Monday, October 8, 2007

MARATHON #7

Parker and I were sick all last week, so the night before we left for St. George for Joe to run his SEVENTH marathon (FIFTH St. George Marathon), he told me that if I wasn't feeling up to it, we didn't have to go. Nice try, babe. I wasn't going to let him out of it for my sake! My cousins Dan and Matt were also running (Dan's 2nd and Matt's 1st marathon) so we all pitched in and rented a fabulous house for the weekend. Here's Joe the morning of....up and ready to run 26.2 miles at 4:00 am.
Here's Parker after I woke him up at 7:45 (of course he would sleep in the morning I needed him to be awake early!) looking much less awake than Joe! Matt's wife Janice embroidered Parker and the other kids super cute little shirts for the occasion. The back says "Run Daddy Run!" We left the house hoping to see the guys at mile 13, but by the time we made it out of the house and up the canyon, we were pretty sure we'd missed them, so they had to wait for some moral support until mile 23...sorry! I felt terrible, but Joe told me that it was actually encouraging not to see us, because he figured he was running too fast and we missed him. Maybe next time I'll just be at the finish line! Actually, after I saw Joe at mile 23, my Uncle Bill told me to take his car to the finish line so I wouldn't miss him. Unfortunately it took me longer to find a parking spot and walk to the end than it took Joe to run the last 3.2 miles. The same was the case for Dan and Matt...Joe and I found them waiting after the finish line with the mobs of runners while Bill, Kathi, Cindy, Janice and kids were still waiting for them to run past. They were all too fast for us!
Parker was really upset when we saw Joe at mile 23 and he just kept running. Once we found him after the race, Parker did not want to let him out of his sight. I was (and always am) SOOOO proud of Joe! He trained pretty well over the last month, but definitely not as well as he would have liked to the months leading up to the race (hence the trying to get out of the race two nights before). In all his marathons, he's yet to beat his best time (which was also his first marathon). His best time was 3 hours and 36 minutes. Last year he came pretty close at 3 hours and 38 minutes. This year he was 3 hours and 37 minutes! So close! At least he's consistent...and in my mind pretty darn fast! Way to go, Joe!
Do they look like they just ran 26.2 miles? Definitely not...they all walked like old men, though.
The atmosphere at the marathon is always SO fun...it made me think I might want to do another one. Maybe next year. We'll see how I feel....I'll be a lactating mother with a 5-month old baby....hmmmm. Sounds fun, right?

9 comments:

Diane said...

Way to go Joe!!! How fun to be there with your aunt and uncle and cousins. Wish we could have been there too. Maybe next time.

Michael said...

I wish that Joe would do a marathon some other weekend so I could go down there with all y'all. However, don't think you're gonna talk me into doing one. If they say all I need is 20 minutes of cardio/day, that's all I'm giving. No more!

Christie said...

Way to go! That is such a great time - he's got to be thrilled. And how fun to catch up with my brothers. I thought of you all while I was in NYC, loading up on food and seeing the sights, hee hee.

Mandy said...

how fun! Way to go Joe! I love Michael's way of thinking! My sister-in-law wants me to run some 5k and 10 k's with her this winter...i know that is nothing to you...but it will probably kill me! And I am so retarded! I really wanted to get together this weekend and I totally forgot I am going to Cali...and I saw on your mom's blog your going there sometime! Anyway I will give you a call!

Annakaisa said...

That is so exciting that you got to go to St. George and that Joe did so well. I can't even imagine running that much! Emma got the same flu that I had and so that's why I haven't called you, because we are still all sick. So lame... I hope you and Parker are feeling better though.

Kandis Mortensen said...

From Colby: Bien HECHO JOSE! ALGUN DIA VOY A CORRER CONTIGO MAS DE UNA MEDIA MILA. LA TELE SE VE BUENISIMO Y CREO QUE ES TIEMPO PARA UNA FIESTA!

Rachel said...

Great job Joe! Robyn- bad idea to aim for 2008. Try running it in 2009, you'll probably enjoy it a lot more!

Kimberly said...

Yeah! I agree with Rachel...however, knowing you, you will probably try to prove us both wrong by trying to do it anyway. Wow, you really do have a pregnant belly! It's so cute!

Grandma Hand said...

I think you all are CRAZY to run for 3 plus hours. I am really proud of Joe and also AMAZED. I think that it is so fun that Parker gets into the excitement with all of you. I am surprised that Joe had any legs left after that but that is really GREAT!