First of all, the hotel was awesome, and I really loved seeing my family. It was just enough time that we really liked each other and forgot for a few days why we annoy the bleep out of one another. Timing is everything. Here's what went down and with who.
Aunt Val, aka the Source of the MidWest Heat Wave, finished her first 5k even though she didn't really think she could. Hello? Our gene pool of awesome practically guarentees that we are too stubborn to fail. Still, it is way awesome to go further than we ever thought we could. Life Lesson: Don't ever sell yourself short.
My Jennie (my fantastical niece) and Mamma Llama finished the 5k together. They didn't even train that hard. Jennie can't wait to do another 5k, and Mom is going to work hard to beat her time at the next 5k she does with Jennie. Life Lesson: Natural talent can take you far. Especially, when you're surrounded by cuteness.
Shannon wasn't able to walk the race. She was just happy to make the trip. There was all kinds of business drama that threatened her fun. She worked really hard and made it work. She still walks 4 to 5 miles a day and is ready for next year. Life Lesson: Sometimes the hard work is just getting to where you wanna go.
Becky, my super SIL, joined us. YAY! She made her best time ever AND was the first DeFluffer to cross the finish line! She did awesome, and I am super proud of her! She is an amazing person; I hope she knows that. Life Lesson: Marry people with awesome family members; it makes you look really smart.
Beckey, Prince Charming is Waiting for Me, ran/walked in the half marathon. All the 5k spots were filled, so she gave it her all! She had to get on the bus around mile 10, and at mile 12 she asked to do the last mile on her own. She did cross the finish line. Life Lesson: Sometimes you need to hitch a ride to make it to the end...finish it.
And as for me, Cotton Candy Awesome Sauce, I feel like a total baller. Why? Despite having surgery two weeks prior to my race, I made my best time ever. I walked 16.50 min. miles like a boss! Life Lesson: Some times the races you win are against yourself. You win when you just don't give up.
The coolest thing of the whole race was watching some ladies drag themselves in tears across the finish line because they were gonna finish dang it! I can't tell you have many times I almost broke down in tears watching these ladies practically carry each other over the finish line when someone couldn't walk. It was amazing and beautiful and I can't wait to be apart of it again next year.
I will keep this blog up and let you know how we be doing. Thanks for supporting us this year! Let's do it again next year!
