Race Day!

Braden decided that he wanted running to be his fall sport this year because he doesn't like soccer. Brian and I took him on runs (mostly Brian) and he was able to get up to 5 miles! He is running three 5k's during the fall and did his first one last weekend...the monster dash! They had a one mile fun run that both the girls did at the last minute. They had only been out one time to train for it...and it was a week before. They dressed up as a scout, Cinderella, and a 'wacky tacky girl' for the race...there were tons of people dressed up which made it even more fun for them:). Daddy even got in on it and agreed to wear a wig:)

This event was all about kids and had bounce houses, obstacle courses, facepainting, arts and crafts, music, free food, characters, and all sorts of fun things for them to do while they waited for the races to begin.

Cailey was at the front of the starting line and running her mile by herself..with a tough goal. She wanted to do it in 8:30. She had only been on ONE mile run a week before...so it was a really hard goal...one that I'm sure I'll never achieve but she had her heart set on it. Halfway through she said she got a really bad cramp but was still running as fast as her legs would allow. She finished in 9:29 which to me was amazing...but the poor girl was heartbroken. She's very goal oriented and she was just so sad to not make it but we were able to talk her out of her funk and help her see that she did amazing!! We were super proud of her being able to push herSELF the whole way!

Kinsey girl had NEVER run before ever. Brian signed her up by accident and she hadn't even trained so he took her out a week before. She's what we like to call the hare of the family...she goes out SUPER fast then poops out and cries. When Brian took her out one week before the race they went slow but for some reason she thought she was done at 1/2 mile and proceeded to throw a fit...on the ground...in public. She wouldn't even walk the rest. So it didn't go so well. He took her out again a few days later (with Braden) and she did great until Braden accidentally brushed her shoulder and passed her...again..fit..kicking and screaming on the ground. Brian pretty much decided he was done training her:). I just think she didn't have enough time...two runs wasn't much time. SO OUR goal for her was to finish the race without crying. She could walk or jog or run but she just couldn't cry...then she'd make her goal. (The other two set their own goals...we set Kinsey's!). Well...little miss thing came in NOT crying and ran the WHOLE time!! She had never run a mile in her life and we were just beYOND proud of her for not crying! She finished in 12:09...but more importantly she wasn't crying and screaming:). SO PROUD...she was SO proud!! It was a GREAT moment for her:)!!

ephram and i were the cheerleaders!!

Braden had been training since September and was MORE than ready for the 5k race. The last couple of weeks he'd only been out twice though because both he and Brian had that awful cold. Braden set a really high goal for himself and wanted to finish in 31 minutes. He has endurance and can go very far but usually tends to be slower...which is still amazing to me!! He had ALWAYS run first thing in the morning with an empty stomach and this race was in the middle of the day...after lunch. He also drank a ton of water right before. He went out fast (for him) but half way through got a terrible stomach ache and Brian said he was wincing (which for him means it must have been awful because he has a very high pain tolerance). He said he could hear water sloshing around in his belly...yikes! I'm SURE I would have stopped to walk but he kept on until it was over! He did not make his goal but was VERY happy with himself and said he tried his best. We were super proud of the fact that he just wouldn't give up...even in pain!! He finished in 36:45. His goal for his next race is to not have a stomach ache...poor guy! We were SO proud of him for every run this fall!! He would never complain about getting up early with Brian ever!

never give up! (his motto)