AF Canyon Half Marathon and 5k

Jonny (1:27:10), Melody and Evelyn (walked the 5k), Grandma, Mom, Dad, Amber, Cami, Jake, Drew, Julie (all 5k)

I didn't want to be left out of the fun at this race so I decided to walk the 5k. Well, turns out that is pretty boring and long. (I remember thinking that when I walked one when Julia was just a few weeks old.)  So we cut it short in hopes of making it in time to see Jonny run in. No chance. He was speedy.

I will let Jonny write about his half marathon when he finds the time and if he so desires. For now, suffice it to say that he rocked it. (And that he set a new half marathon PR and came in 1st in his age division. Yes, that is my man.)

Pony Express Days 5k

Jonny (18:37)

 I had been running with some of the scouts for a couple months and we wanted to run a 5k to top off the training. Some boys couldn't make it, most didn't want to, but Thom and his boy Noah, and Andrew came to represent troop 1251.

So I had a lofty goal of getting under 19mins as this was a downhill course. Started out fast and just like every year at the 1 mile marker, I got passed by this small, quick lady. I tried to hang on, knowing she was a speed demon. I came in at 18:37, a time I haven't seen since high school, but again aided by gravity. Felt good.

Lehi HS Basketball Fundraiser

Jonny (19:50)

 This race was a fundraiser for Jordan's basketball team. It was a nice morning and a great out and back course. It wasn't a huge turnout but enough people to make it a race.

I ran a 19:50 but found out later it was 3.05 miles so at that pace I still would have been over 20mins :( but I felt great.  Drew came in 2nd and he was flying as well.

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!