26.2!

Today was marathon day!  I joined around 15,000 other runners this morning for a beautiful 26.2 mile run through Denver.  I'm so glad I did it, but I'm also so glad it's over!

Here are a few tidbits ruminating in my head as this long running journey finally comes to an end:

Miles logged from the time training started in June to race day:  502.46
Calories burned from June through race day:  59,115
Weight gained: 10 pounds (not kidding!)
Pairs of running shoes: 3

Most of my runs happened at o'dark thirty in an attempt to reduce the impact on my family.  As a result, I witnessed some of the most beautiful sunrises.  Here are a few favorites:

Favorite quotes during training:

"Mommy, you can run far" --from Jacoby
"Erin, I don't understand the point of running so far for no reason.  There are only two reasons to run: if a thug is chasing you or the police are chasing you!" --from one of my favorite people at work

Why do I run? A question I've asked myself countless times when I'm out by myself at o'dark thirty:

I run away from:  feeling overwhelmed and stuck; fear; impatience; mistakes of the day, week, month, year; sadness

I run toward:  grace; gratitude; wanting to be a better mom/wife; patience; renewal; calm and peace, strength; and a desire to instill in my boys that if they try their best, they can do hard things too

Favorite signs out on the race course today:

"It seemed like a good idea three months ago!"
"Motivational Sign" --held by a sullen teenager of course
"Not much farther to go!" --as we pass mile three

Some unexpected tunes on my phone that came to be mighty helpful for getting the miles logged and across the finish line:
Usher
Guns n Roses
Flo Rida
U2
Bon Jovi
Macklemore

I owe a huge thank you to my family for putting up with the countless hours of training and an often tired mommy.  Justin, whose patience knows no bounds, has graciously endured my emotional roller coaster over the past few weeks after the Boulder Marathon was canceled and lots of things were in flux for awhile.  And my boys, they are the reason that I run, and as I wearily climbed the front steps after my long Saturday runs, they would greet me cheerfully and want to know if I was finished with my run so that we could go to the park and library.

I am a Marathon Mom!

 

Snuggling with my little one on the bus ride to the car...Morgan was eying some rambunctious Broncos fans.  Very busy day in Denver!

 

 Jacoby taking care of my medal on the way home for me

Hooray for 26.2!

Ordinary Days

We are thoroughly enjoying the beautiful fall days here in lovely Colorado.  Life is pleasantly uneventful...definitely busy, but nothing out of the ordinary.

Both boys are in the 100-Mile Club this year.  The school hosted a 3.5 mile run/walk a week ago or so, and we saw two bald eagles along the way.

 There is also snow on the Continental Divide now.

 

 Here they are towards the end of 3.5 miles...a tad bit tired but they made it the whole way!  Both boys are up to 15 miles already!

 Our fall porch...we grew four good-sized pumpkins in our garden this year.

 Some wildlife seen outside my window at work

 Lovely fall in Colorado

 Playing soccer with a new friend at the park

 We had parent teacher conferences this week.  Both boys are right where they need to be.  Jacoby's 2nd grade teacher comes back from maternity leave next week, so we're looking forward to getting to know her.  Jacoby went on his first play date all by himself last weekend with his two BFFs from school.  It was a very important day for him...and us two, since it meant a little more letting go with this food allergy business.

 And then there's this boy.  Morgan is trying to decide if he's left-handed or right-handed.  He's also needing a little bit of OT support (from us at home) for some fine motor skills.  He absolutely loves school and is pretty much friends with everyone.  We're so very blessed that both boys are healthy, growing, and loving school.

These are my third pair of running shoes.  Marathon in five days.  I sort of wish these were outfitted with jet packs at this point, but I'm for the most part looking forward to race day.

  This is how most of our days end...the little one in bed early (Kinder is such hard work you know!) and the rest of us relaxing with our books.  Justin is doing well--he's not necessarily less busy, but I think having both boys in full-day school now is helping a lot on the dissertation front.