Linda Buttars 5k/1 Mile

Jonny (20:39), Melody (1 mile walk), Julia and Gabe (walk), Dad, Mom, Amber, Cami (and remember, this course is 3.19 miles)

It was a chilly morning, but nothing like the first two frigid years we ran this one. The kids and I were really excited to see Jonny coming in first place overall! Apparently that is a first for him. Yeah baby! He did run a quick one, especially for the first race of the season. (He has been running for a little while now, training for the AF Half in June.) Last year I was first woman overall at this small race - we'll see if the stars can align and we two can take this one someday...

Dad and Mom placed first in their division, and Cami second in hers. They all walked the 1 Mile with the kids and me. Man, it seemed like a long mile with my tummy! Julia ran about half of it with Jonny but Gabe opted to stroll. I was a little jealous not to be running, but this baby girl is worth it. Will I walk this race a third time 8+ months pregnant? Only time will tell!

Beat Beethoven 5k

Jonny (19:43), Melody (20:58), Dad, Mom, Amber, Jake, Cami, Drew, Mitton Family

Once again, we all beat Beethoven. (Did I ever mention that a guy actually represents Beethoven in this race, running the 32 minute pace and wearing a crazy wig and coat tails? Pretty fun.) *So what can I say? I'm pretty fast. In fact, I'm pretty and I'm fast. This seems to be a good race for us each year. While much of it is slightly downhill, it does have quite a bit of slight uphill - especially at the end.

We left the kids with our friends the Bairds who live in PG right next to the new rec. We missed them, but were both able to run a pretty quick race without them! Jonny placed first in Men 20-29 and third overall. (He says there were some unregistered CC boys in front of him though.) I was closely followed by a CC girl the entire race, but was able to keep ahead by starting my finish line sprint sooner than I usually do and placed first woman overall - for the fifth time this summer! It was pretty exciting when the man at the 1 mile mark told me I was the first female. And it was even more exciting when I saw the clock and knew I could make it in under 21 minutes. That may be faster than my HS times! I will have to dig through my journals and see what my CC race pace was. So yes, it was fun to run a fast one, feel good, and set a new downhill course PR. Dad, Mom, and Drew also placed in their divisions. See official results here.

One reason this race is always one of my favorites is that the Mittons run it too. This year Abby ran and Todd pushed McKay while Allyson and Alex cheered us all on. I sincerely love this family and treasure any time I get to spend with them. The triplets are all looking like teenagers, I hardly even recognized McKay! We chatted for quite a while before and after and decided that next year we'll plan to do breakfast together. Can't wait!

*Jonny sneaked this part in when I left the room. I decided to leave it in. We are the only ones who read this, after all!

Eagle Mountain North Stake 5k and 1k

Jonny (19:36), Melody (21:29), Juila, Gabe

This race was part of our Stake Family Fun Day. We left the kids with a neighbor while we ran, then picked them up in time for the 1k. Julia ran/walked that with Jonny while Gabe and I ran/walked a shorter version!

The local HS cross country team joined us for this race, so a couple of those kids beat Jonny, as well as two super fast guys. I was first in women, followed closely by two CC girls. My time is comparable to my HS running times, so that makes sense that I might compete with those teenagers! Anyway, I ran pretty hard to keep my first place position. At one point I was about to pass a teenage boy. He said, "There's no way..." and sped up to keep ahead of me. I laughed out loud.

The race was scored like a CC meet, and our ward dominated! One of our top 5 runners was 9-year-old Mason. He came in only a minute after me. Amazing. It was fun to run with people from our neighborhood and run fast on the roads where I usually don't go my race pace. 

Julia and I had fun at the fair festivities later that day while Gabe napped and Daddy worked on the basement.

Alpine Days 5k

Jonny (20:14), Melody with Julia and Gabe (23:18), Dad, Mom, Cami, Jake, Drew, Julie (It should be noted that this course is actually 3.15 miles.)

