Akron Marathon Relay Team-Adams Apples and other random iPhone pics

This post has a random collection of moments from our weekend with Jill and family. Also, some pics from our relay team on marathon day.

The 4 older kids glued to PBS kids on their first morning together.

Jill was always the best hairdresser growing up. Everyone at girls camp would line up to have her braid their hair. Everytime we used to get together she would always put my hair in two braids. Since my hair is too short, Pepper volunteered. Pepper loves getting her hair done and Jill loves doing it. Win win for them!

Katie and I hanging out while the others explore.

Before the Kids Fun Run started there were some mascots walking around saying hi to the kids. Pepper was the only one that was enthusiastic about this.

Warming up before the race.

Kevin and Kate stretching it out after the race while we wait for Cody to meet up with us.

Once Cody met up with us and gave Jill the van keys, Jill and Kevin took the kids home while Cody, Mindy and I went down to the finish line to wait for Robin to meet up with us. We were all waiting to watch Anna cross the finish line while we enjoyed our hard earned snack.

Anna sprinting towards the finish with great form.

Our team finished in just over 5 and 1/2 hrs. Not the best time but hey we finished!

Yay, it's over!

Our team all together and so proud of ourselves!
Hooray for Adams Apples!

Now I'll take a moment and tell you about my relay experience. I really wanted to run the 1st leg of the race because I thought it would be fun to start the race. I still think it was fun to start the race and watch the fireworks and everyone excited to run. I did not, however, enjoy the hectic atmosphere of running late and trying to figure out where to go. Because we were running late I didn't get any chance to stretch out or warm up. I also couldn't hand off my backpack to anyone because Jill and Cody were still parking, so I had to run with my backpack. Not so fun. It was also super, super cold. So, I was determined to run as much as possible and made it just about 2 miles. I had no idea how far I was but was so cold and tight and decided I had to walk. Right then I passed the 2 mile mark and realized I had almost 2 more miles to go. Now, I know in the grand scheme of things and for most people this is not much but for me at that moment it was. I spent the next 2 miles really fighting my self to stay positive and keep going. I finally made it after roughly an hour and was ready to fall over. I should probably had more to eat than one graham cracker. The only thing at the end, which was all up hill by the way, was seeing Jill and the kids. I started to tear up as I ran by and some of the kids ran beside me cheering me on. I also noticed Jill tearing up. Just a bit later I saw Cody and Robin and the finish line. They started running with me the final distance and helped me run across the finish/relay line to hand off the bracelet to Mindy. I was so grateful for my team because knowing they were waiting for me and relying on me is what kept me pushing along despite the fact I couldn't feel my hands or arms. So cold!
Some moments from my race: I saw a man running barefoot...ummm, crazy! A man passed me running and juggling at the same time. Hated him; so rude! My friends Jenn and Josh Anderson ran past me and said hi on their way to running the whole marathong...so glad I wasn't them:) I saw a lady getting up from squatting over a drain to pee through her pants on the side of the road. And that was before mile 2. I eyed two ladies in matching neon tank tops and decided they would be my running partners. I made sure that they never got away from me and managed to finish just after them. All in all it was a hard, fun, grueling and very rewarding experience. I look forward to doing it again and more races as well. They can only get better right? Right?! heehee

I love this pic of Jane and Morgan playing on the iPad. We heart cousins.

The kids checking out the dirty looking water left over after the apples are washed. I didn't notice at the time but i'm really impressed at how well Morgan is holding himself up. Oh, and can you tell which head is Alice and which is Pepper?! Haha, it took me a moment and I only figured it out from the outfit!