House Hunting and the Seattle Half Marathon

November of 2011 was a momentous month for our family as we prepared for our big move, and for me as I got ready to complete the goal I'd set for myself as a runner. First, we journeyed 3,000 miles to the other side of the country in search of a new house. It was a time of happiness, sadness, excitement and stress all rolled into one. In a week's time we saw over thirty houses, and though we didn't wind up with our first, or even second choice, the house that has come to be ours seems to be the one that was meant for us all along. It isn't big or fancy, but it is homey and just the right size for us. It sets on a quiet cul-de-sac in a nice neighborhood. We love the schools the girls attend, we have kind neighbors, and a spacious backyard that we all adore. So despite all the uncertainty and anxiety that went into getting here, we've found ourselves in just the place it seems we were meant to be.

The house that was meant for us

The backyard we are all so fond of

After finding this house, which we were hoping would be the perfect home for our family, but not yet entirely sure of that, we returned to the Pacific Northwest one last time. It would be the final month in our old home, a month of good-byes, packing, preparation, and anticipation.

Throughout our whirlwind house-hunting trip that took up the middle of November, I didn't get much running in. I guess it's a good thing it was time for a little tapering in my training plan at that point. November also marked the month I was completing my goal of running three half marathons in three months. The Seattle race would be the capstone of my mission. Earlier, Jay had surprised me by having sweatshirts made for the girls that said, "Go, Mama, Go!" They were going to be my own personal cheering squad for the race. Talk about being one lucky mama!

The Seattle marathon falls on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, so I got to experience the joy of running in the heart of Seattle's cold and rainy late fall weather. As luck would have it, wind got thrown into the mix too. Despite all of that, and running for the first time in a new rain jacket (I try to never run a race wearing something I haven't tried out before) it was a pretty great race. I was only four minutes off my PR, and considering my wonky training schedule in the weeks before, the hills along the course, and the weather, I couldn't have been happier. And of course, the very best part was my wonderful family, there to greet and congratulate me as I crossed the finish line. Three races, three months, mission accomplished! And a new house to boot!

Posing with my cheering squad

Skagit Flats Half-Marathon

On a very warm weekend in early September, we crossed Puget Sound and headed north to Skagit County, WA. Jay was running in his second half-marathon, and the family was coming along to cheer him on. We went the day before, stayed in a hotel, shared a very nice family dinner, and took the girls swimming in the pool. The day of the race dawned sunny and very warm, not always what you expect in Washington. The course was very flat, so that was a bonus for Jay. But the heat got to him a bit. 

Though it might have made things a little tough on the runners, the warm sunshine was perfect for the spectators. We cheered our runner on as we saw him coming down the final stretch and finishing in the stadium. 

Here he comes!...


Way to go, Jay!!!

Admiring Daddy's cool finisher's medal

There's a First Time for Everything

Do you recognize the look on my face?

It's a look of pure relief!

Last September, following in my dear husband's footsteps, I ran my first half-marathon. It's an accomplishment I'm still pretty proud of. For my first time, we picked a small race in a small place (The Labor Day Half-Marathon in Elma, Washington) I think there were only about fourteen or fifteen people entered, but it worked out just perfectly for my first go at it. I placed ninth overall, and that's the only time that's ever going to happen, haha! Jay and the girls were there to cheer me on at the finish line. And strangely, despite the relief of finishing and the very tired legs, that's when I decided to keep doing this and began planning for the next one.  

One Incredible Guy

My Husband. One pretty incredible guy. Awhile back, a good friend of ours told us she was going to run a half-marathon. Simple enough, or so it would seem, but she had just had a baby less than six months before, and this got Jay to thinking...if she just had a baby and is out there running like that, why aren't I? So... he started running the very next week, and the rest is history. A training plan was decided upon, the first race was registered for, and the training runs were fit into the schedule and completed.

His first race was the "Beach to Chowder Half-Marathon," last June in Long Beach, WA. We booked a hotel room, and made a family weekend of it. The drive down along the coast and through the evergreen forests was beautiful. We stayed at a hotel on the beach, ate a ridiculously huge and delicious pizza at a restaurant on the broad walk,  and took the girls to play at an arcade afterwards. We also drove out to a bluff overlooking the ocean which happened to be the turnaround spot for the race. The view was breath-taking, nothing short of spectacular.    

The morning of the race dawned the way many mornings in Washington do...gray and overcast. We drove Jay down to the race start and wished him well. I think I may have been feeling as nervous as he was. Then the girls and I headed back to the hotel. It was nice, because the race course happened to go right by our hotel. So when it was time, we got to go right out our hotel door to cheer him on as he ran by. We kept our eyes peeled for the first runner with a yellow cap and fluorescent green compression socks. Good thing he was the only one. It was a lot of fun. And even though it was a cool and drizzly morning, it seemed perfect for the occasion.

"Go, Daddy, Go!!!"

Cheering for Jay as he runs by...

Heading for the finish line

The final stretch

Mission accomplished - 1st half-marathon completed!

Official Half-Marathon Finisher!

 We're more proud of him than he knows!

Watching and cheering for Jay proved to be an inspiration. We've been doing an awful lot of running and cheering since then, so I guess you could say...the rest is history.