This is actually the first race this summer in which I pushed the kids. I haven't been running with them much at all. With them being so big and Gabe not loving to be stuck in the stroller, I've been opting to run early and alone before Jonny leaves for work. (Plus, I did my half marathon training without them, of course. I think that's when I started waking up early to run and it stuck.) But I decided to run this one together for a kind of final hurrah. It was, after all, the first race I pushed Julia in four years ago. So it seemed fitting that it should be the last. Naturally I had a goal to beat my current loop course PR with the kids, 24:55. (Alpine Days last year.) All week I was wondering if I could do that. I decided I'd push it my hardest but not be disappointed if I came in after 25. But I was pretty hopeful of setting a new and final record with my buddies.

Okay, enough background, here is what happened. I did push myself beyond what I thought I could do and we did set a new record. I was very pleased when I read the clock as we came around the corner. It was certainly not an easy race, with the heavy kids and hills. I had to continually remind myself to run faster, as I don't run with a watch so have no concept of my pace. But Julia really cheered me on. And Gabe was a good sport. We did it! And pretty fast too, coming in first in women 25-29 and fourth in women overall. 

Jonny ran a great one as usual, placing second in men 25-29. Dad, Mom, Cami, and Drew placed as well. We love these small town races!

Now on to the Toddler Trot. It was Gabe's first race. He and Jonny walked/ran it together quite behind Julia and me. It was so funny to see Gabe start running as we cheered him on at the end, then straight to me instead of the finish line! As for Julia, she's been looking forward to "the lollipop race" ever since last year. She was super excited to run it, but only a few second into told me she was tired and ready to stop. I cheered her on and she picked up her spirits and her feet. She really sprinted it in at the end when her family members were cheering for her. Hey, she cut off a minute and a half from her time last year! And yes, she was awarded a ribbon and a lollipop. Phew.

 Gabe didn't like the big number on his shirt. Check out his frustrated faces as he tries to take it off.

 Stretching:

 Champions!

I will probably still push the kids once in a while for my workouts, but they are really just growing too big for our team running. I have loved it though. I will miss running with my babies. Surely I will run with babies who join us in the future. But it is strange and a little sad to realize my Julia is in fact a "big girl," as she reminds me every day. And Gabe, well, he's been big since birth. He won't be too sad to see our strolling days come to an end. But I will miss his silliness. And how he always points out the "astru-tion!" (construction) I love you, my little friends! 

Pioneer Day Classic 5k

Jonny (19:51 ), Melody (21:16), Grandma, Dad, Mom, Amber (unfortunately not pictured), Cami, Drew, Julie

This was our second year running this one. We were disappointed we forgot to wear pioneer bonnets as planned! Some people run all decked out in pioneer garb. Kind of fun. Anyway, we arranged for Katy to come and tend the kids while we ran, as we recalled a lot of the course being uphill. And yes, we were both glad not to be pushing a heavy stroller and two heavy kids. But they were still there to join in the fun - including a bounce house, an impromptu kids race, and a hot air balloon ride! It was quite the morning. 

As if all of that wasn't exciting enough, with 6:51 min/miles I actually placed 1st woman overall! (If there wasn't a 10k as well then surely a few others would have beat me. Glad I did the 5k! There were 267 runners, not sure how many were women. I was 13th overall. See full results here.) At mile 2 I passed a woman but still had no idea I was leading. I felt great and pushed myself up the hill to pass two guys. It was so fun to run through the finish line where Matt and Jack were taking pictures. (They were the hired professionals.)

Jonny ran a super fast one too, even though this is not an easy course. He came in 2nd in his division and 7th overall. Taj Mecham beat him by 9 seconds! It was fun to visit with Taj and catch up on their little family. Hopefully next time Meg will be running this one too - when she doesn't have a two week old baby! As you can see from the top picture, Dad, Mom, Grandma, and Cami placed in their divisions as well. Not a bad day for the fam, huh?

