PG Strawberry Days 5k

Jonny with Julia and Gabe (just under 21 min.), Melody (22:59), Mom, Dad and Amber walking with Brady, Cami, Drew, Julie, Mike Baird

They really switched it up on us this year. The race was sponsored by the Fire and Police Stations so it was a new course, a higher price ($22.50, including the "convenience fee" online-the only method of registration), certificates instead of ribbons, and donuts at the end (Yikes! No fruit or bread). At first we were disappointed because we loved the old course - with the whole first mile downhill. And although today's course was a there-and-back, wasn't as scenic, and had no decline, we were surprisingly pleased with how quick the 3.1 miles seemed to go. And it was pretty fun to cheer each other on as we passed. It really was a good one and a great way to start out our sunny Saturday. Hopefully they lower the price next year and get some strawberries at the finish line!

Jonny ran bandit (we don't make a habit of this) but he would've placed in his age group had he crossed the line. I was 2nd in my age group and 4th overall. I had a good challenge at the end as a woman approached me from behind. I had a feeling she was in my age group so I pushed it as hard as I could and sprinted my best to the end. But she had more left than me! We talked after and sure enough, she was 29 and placed first in our age group and third in women overall. Ha! I was just happy to have had a reason to run my fastest.

Pony Express Days 5k

Jonny (19:09), Melody pushing Julia and Gabe (22:59), Mom, Cami

It's crazy that we've been living in Eagle Mountain long enough for this to be our third year running this race. (I sat out last year with newborn Gabe. But Jonny ran a great one!) Even though we didn't have to travel far, we had to wake the kids up early to be on time to catch the bus to the starting line. Julia thought the bus ride was "so way awesin," and we certainly didn't mind the downhill run it offered us.

We were surprised to see Dad, Mom, and Cami at the race! I had told them about it but didn't think they were going to come. Totally fun.

So as you can see from our times, we both ran a pretty awesome race. The kids and I definitely set a new PR. We surely owe that to the downhill course. There was only one slight uphill toward the end and I was able to keep my speed up quite well. Jonny beat his time from this race last year by almost a minute! He placed 4th in the age group (Men 21-30) and 8th in men overall. I placed 3rd in my age group (women 21-30) and 7th in women overall.

Julia and Gabe were very good sports throughout the whole event. Usually Gabe pulls Julia's hair and she whines about it. But they must have liked the speed because they were perfectly content. Of course Julia was commenting on passing dogs, flowers, hot air balloons, etc. (That means I have to respond/acknowledge everything she says.) I love my little running friends.

riding the bus

Gabe trying to escape - as usual

Linda Buttars Memorial 5k

Jonny pushing Julia and Gabe (26:48), Melody (26:36)

I vividly remember this race last year. I was extremely pregnant (walking the one mile) and soaking wet in the rain. This year we were hoping for blue skies. But Utah had other plans. It rained, snowed, and the freezing temperature kept our toes numb. The kids were as bundled up as could be, but we still felt slightly negligent hauling them out into the bitter cold. However frigid though, Julia would not want to miss a good race.

Jonny ran with the kids and took it somewhat easy as he has only been running a few times this spring. (I believe this is the first time I have come in before him. Even with the kids he always beats me. It was pretty fun to look over my shoulder and see them not too far behind. Julia's thumbs-up is a great motivator.) I felt like I was running well and was slightly disappointed to see the clock past 25 minutes as I ran in. (Under 25 is my goal when I run without the kids. I have always met it. Could it have been my numb toes or the biting wind that added the seconds to my miles? Not sure. But it's not a bad time anyway.)

Perhaps this was a tougher (slightly longer??) race for most runners because I came in 1st in my age group (out of about 19 20-25 years olds) and 7th overall in women. Jonny was 7th in his age group and 22nd in men overall. See the full results here.

We will probably do this fun race again next year. Maybe we'll be lucky enough to run in only one layer of clothing then? We will see...

These expressions are priceless:
Check out Gabe eying Julia's ice cream sandwich.
Her hands about froze off after eating that.

