Torchlight Run 2011

In an attempt to "be ready" for the Disney World races in January, I decided it would be a good idea to run a 5K every month between now and then.  For several years we've cheered for the runners as we waited for the Torchlight Parade to start.  Laurel and Malcolm joined in on the fun, and we brought Tylie along with us, and met up with the Adams (Tiffany and Lindsay ran) and the Hollingsworths (Jeff, Kaleigh and Konnor).  Daddy was able to help me carry our parade stuffs (chairs, food, blankets, etc.) to The Campbells who were somewhere near 4th & Bell (Battery, maybe?).  Then I got back and met up with everyone else.

Malcolm and Konnor ran with Jeff.  Laurel and Lindsay and Tylie pretty much ran by themselves, and I sort of kept up with Tiffany and Kaleigh.  It was pretty exhilarating as we ran along the parade route and had everyone cheering for us.  We started near the Space Needle and ran up 4th to Seneca; down Seneca and up (the wrong-way) to the viaduct; exit at Western, and then finally up Broad.  There were HILLS!!

My favorite part was running up on the viaduct...I kept wishing I had my camera with me, though!!  Here are some pictures of the kids running on the viaduct:

And then that last uphill climb to the finish line. 

And some more photos of us at the post-race festivities.

You might notice from the finish photos that I crossed the finish line in front of Malcolm.  This wasn't a mistake.  I crossed the finish line first.  but that's because Malcolm and Konnor were so busy high-fiving the crowd that they missed the 5K turn-off.  So those two  boys ran the 8K.  Once I found him, I was so excited for them!  they did great!!

Official times:
     Laurel:  27:01
     Mom:  40:03 (that's right -- I took 6 minutes off my time in the Queen Anne race!!!)
     Malcolm:  51:46

After we'd found everyone, the boys went to the Hollingsworth's car to put some things away, and the girls and I went to our van to get a few things.  It was fun to walk up to the Campbells, as we walked through part of the staging area.  It's a fun way to see the parade!!

 

As usual, the parade was fun, and it was SO exciting when we could finally hear the Pirate's cannons booming in the not-so-far off distance.

We're looking forward to running again next year!!

finally: Malcolm's birthday party!

Originally, we invited the boys to have lunch (Malcolm chose McDonald's -- McDonald's!!) and then go to Sky High (Bellevue), but I misread the GroupOn, and Doug was left with a few hours of no plans.  They ended up going bowling instead.  Looks like they had a fun time!

Swimming at Grandma's

The weather was mostly cooperative today, so we went swimming at Grandma's pool.  The kids had a good time.  I folded schedule booklets for Girls' Camp...it's almost here!!

Who gets to do this??

Daddy's job is pretty awesome.  There might be some bad days sometimes, but how many people can say they got to do this at work today??

Manchester United was in town to play the Sounders, and Daddy (in his red coat) got to stand on top of the Space Needle for the unique coin toss!!

Meet Miss Liberty

The Buchholz invited us to dinner tonight.  which was double-fun because we got to meet their sweet new (5-week old) puppy.  Liberty stole the show and it almost made me want to get a puppy.

King of the Hill Tournament - Games 2 & 3

We went back to Puyallup this morning for the remaining soccer games.  Dana and Malcolm were excited because the Snyder's invited them to play with their kids.  Aubrey stayed home.  So that meant I was free to be alone for a few hours to take pictures.

Fusion played hard in Game 2, but came out on the low end again.  By the end of the game, I could see that the girls were starting to gel as a team.  It was exciting.

Game 3 ended much the same as the first two games, but the girls really played together as a team. 

oh how I have missed Erin's awesome soccer faces!!

Laurel had a fantastic drive down the left side ~ I could see the determination in her eyes and NOTHING was going to stop her. Except for this awful slide-tackle, that is. It fired the team up, and much of the second half was played on their end of the field as we attempted to score a goal.

I have missed soccer, and am so excited for the season to get going.  We'll be busy with the three girls in soccer and Malcolm in football, but it will be FUN!

Go Fusion!!

We had a few guest players -- including Peyton! 

King of the Hill Tournament - Game 1

Laurel's new soccer team is Fusion.  They are a U14 MpVSA select team.  Coach suggested playing in a couple of tournaments before the season started this fall ... and tonight was the first game.

The girls are still learning to work together.  This might be a roug weekend.  But Laurel loves getting back out there and playing!

As we walked up to the field, I called out, "Go Fusion!"  and Dana aske me, "What's that?!"  I explained that it was Laurel's team, and she replied, "No - Laurel is a Striker!"  Even Dana knows "Once a Striker, Always a Stiker."

Tomorrow we come back for two more games.  Go FUSION!

Family Picnic at Vasa Park

The foundation sponsors a family picnic at Vasa Park each summer.  You wouldn't know it by looking at the pictures -- but it's mid-July!  Our kids were among only a dozen or so kids that dared brave the cold water and colder air.  They played on bouncy toys (some of which got them wet), ran to and fro, ate some food, played some games, and generally enoyed a fun afternoon/evening of Mardi Gras fun.

Crown of Queen Anne 5K

The foundation paid for employees to run this race.  It's a fundraiser for the Queen Anne Help Line.  So Laurel and I thought it would be fun to "run" "together."

I started off walking slowly, then realized that because I’d dawdled so much, I was at the back of the pack, so I set my eyes on an older gal ahead of me and ran for a bit.  When I thought my shins would split, I walked again.  Having a good-tempo running mix in my Zune was very helpful!!  In any event, I kept going this way for the whole race.

During the last portion of the race (as we were headed up a hill), a boy of 11 passed me, followed about 15 steps behind by his dad (or who I guessed to be his dad). The dad immediately reminded me of Brian ~ he appeared to be a good runner, though not “blessed” with a typical “runner’s body” (please don’t be offended by that, Brian!!!). And the boy, of course, reminded me very much of Adamo. I almost teared up with the boy received a plaque for winning the Boys’ Under 12 category!

I was so surprised to see the finish line ahead!!  So I fast forwarded to my “power-run-get your-butt-moving song” (see lyrics here) and ran farther than I have to date.  I was SO EXCITED when I crossed the finish line at 26:15.  THRILLED!!!  I grabbed some water, and then turned back around to see Laurel off in the distance.  I quickly walked up to the beginning of the finish gate and started cheering for her.  She looked pleased with her results, too.  I asked if she was happy and she said yes, but she’d wanted to do better (sound familiar?).  She asked how I did, so I told her, and her face got all funny.  And that’s when it dawned on me…

The walkers left 20 minutes before the runners.  Even though I’d registered as a runner, I started with the walkers – I didn’t want Laurel to be alone at the finish line – I figured it was better to have her alone at the start (there was a police escort).  So in reality, my time for this one is 46:15.  But I felt SO much better after this one than I did after Trek Around the Trail.

I guess I came in 15th overall for walkers -- except I ran.  :(

Laurel came in 104th overall!!

I kept wanting to stop to take pictures -- but of course, carrying a camera while running doesn't make much sense.  So after the race, Laurel and I drove the route and took some pics.  My favorite part of the morning, though, was spending it with Laurel!!

I'm about to register for the Torchlight Run ~ it’s part of the Seafair Parade and pirates abound, argh.  My plan is to run a 5k at least once a month between now and January.  Wish me luck.