Marathon Madness

The ING Marathon was this weekend. The weekend's festivies started off with the "Tot Trot" at Atlantic Station then it was off to the Health and Fitness Expo to pick up our racing numbers. Lacy, Matt and I registered to run it. In the end Lacy ran the marathon, I drop to the half marathon due to some knee problems, and Matt had to drop it all together.
Saturday was the Tot Trot where kids were split into two groups, 4 year old and younger, and 5 - 10 year old (or so). Grace was signed up in the 4 year old and younger category where the "tots" ran once around the block. In reality this "race" entailed parents lugging their kids around the block while people cheered for them, which for most of these "tots" was terrifying. All in all it was good times.

As you can see Grace was not ready to run around the block at 9 am.

oooohhh the tears.

Some of the "Tots" reverted to other means of protest.

But, after some consoling from daddy Grace was all better...

...and ready to show off her medal.

Then the festivities began with games for the kids and coffee for the rest of us.

All smiles.

The really funny thing was Grace was ready to book it around the block, and everywhere for that matter once the crowds left.

Marathon Day:

Gettin's all stretched for my 13.1 miles of running bliss.

Welcoming our cheerleaders. Thanks guys!!!!!

And they're off!

And our faithful cheerleaders are left to wait 2 - 4 and 1/2 hours for Lacy and I to dart across in the finish line in triumph.

Mile ____ and feeling fine. My only complaint: no mile markers for the half-ers out there! I think this was mile 9 or so.

I got my sights set for the end...finally. It only took me, like, 2 hours and 7 mintues!

Aaahhhh...I got my medal, my Starbucks, a lounge chair, and the feeling you get when you run 13.1 miles before 10am. Life is gooooooood.

If you have been able to run any races at all, 10K's, Marathons, etc. you know the wackos it attracts that make you not only take notice but smile while pounding the pavement. Here are two of the many.

Mullet Man.

Evil Knievil?

The end of the run.
Once I was done Matt and I went back about 1/2 a mile to cheer people on, take pictures, and wait for Lacy to finish the marathon. I decided to run this last leg with her.

Lacy's biggest cheerleader of all. Notice the sign says "Go Daddy"...I think we're confused, or just generally excited about encouraging people we love.

Congrats Lacy! You got your first (and probably hardest) marathon under your belt in record time. Next time, Philly?