Warming up in the car after the race:

Durango 5-Mile Turkey Trot

Jonny (35:38), Melody (43:18)

I am actually writing this in 2011. After running a speedy 36 something 5-mile race in Mantua, I was curious as to how fast my last 5-miler was. I noticed I had neglected to record it. So here it is, and the time quite a bit slower than Mantua, actually! But let's understand that I had given birth to Gabe only 6 months previous to this difficult, mostly up-hill race. And as we can see from the picture of me after the race, it was quite exhausting! So I must have run a decent one. After researching the results online, I see that I came in 22 out of about 200 women, and Jonny 15th out of nearly 150. Again, not too bad for this hard winter race. It is a beautiful course and we look forward to running it this year. We'll see if I can shave a couple of minutes off of my current PR for this race...

Logan First Dam 5k

Anything you'd like to say, Jonny? Wish I could've been there. Gabe and I were visiting the new triplets in Maryland. Jonny and Julia made an early morning of driving to Logan, running this race with my family and Grandma, then driving back home.

Mike's Mad Dash 5k

Jonny pushing Julia and Gabe (20:48), Melody (23:29), Cami, friend Mike Baird

I love to run for a cause. The proceeds of this race went to the cancer center at AF Hospital. There's something powerful and inspiring about running with 250 other people, who, whether they actually like running or not, are helping to support a greater cause, rather than simply running just to run. I'm all about it.

Rudi rode her bike along the route and cheered us on. Julia was thrilled about that. ("Ru-ee and bike!") Gabe was a gem, not fussy at all even though it was his nap-time. What awesome little friends we have.

It was a beautiful day, unlike the freezing day we ran this race two years ago. Jonny and the kids came in seventh overall! (How would you like to be beat by a guy pushing two kids in a big stroller. It happens to me every time!) I came in 16th overall: first place in my division, and third place overall in women. Julia loved my medal and I was surprised to be awarded a $20 gift card to Texas Road House, a steak place we really like. But that's not all we brought home with us. Besides the long-sleeve wicking shirts, bags of awesome coupons, and fancy water bottles for beating Mike (the hospital director), my raffle number won a $25 gift card to a fancy lady's clothes store and Jonny's number was called out for another cool water bottle! Must have been our lucky day. (Sorry you didn't win anything, Cami! Maybe next year...)

As it turns out, this has been quite the award-winning summer for us. At least one of us has placed in nearly every race we've run. This race marks my third time placing first in my age group this summer. While we don't run races to win, it is invigorating to place once in a while!

Beat Beethoven 5k

Jonny (19:08), Melody (23:19), Cami, Drew, Julie, friend Allison Ludlow

When I went in to the rec. center to pick up our numbers, I was so surprised to see Allison, Todd, and Abby Mitton! We talked and talked before and after the race. I have been meaning to visit them for the past month, so I was thrilled to run into one of my favorite families. I'll have to visit their home soon because Alex and Mckay didn't wake up in time to cheer them on at the finish line. I love those Mittons. And what's more, we had triplets to talk about - Em had the babies this morning at 3:00!

As you can see, Jonny and I ran a great race. Rudi opted out of running and kindly volunteered to come anyway and watch the kids for us. Thanks, Rudi! It was pretty fun to run without the stroller, especially since I've been feeling heavy all week. I missed seeing their little faces as I ran, but they greeted me with smiles at the finish line.

There were about 250 runners, so Jonny and I had a good chance of placing at this small race. Jonny was third place overall and first in his division. I was second place overall for women and first in my division. Not bad, I say! (The girl who came in about 20 seconds before me was only 13 years old. Wow!) When the announcer called Jonny up after I had already been up there (you don't forget a last name like ours...) he said we were "A Running Family." I'll take it.

So, we all "beat Beethoven" by crossing the line before the last note of his Fifth Symphony (a little over 32 min.) Great job, everyone. It's really quite fun to run the last stretch with the beautiful classical music blaring. See you next year, Beethoven.