13.1

Today I ran 13.1 miles with 2 of my dearest friends, (and also about 20,000 other runners.) We've been training for 10 weeks so technically that's a LOT of miles under our belts.

I had some training issues this go round but today was pretty much the perfect race. The weather was gorgeous. The course was beautiful. Tiff & I beat last year's time by a lot which was our goal. It's a wonderful feeling to set a goal and accomplish it, especially when so much of it is a matter of the mind being stronger than the body.

Here are some pictures from our adventure.

Carie, Me & Tiffany running to the race (picture taken by T's husband Jason who ran the 5k and did awesome.) We could NOT find a parking spot. We were desperate enough to park in a Handicapped spot. At the last minute a parking attendant let us park in "his worker's" spot. Tender mercy.

This is the last bit of the race, I am looking around for Matt & the boys.

This is right when I saw my family. I teared up several times through the race. So much of the experience is very inspirational. Each runner has a story. BUT, the joy I felt seeing my sweet boys and husband waiting for me, surpasses all that.


Family shot with pretty flowers. Asher just wanted to see my medal.



We did it!

Talking to Ridge. He kept asking "Tiffany, are you a racer?"

Last year the weather was really cold so I was prepared for this year just in case.

Mom do you remember making me that blanket when I was at BYU?

Holding up our official times.

Playing in the fountains at Crown Center after the race.

This one is my favorite. Look at those cute faces having so much fun.

Matt the tailor makes snake chaps

When Matt was bitten by that blasted-(blankety blank-blank ) copperhead snake 2 years ago, I became somewhat more protective/crazed about where & when I let the boys go on outings with their dad. *Edited to add: Jay just asked me what blankety blank blank meant...

Soooooooo, last Christmas Matt and Grandma Wendy got the boys this lovely fabric. What is it for you ask? It is special material that snake fangs cannot penetrate to help keep our little ones' ankles safe while they are out and about.

Here is Matt hard at work at my sewing machine (which was happy to see the light of day. ) He set it up and finished his projects within a month. Now if I can just get him to put everything away that would be great. At our house the rules are pretty much "Your project, your clean up." *I have several of my own projects hanging around.

Concentrate!

Hard at work. (Enter song: Can't help, lovin' that man of mine. Show Boat)


Modeling the finished product. This one is for Jay. Each boy now has their own pair of snake-chaps. I'm not sure if that is the real name or not but that's what I'm calling them.