Wednesday, August 4, 2010

RACE TO ROBIE CREEK.

My sister Laura once told me she wanted to run a marathon before she turned thirty. When she decided to run Robie Creek--often called the toughest 1/2 marathon in the Northwest (just weeks after her 30th birthday) I was so PROUD of her! She spent just about a year training for Robie Creek and then . . . we held our breath on Number Day. There are a limited number of runners who are allowed to run Robie Creek. Many who want to run it, simply aren't able to get a race number! Fortunately, SHE GOT A NUMBER!!! She also got a spectator pass which meant, I GOT TO WATCH HER CROSS THE FINISH LINE (they also limit the number of spectators)! And yes, she did cross the finish line! In fact, Laura not only crossed the finish line, she came across that line DANCING! I know my sister is tough (come on, she delivered FOUR babies WITHOUT epidurals) but she simply wowed me by running this race! I watched runners before and after her, vomiting. And yet, she DANCED! She is super tough and ultra determined and I am beyond proud to call her my sister! I am so grateful I got to be there to watch her achieve her goal and to help her celebrate! I'm not sure if Laura will run Robie Creek again but in my opinion, she doesn't need to. She's already proven she's
WONDER WOMAN!

MATT, LAURA'S BROTHER-IN-LAW, RAN ROBIE TOO!

THEY ACTUALLY LOOK EXCITED!

RUN, LO, RUN!


LO'S SPECIAL RACE SOCKS AND HER TIMING CHIP!

DANNY AND I DROPPED MATT AND LAURA OFF AT THE STARTING LINE AND CAUGHT A SHUTTLE TO THE FINISH LINE. WE TOOK CLAIRE AND GABE WITH US WHILE MAKAYLA AND GARRETT BABYSAT NANA AND PAPA AT HOME!

IT WAS CLAIRE AND GABE'S VERY FIRST RIDE IN A SCHOOL BUS!
LITTLE MISS CLAIRE WAS VERY EXCITED!

GABRIEL SAT BEHIND US AND THOUGHT PULLING MY HAIR WAS HILARIOUS!
JUST LIKE EVERY LITTLE SCHOOL-BUS-RIDIN BOY DOES!

WAITING FOR UNCLE MATT AND MOM WAS PRETTY BORING!
CLAIRE WAS SO GOOD AT ENTERTAINING HERSELF THOUGH!

THE LITTLE GUY DID WHAT I WISHED I COULD DO . . .

HE TOOK A BIG FAT NAP RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL THE COMMOTION!

MATT CROSSED THE FINISH LINE FIRST!

AFTER SOME CONGRATULATIONS FROM ALL OF US HE SAT DOWN TO CATCH HIS BREATH AND GET RE-HYDRATED.

WE DIDN'T HAVE TO WAIT LONG BEFORE LAURA CAME RUNNING ALONG!

OR SHOULD I SAY . . .

DANCING ALONG!

I LOVED MATT AND LAURA'S REACTIONS TO EACH OTHER!
IT WAS ALMOST AS IF THEY WERE SHOCKED THE OTHER HAD SURVIVED!

PARTY IN THE PARK!

LAURA AND I.
I AM SO PROUD OF HER!!!

MATT'S OFFICIAL TIME: 2 HOURS, 9 MINUTES.

AND LAURA'S: 2 HOURS, 19 MINUTES!
ABSOLUTELY AWESOME!

THE RACE HAS A THEME EACH YEAR. THIS YEAR IT HAD TO DO WITH RUNNING BEING A PAINFUL LOVE AFFAIR. THE MOTTO: STOP. DON'T. DON'T STOP. THEY HANDED OUT THESE OFFICIAL ROBIE ROMANCE CHOCOLATES TO ALL THE RACE FINISHERS!


pictures of the signage and race course courtesy of the idaho statesman.
:)

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