I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again.  Memorial Day is the best running day of the year in Boulder, CO.  And this year it was made even better because Halle ran her first 10k.  We had been training once or twice a week (plus soccer) for about 3 months.  She did the Run to the Rock 5k with her dad in April, and then we built up her mileage a little more so she could run BB10k.  Training was often tough—there were some tears, lots of talks about mental toughness, and giving it your all, but I am so glad we did it.  Halle was so proud of this big accomplishment, and race day was just perfect.  There is no better venue to run your first distance race.  All the bands, dancers, Doritos, slip and slides, gummy worms, etc….provide much needed distractions and made the miles fly by. 

Crossing the finish line together was a moment I’ll never forget.  Halle had the biggest grin and I was one proud mama! 

    Nat and Michael and kids came out to visit and run with us.  Of course, Rusty caught a little stomach bug the day they arrived, and he passed it to Michael.  I think it’s safe to say it wasn’t his finest 10k, after not eating for 2 days, but he and Nat made it through and had fun.  We did a kid swap—Nat and Michael ran early and then Rusty dropped the kids at the stadium to them and then he started in a late wave.  The kids all had fun eating popsicles at the expo and watching the skydivers and the jets fly by.  It was pretty hot, and a long morning for them, but they did great.  Blake had to share his birthday with the Bolder Boulder, and he wasn’t too thrilled about it.  He woke up at 6am in excitement, only to be told he couldn’t open presents until after the race, and so he zonked out during the Memorial Day Program.  Jen and I had the chance to totally geek out during the pro race.  Some of our American Favorites were running, and we stood at the fence and screamed out lungs out as Shalane Flanagan went whizzing by.  It was so fun to be so near all those world class athletes.  While we were waiting for the pros to make their way to the stadium we watched the final civilian racers cross the finish line.  We saw lots of old couples, and one very old man cross.  We promised each other that when we are 70 we will come back and walk the BB10k together and reminisce about the glory days 🙂
On this day I am always so proud to be an American and so grateful for those men and women and their families who sacrifice so much for the freedoms we enjoy.  God Bless America!