Perfect day

Today I held my first race! I organized a small Turkey Trot for our community. It was SO MUCH FUN. I was so happy with how many people came out and what a perfect (albeit cold!) morning that it was.

We had about 50 people that participated (which was a lot more than I expected) and we definitely will be planning it bigger and better for next year. I started planning this just over a week ago and just spread the word through email, Facebook, and word of mouth. We told everyone that it was just a fun run and invited people to come out whether they wanted to run, jog, or walk.

Josh and I went down to the church parking lot at about 8:40. We had a huge cooler filled with hot chocolate, two cans of Redi-Whip, paper cups, napkins, a garbage bag, a stop watch, a notepad, a pen, and a camera.

Nathan, Ryan, Shane, Ben, Amanda and Maggie all came to run the race! I was so pleasantly surprised that they all wanted to come and run (especially the little girls!) Since it was an out and back course, I knew that they could turn around early if they needed to and that there would be lots of friends and neighbors around.

When we got there the kids drew a start/finish line, and then Josh took off on his own. The plan was for him to take his Garmin and run down 1.55 miles and then stop at the turn around point. We picked an out and back course on a road that was clear of ice and snow and it worked perfectly. Josh stood at the turn around point and he gave everyone a high-five as they got to him and made sure the road was clear of any cars when people were turning around (it was a road with very, very little traffic).

Everyone lined up and I gave a quick "have fun, be careful, stay to the left, thanks for coming out, Happy Thanksgiving", and then with a "Ready, Set, Go!" they were off!

Sadies (my oldest) came down to help me at the finish line. I had the stop watch and a notebook and pen to write down the finishing times and Sadies was armed with the hot chocolate and Redi-Whip to give out to everyone.

A dad and his two little kids (who had gone about a quarter way down and then turned back) were the first back and we cheered for them.

The winner just happened to be my Shane (12 years old!) He finished in 22:27. Ryan (my 13 year old) finished 6th in 25:21, and then Nathan (my 15 year old) finished 7th in 25:30!!!!! Nate is NOT a runner (well, he wasn't until today!!!!) and I am really, really proud of him.

Maggie was walking and I guess looked a little lonely/concerned, because an older woman who lives next door and was walking with her grown kids saw Maggie and decided they should turn around together (about half way down). Maggie came back in one of their extra coats on top of hers, all smiles and ready for hot chocolate.

Josh waited down at the turn around until the last runners/walkers passed him and then he ran back with them. The last two runners happened to be our Amanda (who is 10, the tiniest little person ever, and was born with crooked femurs that can't be fixed and two heart conditions that will be fixed when she is older but don't slow her down) and her friend. They had made it all the way down to the turn around and were determined to finish the whole 5K. They ran in strong with Josh right behind them with a time of 40:41. I seriously could not have been more proud.

Everyone stood around, talked, stretched, and had hot chocolate for a little bit, and then we all went home to our families to enjoy our Thanksgiving Day.

It truly was a perfect morning. (I got up early and got my six miles and core work out done before the race).

The turkeys are cooking (one on in the smoker, one in the oven), we watched the parade, and we are all set for a fabulous, fun holiday here at home. It's a wonderful day.

I am thankful today and every day for all that I have been given.

Happy Thanksgiving everybody!!!

Shane and Ryan decorating the starting line.

Ben, Amanda, and Maggie getting ready to run.

A bunch of the group at the starting line.

Sadies staying warm in the van

And They're Off!!!

Victory pose!

Ryan with his hot chocolate

Nate after his first 5K