The 3.21 Dash for Down Syndrome

It may be the off-season for Cross Country, but that's no excuse to slack! We entered Olivia into the 3.21 Dash for Down Syndrome to keep her moving until the season starts back up.

Usually a 5K race is 3.1 miles, but the 3.21 Dash adds an extra .11 mile fun run at the end of the course, bringing the total mileage to 3.21 miles in honor of the third copy of the 21st chromosome that makes individuals with Down Syndrome unique.

Women's Only 5K 2014

Rebecca stepped up again this year to run the Women's Only 5K. She signed up for the Women's Running School and trained hard every week for 4 months. She did it two years ago and finished it in 34:46.

 This year they ran the race much later in the year and the weather was FREEZING! Still, she ran it in 35:07  and came in 371st overall and 57th in her age class. We are so proud of the hard work she put in and seeing it through!

Color Me Rad 5K - A Family Event

We have all been training (I use that term very loosely when applying it to myself...) for a 5K run. Earlier this year, Groupon had a deal for entries in the Color Me Rad 5K to benefit The Special Olympics. The gimmick behind Color Me Rad is that they pelt you with dyed corn starch as you run, making you rather brightly colored by the time you finish.

They started us in waves and I took the first wave at 9:00am. Since this was my very first 5k, my goal was to finish in 30 minutes or less. I managed to do it in 29:03! I was well pleased with myself. :)

My brother, Greg, and his wife, Morgan, also ran in the race. Greg was a champ, pushing his daughter, Rooney, in her stroller the whole way. 

Rebecca and Olivia ran it together in a later wave. Here they are before the fun started. And, yes, Rebecca really is 7+ months pregnant and running a 5k... What can I say, she's one tough mama. :)

When they got done, they decided they weren't colorful enough, so they bombed each other.

That's one bright family!

It was a ton of fun and, despite my screaming calves, I am looking forward to running another one as soon as possible.

Way to go, Rebecca!!!

Rebecca ran in her 1st ever 5K race on October 6th. She ran in the Cone Health Women's Only Race for breast cancer.  

 Both of us started doing the Couch to 5K Training program about 3 months ago, so this was a great culmination to that program. Unfortunately, I have not been able to run one yet, especially since after about 7 weeks of the program, I developed some pretty bad shin splints and have had to cut my running back until they heal.

Rebecca did a great job, finishing the rather hilly course in 34:46.

Rebecca left earlier than the rest of us to register for the race. I came later with the kids. Unfortunately, it was complete chaos and couldn't find her before the race started. This picture is of the group she started in, but I haven't found her in it yet.

More than 3,500 people entered the race.

I figured our best chance of finding her was to wait by the finish line. The boys kept a close watch out for her.

Sure enough! There she is!

The kids loved cheering her on as she finished. "Go Mommy, Go!"

 Overall, Rebecca finished 521st out of 3,168 people who finished. In her 30-34 age group, she was 64 of 365. We're proud of you, hon!