Dream List number ten. Host a race to Star Mound.
This race happened back in August, but I never got around to posting about it. I had scheduled the race for the end of July, but unfortunately, it was rainy, cold, and windy that day.
The new date, August 3rd, was windless, sunny, and just perfect.
The idea/dream to host this race began several years back. We can see Star Mound (a historic mound rising in the middle of the flat prairie land) from our house, the distance... about nine miles. I could see it each time I went out for a run, and hoped to run to it some day.
I also loved being on top of that hill. Up there is a school house, brought there and placed as a museum for anyone to come and visit. Picnics always taste the best when eaten at one of the picnic tables overlooking the fields and yards of the Manitoba prairies.
Then the idea. Why not host a race and raise money for Lighthouse Church?
Two years later, the idea became a reality.
I learned a LOT hosting this race. There are many things that could have been done better. But, overall... it was a blast, and we are hoping to make it an annual event.
The morning of a race, I was SO nervous.
I have run in a race before, and felt those pre-race jitters, but now I was feeling extra nervous because of the fact that I was also hosting this time!
We had two distances. The full distance, which was just over nine miles, and a five mile distance.
Ker got everyone set up at the five miles, while us nine milers went to our starting point. The "High Five Race" began at 9:00 sharp.
Why did we name it the "High Five Race"? It was my Dad's idea. :)
It's kind of my church's 'thing' to give high fives. Often during service our Pastor will ask us to give out high fives in the middle of a sermon. Since we were giving the money raised to missions, we were also kind of giving a 'high five' to the people that would benefit from it.
This picture was taken one mile down the road. Obviously I was still happy and not hurting. :)
As a matter of fact, I didn't have any pains (other than blisters and the usual leg fatigue) the whole race. Which was basically a miracle, since I had been experiencing a lot of what I think was nerve pain in my leg during training. It felt great, and my pace ended up being 9:04 m/m, which I was very happy with, especially since I was going so slow up that hill that I was almost walking. If it weren't for the hill, I would have managed to stay under 9 m/m.
My dad, brothers Josh, and Caleb, as well as Zach (on the unicycle) were the only ones going the full distance. There had been few others signed up that had to drop out due to injury and sickness.
I am thankful for my family. None of them enjoy running, but they ran (NINE MILES) just for me. I love them for it.
This guy. He did not train a single day, but he got a quarter of a mile ahead of me at the beginning and I could never catch up. He won by running/walking the whole way. He pushed me to go faster than I ever would have if I was in front... we have always been competitive like that. :)
Then there were the bikers. They had a whopping 18 miles to ride, and I was impressed at their time! It was more or less a last minute addition to do the bike race, and even though we only had two people racing, I was glad we added it. (and I hope they had fun ;)
Introducing... the winner of the five mile!
The final stretch was a HUGE hill. It was brutal, but it helped that we had a cheering squad to give us the mental boost we needed right before the hill.
Zach. Nine miles on a unicycle. I couldn't believe it when I saw him riding up that hill ahead of some of the runners. He did amazing.
We were so blessed to have the most amazing volunteers. This crew cruised around handing out waters, and high fives. A bit of encouragement goes a long way during a race!
At the end of the race, we had a picnic lunch.
Group picture! I was so proud of everyone who pushed themselves past their limits to finish this race. It was so much fun, and truly... a dream come true.
Thanks to Meg @phrazephotography for taking these pictures for me!!
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