Half Marathon Monday

This is a special Half Marathon Monday because it celebrates not one, but TWO major accomplishments.

Adri & Ellie at mom's first 5k!

Just as Sadie and I were finishing our new year's resolution of 13 half marathons in 2013, my cousin decided to jump on our crazy train... to which we said the more the merrier! With the same running base I started with in 2011 (read: none) and a 7 month old daughter, Adri began her running journey. Couch-to-5k become half marathon training which brought us to the Tacoma City Marathon this weekend!

If all goes as planned, there will be two more half marathon adventures before her 30th year is complete. We are already signed up to Beat the Blerch and have yet to pick the third race. So if you have suggestions, now's your chance!

The Tacoma City Half Marathon gets the award for strangest start experience. We spent just over two hours sitting on the concrete floor of an airplane hanger eating breakfast while our butts fell asleep.

Eventually we were on the road! And it was a wet road. Fortunately our custom-made trash bag shirts kept us dry. Big thanks to Sadie for that one.

Overall the race was great! It was tough at times - like going UP an overpass at mile 12 - and we just tried to keep moving forward. I might have offered to let Adri hit me if she could catch me in an attempt to keep her running. Turns out her hatred for walking was enough in itself. She's clearly a real runner. We crossed the finish line and she was a total champ! Super proud of you cousin!!!

Hey look! I think it's this way to the part of the course
where I hate your guts! Let's go!

Adri wasn't the only one with a major accomplishment for the weekend. The Queen of Crazy ran two half marathons in two days! This launched her to a new half fanatic level and a PR on the first day. With a time of 1:51:30, Sadie was not just first in her age group to finish but the first female. When compared to everyone running that day, only two people finished in front of her.

So grateful for these two badass ladies to run around with!

EARLY morning bus to the start

The half-way house offered beer to weary runners

FIN.