OK...Here we go...

I wanted to update THISfunctional Family with all the latest happenings from the past 2 months but each time I tried to sit down to blog there were just 10 other things I had to do....So, I'll take one event-at-a-time and start with the 5K Run for Life (since that seems to be what people are most curious about).

If you read back on this blog you'll see how I attempted to train for this 5k last year and what a disaster it was. This year I worked the Couch to 5K (9 week) training program and followed it as written. On the second half of the program I would go out with either Lauren or Alison and they always left me in the dust. On week 8 Kenny came with me for a dry run of the course. He was a jogger but hadn't been out in a couple of years due to his bad knees. Even so he was able to jog the course with seemingly no problem. If you can imagine in your minds eye Kenny, jogging alongside me (looking at me sideways with a smile), then jogging backwards alongside me, then behind me on my tail, and then cutting behind buildings to come out in front of me, you would understand that I was a little more than annoyed ;). The night before the race I kept having dreams that I was late for the race and my stomach was in knots.

Here's Alison, me, and Lauren before heading over to the starting line.

Here I am probably praying that we're (I'll ) be able to complete the race without passing-out. Oh, and the gentlemen behind me, Art rhymes with smart, was the pulling-up-the-rear-guy--and was not someone I wanted to see behind me in the race--then I'd know I was dead last--not that it would've bothered me being dead last--I just didn't want to know about it until the end-- I actually think there were about 12 people that finished after me.

When I turned the corner for the final stretch I could see a crowd cheering (I had my ipod blasting so I couldn't hear anything) but I was focused on Kenny and Kelly. Kenny has always been my greatest encourager and Kelly with a big smile was holding up a sign that read "GO MOM!!!!!!" Could it get any better than that??

After much training we were all able to breathe a sigh of relief (well I was anyway) that we reached our planned goal for a great cause--and to add to an already great day we all placed.

(Everyone ran together--kids as young as 12 to men & women 60 years of age and older ran--so everyone was broken down into groups by their age/gender and when you crossed the finish line they were able to tally your time with the others in your age/gender category and that's how we placed.)

In the girls 12-15 age group Alison placed 1st with a time of 32 mins. and Lauren placed 2nd with a time of 34mins. and in the women blah-blah-blah age group (I hate numbers) I placed 2nd with a time of 37mins. Tommy and Kelly participated in the Kids 1/2 mile Fun Run, Tommy finishing 3rd and Kelly finishing a strong 11th out 17.

Afterwards we treated ourselves to a big breakfast and talked about the race, then went home and I took two Motrin, laid down on the couch, (glad that it was over) and took a nap. It took my legs until Tuesday to stop hurting.

This was a great family experience.