Spring Racing Season

It's rare that I write a post that has nothing to do with the kiddos but I can't let the months of April and May go buy without mentioning all the racing that Oscar and I did.  I can't even recall all the events that Oscar has done but I'll try to do a quick run down of each weekend.  

Opps, I forgot about Ironman 70.3 California back in March.  Let's not forget that suffer-fest!

April 11-12th Oscar was in Texas to race Galveston 70.3, I think.  Back at home I ran the Rock 'n Roll Raleigh Half Marathon.  I really can't remember any of his race times.....anything beyond 4 hours is just crazy anyways.  I ran a 1:39 which put me in second place for my age group.  Not my best time but considering all the foot issues that I had been having the last month it was pretty good.    

hardest earned medal yet....I felt every single foot strike!

lots of electric therapy going on around these parts lately

trying out new shoes.....

......hoping to fix the foot issues

The following weekend, April 18th, I ran the TarHeel 10 miler and Oscar ran the 4 miler.  I paced a couple of my running buddies and helped them to achieve new PRs.  Most definitely not my fastest run but very enjoyable nonetheless.

before the race pic (no one needs to see an after pic)

the home stretch

 The next weekend, April 25th, Oscar was back in Texas for a charity ride with several of his team mates.

May 16th put him back in the Woodlands volunteering at the Ironman Texas where he raced last year.  I ran the inaugural Not So Normal Half Marathon in Carborro.  This race was so poorly marked that many runners went off course, myself included.  So the results said I placed first overall for females but we all know that's incorrect since I missed a mile somewhere along the way.  No way I ran a 1:22 half! But it was a fun morning spent with friends out sweating on a hot and humid Sunday.
And that brings us to the last weekend in May where Oscar is racing in the Raleigh 70.3 Ironman tomorrow morning.  And next weekend he'll be back in California to check Escape for Alcatraz off his bucket list.
Phew, I'm exhausted just trying to keep track of all these races!

Oscar the IRONMAN

What a whirlwind of four days in Texas!!  The kids and I arrived on Thursday and Grams and Granddad picked us up at the airport to take us out to the farm for the night.  Savannah had soooo many things to do and not a lot of time to do them all but that didn't stop her from trying.  We visited relatives, she fed the fish in the pond, painted flower pots, planted flowers, jumped on the trampoline, rode the motorcycle, performed puppet shows, introduced Granddaddy to Frozen, had a sleepover, and even slept about 8 hours.  Considering we were only on the farm for less than 24 hours, that's quite a lot of things to get done.
Friday afternoon, Grams and Granddad drove us to the Woodlands where we met up with Oscar, Dania, and Harlan Jr for dinner.  Our hotel was centrally located for great food, shopping, and of course the race.

planting flowers

ready for a motorcycle ride

off they go

jumping with Grams

S needed to cool off after dinner

sibling selfie

the day before the race

Saturday morning, Oscar and Dania woke up before dawn to head to the swim start.  The kids and I woke a few hours later and after a quick Starbucks breakfast we went to T1 in hopes of seeing Oscar off on the bike.  Fortunately for him but unfortunately for us he swam faster than expected so we missed seeing him by 2 minutes.  So off the pool we went to hang out until time to see him start the marathon.  Obie and Tracy flew in around noon to surprise Oscar and motivate him during the run.

almost race time

waiting at T1 but no sign of Daddy

O dancing through the first mile 

Moxie cheering section

the surprise spectators

pool time with Harlan

S and Aunt Dania

After dinner and a bath, it was time to head to the finish line and see Oscar complete this overwhelming feat.  Words cannot express the emotions we all felt while watching him come through the finishers chute and cross the finish line.  

waiting at the finish 

coming down the finishers chute

he did it!!!!!

congratulatory hugs

O with Tracy and Obie

What an amazing day!!  A wonderfully exhausting day for all of us.  We all headed our separate ways Sunday morning but the memories we made during that brief, special trip will stay with us always.  We couldn't be prouder of you, Oscar, the Ironman!!