26.2

This last weekend we traveled down to Newport, Oregon to run what would be Aaron's 4th marathon. Granted it had been more than 13 years since his previous marathon but Logan, 1/4 of the DitWills, convinced Aaron to sign up along with his brother Brent and his wife Deena. The weather in Newport was perfect, the company was great and the scenery was beautiful.



We got up around at 5:45am so we could be ready to leave at 6:20am. We walked to the start and the race began at 7am sharp. Off they ran.

We caught them again about 2 miles into the race when they looped around near our hotel. Logan is in the blue and Brent is in the red. Deena was not far behind.

Lucas, Jonah and I strolled back to the hotel, had a hot breakfast of waffles and fruit, and watched a little TV. The boys wrestled while I dried my hair.


And they were still running.

We showered for the day, got dressed and cleaned up the room. Lucas packed up the car for me and I checked out of the hotel. We drove to the rental house to catch up with Julia and their kiddos.

They were still running.

Julia and I chatted about her new calling and my dining room renovation, played with the kids, chatted some more and ate some chocolate.

And they were still running.

We rounded up the kids, crammed the strollers into the cars, packed snacks and drinks for the finish line and then we drove off to figure out where this finish line was.

And yes, they were still running.

We parked, packed the six kids into strollers and back packs, hiked the quarter mile to the finish and then sat and still waited for 45 minutes before our first runner came down the hill.

Logan came, then Brent, then Aaron and then Deena.

So proud of them!

Aaron wore the first race t-shirt he ever got (though he didn't even run in that race - he was a volunteer) from November 23, 1989. This 21 year old relic has been with him on every marathon. He was extermely proud that he must've been wearing the oldest piece of clothing in the race.

Running a marathon has always been on my life list, something I've always wanted do just to be able to say I did it. But after seeing the runners this weekend (before, after and during the race), I had a realization. I don't like running. I get bored and running gets tedious. And I have never felt what people call a "runner's high." So I really don't want to run a marathon. With the months of training let alone the grueling actual event that makes you want to die... No, I am self actualized enough to just prematurely check that one off my list and not feel guilty in the least. Life is too short and I am comfortable in the fact that my boots were made for walking, not running.

But my lack of desire to run makes me all the more proud of my running fool.