While we waited for him to finish swimming we went down a few slides...

Swung on a few swings

and climbed.

We went to watch and pretty soon, he was out of the water! Garrick mentioned that he had a cut on his foot that he sustained in the middle of the lake... a fish? a wire?? Someone's mouth??

He headed out and so did we!

We took a quick stop at an overlook to let the kids run around for a bit

and then went to a cemetery to wait for Garrick and cheer on the other bikers. Garrick was super happy and cheerful to see us and the kids had fun running around the gravestone and Pete rode his bike and picked a few flowers from some graves...

After we caught him one more time biking we parked in our spot near the one mile marker and waited for him to come- Then we took a walk for a while to let the kids rest- Emi took a short nap and Pete relaxed in the chariot and had lunch, cookies and a huge freezie pop.

Back to the park.

And saw Garrick Finish! Official Time: 5:07 (I think)

Garrick said that he wasn't sure what to expect going into this- he had done lots of little triathlons and some olympic distance ones, but a half-marathon is a long ways to go after you've been exercising for 3 hours! He did a great job and  we were so proud of him! GO GO GO

St. Patty's Day

This was probably the warmest EVER in the history of Minnesota. I was signed up to run the Get Lucky Half Marathon. The few weeks before, I had strep and was super sick, but since i was signed up, we drove up, I did the race and SUPER dad and the kiddos watched and cheered. It ended up being a fun day- especially since we got to go to the zoo and Chipotle afterwards!

ROAR!!