The kids run was just right for Julia. It was super short and she didn't miss the hot air balloon lift because of it. (She was very nervous about that. We left the boys in line while she and I hurried over to make it to the kids race. She ran fast! A "fire balloon" ride was on the line, after all.)

And as it turns out, it pays to run fast. Not only did I set a new loop course PR that is faster than my current downhill PR, but I received a $50 check and a nice watch. Sweet! It's not every day I place overall. So that was pretty fun.(I'm not sure how I ran this one faster than the downhill Pony Express Days?! But I'm down with it. I just don't know that I will beat this RP anytime soon, if ever. Only time will tell...)

 Gabe cried in the balloon. He didn't like the heat and loud sounds. Julia loved it.

 The Race Photographers

Check out their awesome photos here.

Mantua Dam Race 5 Miler

Melody (36:27), Grandma, Dad, Mom, Amber, Cami

Mom and Dad ran this race in Mantua (a small town near Logan) last year and came back telling us what a nice course it was. So we three UT sisters decided to make a weekend of it and head to Logan with Mom and Dad. (A road trip without toddlers is actually quite relaxing!) We ate Red Vines and laughed all the way up. Then we picked up Grandma and ate out at Angie's. After chatting, watching YouTube movies, and laughing some more, we finally went to bed and were up early for the race.

It really was a nice course. It seemed shorter than five miles, maybe because it just looped around the reservoir. It was nice to look out on the water and run on the gravel path. (This could have slowed times down a little, as it is tougher to run on loose rock than pavement. But it wasn't difficult.) I listened to Anthem and finished the book just before the last mile where I finally passed a fast teenage girl that I was trying to catch the entire race. The race ended on an uphill, but that was okay because the finish line was in sight. I felt really good after running quick 7:25 minute miles and was excited to cheer in my family members. There were some super fast runners in my age group, coming in two minutes before me. I placed 3rd in Women 25-29 and 38th overall out of about 300 runners.Yes, I missed Jonny and the kids terribly. Next year perhaps we'll stay at the campground down the street from the park where the race starts. It was a fun one and I look forward to running it again. (Plus, fun shirts.)

Mack Family Fund 5k

Melody (23:09)

This race, as well as activities at the park throughout the day, is a part of a fundraiser for the Mack Family. I don't personally know the Saratoga Springs family, but I was referred by a friend to a blog that the husband Denny has been keeping up since his wife Wendy and fourth child Maylee died in childbirth. (The mother died because of heart complications unrelated to childbirth.) Jonny and I read the accounts of the day Wendy went into pre-term labor and passed away, how Denny dealt with telling his three young children, and his feelings of loss and faith through the grieving process. We were both in tears as the sweet, honest, heart-wrenching posts helped to put things in perspective for us. Wendy had no life insurance so this fundraiser is to raise money for the funeral and other family expenses.

I kind of forgot about this race until last night. I decided I'd run it last minute. Jonny wasn't up to it this morning but he and the kids came to cheer me on. It was a smaller race, and full of families and surely lots of friends of the Mack family. (About 350 runners/walkers.) The course through Harvest Hills was not an easy one. (They don't call it Harvest Hills for nothing.) It began with on a pretty steep incline, and I was glad I opted not to push the kids. When I realized that I was one of the first 6 or 7 runners, and the first woman, I kept up a decent pace to keep my place. Yeah, it was a small race - not to many hard-core runners. But it was still fun to place first in women! Especially when Jonny, Julia, and Gabe cheered me in on the final hill to the finish line. I received a $25 Fleet Feet gift card and the kids came away with fireman hats big foam #1 hands. Having my family there meant a lot to me, as I thought about the Mack family who are so badly missing Wendy and Maylee. I'm thankful that they know the truth of the Plan of Salvation and can find peace and comfort in Christ. How else could you get through something like this?