Each Day Is a Gift

Lake Houston Bridge Fest 5K

Woke up numerous times, finally got up at 6.  Took one look at what Larissa (my daughter) was wearing, immediately ordered her to change into the cute RHPC shirt and skirt I brought over for her.  Jade wore the race shirt, a cotton T.  Put on a light jacket and grabbed couple of umbrellas then headed to pick up her neighbor, Beth and her daughter, Grace to the race.  It was raining cats and dogs, thunder, dark.  We got to the YMCA and parked fairly close.  They had already closed off the road.  The kid mile was supposed to start at 8.  But due to the thunder storm, it was posponed till 9:15.  We had 2 hours to sit around and visit and eat waiting for the thunder storm to pass.  

Plan was to run the kid mile with Jade and Gracie (both age 9), then run the 5K with my daughter.  But found out they have asked the adults to cheer the kids off-course and encouraged the kids to run the 5K with their parents.  So after sitting inside for over two hours, we walked outside and got the kids lined up.  There were 66 kids running the half mile race and 15 min. later 178 kids running the mile race.  The official gave some instruction of where to turn around, a prayer was said, then the gun was fired.  Oh man, I was so itching to run, instead we stood behind the start line, cheered and waited for them to run back.  Jade did awesome, 8:38 and took 11th in her age group (9-10 female).  Excellent for her first ever race.  So so so so proud of her :)

15 min later, I lined up with Jade, Gracie, Larissa, Beth and their friend, Julianne, Jill and Rhonda for the 5K.  I let Larissa wore my Garmin, giggled while hubby was beaming with pride.  A prayer was said, then gun went off and a huge downpour began.  It was SO FUN running in the heavy rain storm.  We stayed together for about 100 yards weaving around people and having a great time.  Larissa was the fastest among our little pack.  I'd run up to her and she looked at the Garmin and panicked when she saw that it read 7something and said: "Am I running too fast?"  I said: "No, that's current pace, your average pace is probably in the 8s and you are doing great."  She said they've never run that fast ever.  She's only started running the last couple months, 2-3 miles, 2-3 times a week with her friends running in the 11-12mm.  But I know she could run much faster than that.  I ran back and forth to get Jade and Gracie.  When Gracie started walking, her mom didn't stay with her, I debated whether to stay.  But I didn't want Jade to walk, so I told Jade to keep running and don't let her mom get away too far. 

We ran up the Lake Houston Bridge to the other side and turned around.  Saw the first runner soon after aid station #1 around mile 1.2.  Jade took a water.  I pointed to her that the winners are coming towards us...so let's run to the lane divider and cheer them on.  She would weave around those round metal bumps lane dividers and watched for familiar faces.  She saw her music teacher then her mom.  At the turn around, she said, "FINALLY!"  I noticed her shoe lace was untied and she was slowing down.  I asked if she's ever run 3 miles before to which she said, "No!"  She was such a trooper...she tried really hard to stay with me.  Whenever a boy would pass us, I'd say, "Don't let that boy beat you!"  Other adults passing would point to her un-tied shoes.  So to ease the minds of the adults, we stopped to tie her shoes.  That took at least 30 seconds, it was hard to untie a dead wet knot.  At mile 2, a little boy around the age of 6 was running with his dad passed us.  He was wearing a matching blue and black shirt, shorts and shoes, SO CUTE!!!  I could tell his dad was a runner...none of this wearing race cotton-T stuff.  Soon we passed them and I heard the little boy crying and saying: "I'm going to fall."  He didn't want to run any more.  So I ran back to hold his hand, while his dad held his other hand.  Together we ran and encouraged him.  He stopped crying and Jade was saying kind words to him.  With 50 meters to go I told him, we'll let go of the hands and it's up to him to run strong and fast to the finish.  I told him and Jade to raise their arms when they cross the finish.  I peeled off to get around the timing mat and high fived the kids.  Then I went back to look for Gracie.  So so so so proud of my daughter and granddaughter.  We were completely soaked from head to toes.  We waited freezingly for the rest of the girls to come in; then went inside the YMCA building to grab some refreshment.  Our shoes are still wet 2 days later! 

Larissa finished in 28:06, 11th out of 79 in her AG (30-39 female).  Jade finished in 30:55 13th in her AG (1-12 female).  There were 630 total finishers.  The overall winner was 18 yo male in 16:07.  The overall femaile winner was 16 yo in 18:24. 

It was a fun fun memorable run with my sweet daughter and granddaughter.  Later in the afternoon, Larissa and I went to the grand-opening of the Fleets Feet in Woodlands and got her a pair of running shoes.  Her friends came over and gave her a foam roller for her 33rd birthday (the next day 2/6).  :)