The Big Race

I ran Roseville's Run for the Roses 10K this morning, and it was a blast. I finished in 57:04 and feel really good about that. I loved the race atmosphere and all the people. It made the time pass really fast!

The weather was pretty rainy - it poured on our way there and while I was waiting at the start line, but it did calm down for most of the race. This picture is of a truck plowing the water off the finish track!

This is Elizabeth and I before the race in our matching running shirts! I really needed a new T-shirt!

Here I am ready to go out in the rain and line up at the start. This picture was taken before I noticed that all the other runners pinned their number onto their stomach. I changed mine, but I still have no idea why.

The run itself felt pretty good. I couldn't believe how fast the first few miles went. I ran parts of the race with two different women, but I finished by myself. When I got to the finish track for the final lap, I was surprised to see my friend Jen standing with my parents and cheering! That made me feel really good.

I don't think the camera worked during my final lap, so the next picture we have of me is giving Elizabeth five after the run. (Isn't my running skirt cute?)

Elizabeth ran the kids' half-mile fun run with my dad and a new friend she met while cheering for me. The track was really wet, and our shoes were soaked.

Check out the grin on her face as she passed us crazy cheerers on her second and final lap. I love how my dad is clapping while he's running. Also notice how there are only two kids behind her. That's right - my little daughter finished 3rd from last in 5:30! She was one of the littlest kids running.

Here's Elizabeth after her run with my dad and her new friend. We all got roses, and the kids got ribbons as well.

This is a picture of my fantastic support team. They met me at the race before 7:30am and took care of my children (I even made them feed the kids breakfast). They also cheered like crazy and braved the rain to support me. Unfortunately, Isaac wasn't at the race (although he took care of the kids during all my training runs!), and Jen wasn't in the picture, but they were amazing too!

I am definitely doing this again!