38:42:47

Those are minutes, not hours. I finished the 5k and I'm glad to be done. I will admit that it's a wonderful feeling to have accomplished something I've only ever joked about doing. I was able to run the whole thing (if that's what you call what I was doing) except for a little stop to drink water. I haven't mastered the technique of drinking and running--too dangerous. Here are some pictures of the victors. Now I just need to powder my thighs--chafing has occurred.

(L to R): Roadrunners- 2nd place, Stewarts- 3rd, & Gibsons- 1st

Even the kids got in on the action. Lane and Andrew ran the race also and made their parents look bad.

The missionaries got the best dressed award.

12 years!

12 years ago yesterday I was lucky enough to marry "twinkle toes". We spent our day zipping across the sky and roller coasting down the mountain (minus the kids). We'd still like to think we are light on our feet and young at heart and then you see pictures like this and they make you giggle and think "maybe not so much". We had a blast and I'm acutely aware of how lucky I am to have him in my life (even if this picture makes you wonder... hmmm). He brings so much joy and love into my life. I've included a more "man-ly" photo below of Blake for his own sake.

These mountain coasters R O C K E D! Alpine slides have come a very long way in the 20 years since I've ridden one in Park City, UT.

This is more like it. I love you, babe, whether you're light on your feet or hanging from a tree! You're still perfect for me and I STILL choose you! Here's to many more adventures!

10:59:58 left!

Tomorrow is the day to run, walk, or crawl to the finish line. My sister had a great idea to make "Team Roadrunner" t-shirts but considering that my husband has twisted his knee and broken his toe it seems a bit arrogant (not that it wasn't arrogant before the injuries). There was one thing that I managed to make... my playlist. I'm hoping that it will take my mind off of the long and painful journey but I think it will merely become the soundtrack to my death. Hopefully this experience will not permanently ruin these great songs for me.

1. Something Beautiful- Needtobreath
2. So Obvious- Runner Runner
3. Secrets- One Republic
4. Animal- Neon Trees
5. This Afternoon- Nickleback
6. This Ain't Goodbye- Train
7. The Only Exception- Paramore
8. The Boys of Fall- Kenny Chesney
9. The Truth- Kris Allen
10. King of Anything- Sara Bareilles
11. You Run Away- Barenaked Ladies
12. We'll Be A Dream- We the Kings
13. Belle of the Boulevard- Dashboard Confessional
14. Into Your Arms- The Maine
15. Love Left to Lose- Sons of Sylvia
16. Like We Used to- A Rocket to the Moon
17. Stuttering- The Friday Night Boys
18, Superman Tonight- Bon Jovi

And there is the official list. I'm hoping 18 songs will get me through 3 miles. I know, I allowed a little extra music...Blake doesn't think my music is upbeat/obnoxious enough. I'd rather die with a smile on my lips and "angel-like" music in my ears.

I'm not 10 feet tall and bullet-proof

So I was invited by our church ward Scout Master (who happens to be my buddy Scott) on a youth activity to go whitewater rafting at Wisp Resort in Maryland. We had a great time. The only downfall is the fact I twisted my knee pretty bad upon being thrown from the raft in which my foot got stuck and I end up bent over backwards with my head underwater. After swallowing several gallons of water, I manage to unstuck myself and abandon ship. At this point the guide informs me I'll be taking on the other Class III-IV rapids on my own floating on my back. Just what I had in mind. I survived. Just barely. I think the others in our group thought I would drown. I thought so too. Anyway, this injury indirectly led to my mishap in the shower the other day in which I broke my big toe which leads to the probable withdrawal of the Labor Day 5K I'm supposed to run. My wife wants to trade me in for a newer model. One without so many miles. I can't argue her point. I just need to convince her I'm a collectable and will be very valuable some day. Enjoy the pictures.

5K Necessities- The Beginning

As I whip out this little diddy, I'm just trying to bide my time until I stop dripping sweat. Just finished running on the treadmill and the whole time I spent it trying to talk myself into running just a bit longer (and I hated every minute of it). When does the so called "runner high" kick in? Never mind answering that. I don't care and will probably still hate running. Wonder why I'm doing it? Get comfortable...

Once upon a time there were two families who were the best of friends (at least as close as friends in WV can be without being related). The wives of these two families thought it would be a good challenge to run a 5K. Wife #1 (we'll just call her "Jen") sometimes just says things that sound fun but she doesn't really want to attempt it or heaven forbid, accomplish it. She would even consider herself a tad bit lazy. Wife #2 (we'll call her "Riss") thought this was such a great idea that she tells a mutual friend ,who we should mention, loves to run triathlons and is in charge of church activities. Ugh, what have you done?! (Side Note: Riss did receive a phone call from Jen expressing in a very loving, friendly way her displeasure with her extreme enthusiasm.) Next church activity--you guessed it. A 5K. Family #1 and Family #2 discussed it. Threats, challenges and trash-talk was dished out. Losers take us (I mean the "winners") out to dinner of our choice and they pay. Now, Jen has a theory that misery loves company. She invites Family #3 to join in the fray. So now we have three wonderful families silently plotting the demise of the other families and spying on their efforts. Jen doesn't do well with challenges. She takes them to the extreme and spends her days and nights secretly plotting against her greatest friends (she inherited this quality from her father). I only share these shortcomings with you so that you more fully understand Jen's weaknesses. No, she's not perfect for all of those who thought she was. Stay tuned to see who wins. The Turtles or the Hares or the Stevensons (we'll call them the "Roadrunners").

P.S. I love family #2 and #3 and all this nonsense is in jest. Just in case you couldn't tell or don't know me very well.

Drum Roll Please???

Never mind. I'll roll my own drum because it's been so long and the return to my blog is a small drop in the bucket compared to the vast eternities. I wish there was an excuse, i.e. extreme busyness, important deadlines, or untiring service in the behalf of someone else but all I could come up with, honestly, is pure laziness. So let's recap...

School ended with a bang (and is about to begin again with a bang) and we celebrated at an ice cream shop. Four of those children aren't mine. You guess which four.

Memorial Day began in a canoe...
and ended out of the canoe with mom and dad pulling their sorry carcasses through the water.

(Caution: objects in picture are heavier than they appear.)

Paige celebrated #7 this year with water fights, tattoos (real ones of course), and a night at the movies.

Look how happy this crazy bunch is.

All cooled down and sugared up. Off to the movies for a parental break.

Water fights were rough on the grown-ups.

This was just the beginning... as the story goes. Up next: new house updates and demolition, family visits, swim team champs (in our book) and darker tans. In other words--regular summer stuff.

Home improvement = self impalement

So I was doing a few projects around the new house and was putting up some shelves in the pantry. I somehow managed to insert the drill bit pictured below into my knee just under my patella. How I accomplished such a feat is a story in itself...Lane held a bit of pressure at the puncture site whilst I proceeded to lie down and faint. A good friend came to get the kiddos and foolishly volunteered to help my wife carry me to the car. Quite a sight...these two lovely ladies hauling my disheveled self to the car. ER visit was unremarkable...images negative, lots of irrigation thru the puncture site, knee swells to the size of a baseball...I proceed to turn white for a second time and lay myself back down on the stretcher while the PA continues with the irrigation. Get a tetanus shot, some antibiotics, some pain pills for later, and I'm sent on my way. Being on the other side of provider/patient fence sucks. No more home improvement projects for awhile. What a way to spend my spring break vacation.

Drill bit next to foot for size and scale purposes

You can see the left over remnants of my knee on the drill bit.