Running for Water

Today was the 4th annual Run For Water in our city, and I ran it with my boys (well, we 3 ran it, but not really "together"!) This race raises money for clean water in Ethiopia, and there were 2814 runners participating today in four different distances (5K, 10K, 1/2 Marathon and Marathon) and over $200,000 raised! Amazing!

Both the winner of the 1/2 Marathon and the winner of the full Marathon were running for their first time at that distance, and won. I thought that was pretty cool!

Our race clothes laid out last night:


The three of us started off together, but I had told the boys that if they stuck together, they did not have to wait for me. They were happy about that, and just went for it!!


The boys left me at the starting line, and I only had sight of them until the first bend in the road about 3/4 of a km into the run. Then I didn't see them again until after the race. They finished 8 minutes ahead of me!

Off to a good start......


Todd placed 9th in his age category! Scott finished at the same time as him, but was in the 8-12 year old category, so it was a bit more difficult to place in the top 10! So proud of my boys.


With some friends... their oldest daughter placed 6th in her age category for the 5K, and their oldest son placed 2nd overall in the 10K, which put him first in his age category. These kids are amazing (there are 6 of them!) and they all ran, including their parents!! Elise is proudly holding a medal in this pic, but she just borrowed it for the photo - didn't want to be left out just because she didn't race!!!

The race day events were great, too. Bouncy castles, slides, food, free Starbucks coffee, and lots of music. A really well-planned, and well-attended community event, with global focus.



My boys really loved the food tent for runners. Water, fruit, power bars. I think they really just wanted to run the race so they could eat the food at the end!!! Oh, and Todd wanted a medal :) He said he is now going to collect medals!

Police Run

I woke up in the wee hours of Saturday morning. There was a child calling my name... I went to help him, and he fell asleep again. But before I could fall back asleep I couldn't help but notice the sound of the pouring rain outside. It was more than pouring, it was pounding. Usually, I would welcome the soothing sound of the rain. But not on this morning, for only a few hours later I was to run a 5K race with my 7 year old.

Racing + rain = not so much fun.

But, just in time, before the race began, the rain stopped. After the race, the sun even shone. And then before nightfall, the clouds opened up and let go of what they had been holding onto all day. I was so thankful that there was no rain during the run.

We had a great time. The run was the 20th Annual Police Challenge, and it was either a 5 or 10K route. The charities our local Police Department supports are: ALS Society, Special Olympics and the United Way.

Scott left me to run with a pack of his friends around the 1.5km mark. I was ok with that because there were so many people in this race that I knew. I met him again at the finish line, 5 minutes after he crossed. But even though my child is so much faster than I am, I still posted a time that was close to 2 minutes faster than my race in May. That's the only time I was looking at.

Here are a few pictures. We had a great day, and at the end of it all, Scott said to me, "That was so much fun! I am a good runner. When can we do that again?!" That was music to my ears. I am really trying to get my kids to embrace fitness, and apparently, it's working :)

Pre-race:

The 1st place finisher... he was done in just over 16 minutes. Unreal.

Here's Scott racing to the finish line. What a trooper! And Steve (he was standing at the finish line) said Scott finished just as strong as he started.

Here we are, still together!

The kids finished before we did, but Andrea stuck with me and we crossed the finish line together. Thanks, friend! Let's do that again!

There were close to 100 people from my kids' school that ran... from kids to teachers, to the Secretary and Principal! Talk about amazing school spirit! We got the trophy for the 12th year in a row for most participants.

I've already been checking websites for what race is next. Maybe I can shave 5 minutes off the next one. Or maybe I'll do something crazy like running a 10K next time :)

Run For Water

What a great day! Probably not my fastest 5km, but it was still a great day. 2000 people came out to run in the Run for Water today. Last year there were only 500 runners. It has quadrupled in just one year. Amazing! There were 5km, 10km and 1/2 marathon options, we chose the 5km because it has been several years since I've run in a race like this, and this is Todd's very first race.

Todd did great today. What a trooper, and what a coach! At one point I asked him if he'd like a walking break, and he said, "No! We're going for first place... NO BREAKS!" Yikes! I kept running :) That was at about the halfway point, and I heard in the distance that the first runners were crossing the line. Sorry, Todd, your mama held you back today, but one day you'll be able to run with Jeremy and come in first place!!

Before the race...

And we're off... it really is a fun feeling to run with so many people! I wonder what it would be like to be the leader of the pack? I may never know :)

But, Jeremy knows what it's like... Here is Todd with the 5km winner, our friend Jeremy. He finished in 18 minutes, and it is the second year in a row that he came in first place!!! Way to go, Jeremy!! (Funny thing... I used to teach Jeremy when he was in grade 2 :)

We were curious about what shoe sales are like in the weeks leading up to races... there were new shoes everywhere!

There were even new shoes on our feet! These are Todd's indoor shoes, so they have to be cleaned up in the morning and returned to school, but they are also his newest shoes, so I wanted him to wear them in the race.

We're done! Scott looks a little dejected... I think he likes the idea of doing something like this, and the little medal you get when you cross the finish line. But I'm not quite sure how he would like the training for it. But, at bedtime tonight, Scott said he'd really like to do a race with me, so I told him we could start practicing for the Police Run in September. I think we'll still stick with the 5km route. That made him happy again! Elise piped in and said she'd like to do it, too... but, there is just no way I'm taking her on a race yet! I would have to piggyback her the whole way!!

So proud of my boy! He never gave up... and he still has a dream of coming in first in a race. Dream big, Todd! You can do anything you set your mind to!

I think this event was set up just great. Afterward, there were bouncy castles set up for the kids, and lots of tents with vendors giving things away... from pizza, to Starbucks, to water bottles... it was just really well planned.

Here's Scott flying through the air in the Wall-E bouncy castle.



Thanks for stopping by... anyone want to join me in my next 5K?