Runner's World Hat Trick, 2015

  I have vowed for years that I would never run a full marathon.  I signed up for the Runner's World Hat Trick thinking that this would be the longest distance I would ever run in a weekend.  The Hat Trick is comprised of a 5K (3.1 miles), an hour off, a 10K (6.2 miles), an evening off, and then a half marathon (13.1 miles) = 22.4 total miles in one weekend.  As I was standing at the starting line for the 5K, a very nice man from Boulder, Colorado told me that when I finished the half marathon Sunday morning I would want to take on a full marathon.  I told him possibly.  I now stand by my original sentence - I will NEVER run a full marathon.  My body and mind are just not made for that.  However, I did complete the Hat Trick (and ran the whole time -- that was my only goal!) and am proud of my 34 year old mother of twins body!

 The festival started out with a Kids Run on Friday night.  The twins were super excited about the race.  They were a little nervous but got into the spirit of it during the last leg of the race!

Cameron says, "Soo....you want to put that bib thing over my Transformer insignia?  I don't think so, woman!"

This will work.

Hitting the runner's high!

Go, Allie, go!!!

Race over!!  Must re-hydrate!

Very proud!

Stretch it out!

"I am a beast!"

"Me too!"

"I guess I should get back to saving the world from Decepticons."

Not sure if the architect who designed these at the Steels Stacks intended for them to be used as a slide....

....but use them as a slide we did!

 Saturday morning dawned beautiful and bright...and cold!!

Finishing up the 10K....I was 9.3 miles in and still smiling!

I now know why my children like coming to watch me run in races....the post-race food!

What a beautiful transformation!

 So in the midst of all of this running, we got invited to a Halloween party.  Super fun!

If you were wondering, yes Cameron took the costume off for bedtime and bath time...

Looking at this picture you would have thought the twinjas were the ones who ran in 2 races earlier in the day!

 I was back at it Sunday morning for the Half-Marathon.  This course was VERY, VERY challenging.  So many hills....Around mile 7 all I could think about was FOOD.  I have never been this hungry during a race before.  Miraculously a man appeared at mile 8 who was handing out Twizzlers.  I went to grab one, dropped it, stopped, ran back for it, and thanked him profusely.
 When I finally crossed the finish line, I cried.  I have never cried when finishing a race before.  I cried for many reasons:  my calves were burning so badly, I was starving, and I had just finished something I trained for over the past 4 months.  I was proud.

Showing off my three medals...

Done!  Now give me some bacon.