| Date/Location: | November 27th, 2014 – Brentwood, CA |
| Distances: | 5K |
| Time: | Anna – 32:17 Ariel – 36:17 Robin – 20:42 |
| Place: | Anna, 1st in 0-9 Girls Ariel, 2nd in 0-9 Girls Robin, 1st Woman |
(Race Stories below…_)
ANNA’S RACE
(Written by Anna)We went to the five k. They said ''get set go.'' I ran but my legs started to hurt. I got to the aid station I could see my dad and sister running on the other side. I talked to a girl 11 years old or 12 years old. I started running but my feet started hurting. I saw mom up a head. I finished the run.
ARIEL’S RACE
We got ready to go. Mommy is at the front. Anna is in the middle and I’m farther back. The race person said go. I was running. I started passing people. Daddy came back from running with Anna and said “Wow, you’re already here!” I was running with him for a while and started getting a side cramp. It was hurting. Daddy said keep going. Finally there was an aid station. I slowed down and got some water. Daddy said, “start going”. I said “it hurts even more”. I started running again. Stopping and going. Daddy said that when we get to the sign we will stop and stretch. When we did, then I started running again. Then I fell I cried. Daddy said, “Do you want to quit the race?”. I said, “No” and then took off. Everyone was saying “Good job, Ariel!” Then I started running and Daddy couldn’t catch me. My side still hurt. I was almost there. Then I saw Mommy standing at the end. I finished the race. I saw Mommy. I got some water. I got pancakes. It was so fun.
ROBIN’S RACE
The four of us wake up early at Nana Sue and Papa Ray’s house. We had a great, late night hanging out with them and Aunt Tracy and cousins, but it did make it hard to get up. Amazingly we still leave on time. We turn on a funny song from “Muppets Most Wanted” (I Can Get You What You Want) and sing our way to the start. Today, the girls are racing and Troy is supporting. Troy will start out with Anna and then finish the rest with Ariel.
Once registered and the correct race bibs are on the girls (had to double check to make sure I never make that mistake again!), I warm up. It’s a crisp morning and I’m glad to have on my FCA Endurance long sleeve and beanie! I come back and racers are lining up! We all pray together. It’s important to remember that Christ is first. I give big hugs and kisses and find a place on the starting line.
Ready, set, go! The top guys are off the line and seem to be down the road before I know it! Wow! I remind myself that this is going to be tough to go fast…but the good news it will be over soon! I see 3 girls ahead of me and I pull past one of them. The top guys are long gone!
Mile 1 is 6:41. Oh boy, that is going to be tough to hold but I’m going to try. I pass the 2nd girl who is wearing turkey legs on her head…cute! I see the top girl ahead and push harder to close the gap.
Mile 2 is 6:31. Thank you Lord for that mile! I’m now very close to the top girl. I might be able to win a prize for the family with this being an inaugural year. It’s only going to hurt hopefully less than 7 minutes now! I pass the girl and say “good job”. She’s a young gal…probably still in high school…impressive! I try to go by as fast as I can to make the pass stick and hope my legs and lungs carry me home. Thank you Lord that the hamstrings don’t hurt much and are not holding me back!
We are now coming back the way we went out. Like a horse returning to the barn, I want to get this over with! I cannot go faster but I’m just trying to maintain and not blow up.
Mile 3 is 6:41. Hang in there! I round the corner and push hard to the finish. Yeah, first girl! Ah, so glad to be done. It’s hard to take off the chips (yes, there is one for each shoe) while being out of breath. I see the young gal finish and hurry to get them off. Finally after a few minutes I’m able to congratulate her.
Thank You Lord for this race! Now it’s time to help bring my girls in!