Run Rudolph, Run!

Have been away from the blogosphere the last few days... wrapping up a semester and tying up loose ends before I give up my evening teaching duties. Have decided to take some time off from my second job so I can devote more quality time to family, training, writing, and the occasional late afternoon at the office.  It was a tough decision, and Hubby says he expects I'll return to the classroom within a year. He knows me well!  For now, though ....  Balance: A definite necessity for me.

So with balance in mind, Hubby and I headed out early Saturday morning to do a Reindeer Run 5K over in Brevard County (choosing to skip my long run the next day since my knees won't run two days in a row).  Notice the set of knee braces, affectionately dubbed Thing 1 and Thing 2, since they've become part of my regular running gear.  I look really stupid, but they really help!   

The race was the smallest one for me to date - about 300 people, maybe(?), and the course was fast and flat; I had even thought a PR might be in the works, but after being under the weather last week and not running at all, I knew that this would not be the day.  Hubby had his own issues, as his shin continued to scream during his fast walk.  We also dealt with a very brisk wind, the first race that we experienced this.... Wow!  Running with it, no problem.  Running into it, OMG!!  

Oh, but after the 5K came the real fun!!  I finally got the opportunity to run with my nephew (and his little brother!) in the kids' race, a 1/2 miler, and a first for the boys. This would be our first race after the last-minute Halloween cancellation due to baby sister's hospitalization.  Today, sissy would cheer her brothers on, along with mommy.  The older kiddo was ready to go for it. His 2-year old brother was going to do what big brother (and daddy) were doing - and nothing less than that! Check out the photos of what was an absolute blast for me!  Two little runners were 'born' that day! :-)

B and J posed for a quick picture with Aunt Robin, and then headed off to play until it was their turn to run.

When it was time, B took off with his dad and J screamed because they had left him behind.  After he realized daddy wasn't coming back just yet, J took off running up the street, holding Aunt Robin's hand, and going as fast as his two-year-old legs would take him. *And * then * he * abruptly * stopped,* sat down in the street, and started to s-c-r-e-a-m because dad was all the way up the street.  What was I to do?  I scooped him up and began running up the street with a screaming kid whose screams quickly turned into wonderment as he realized what we were doing... I asked, "Ready to run?"  "Yep" he replied and off we went, side by side.  

A short time later, daddy and B came flying by, and B took 2nd place in his very first run... YAY!!! 

And of course, J wanted to catch them, so here we went again... this time toward the finish line.  I was hysterical as his little Charlie Brown body waddled toward the finish line! 

As everyone laughed and cheered, daddy took him to the finish line.  YAY!!  Run, Rudolph, run!

 

PR?  FAIL.  Boatloads of fun??  SUCCESS! 

I received a text message later that weekend from my youngest sister that read, "Thanks for inspiring a new trend in our family.  We are all signed up for next weekend's family run at a local park." 

And THAT, my friends, is what it's all about for me.  :-)  

Athlete?  Not so much.

Speedy?  Not even a little.

Hoping to inspire?  Absolutely.

My Thankful Three

Today, I am thankful for:

- Hubby doing the Reindeer Run with me, AND still snapping lots of pics!

- My sister and brother-in-law for bringing their kiddos out to run.. so much fun!

- Good race weather in December... I was fully aware of all my bloggy running friends who are dealing with snow, ice, and rain!

Happy running, friends....

Robin