Cameron and I have been coming to this race for the past 4 years if you include this one. This year we decided to sign up the entire family.
It is a fun but challenging race with a couple of long and hard hills. The other challenge is this race starts at night - the past years they said 9:00 but it would always start an hr and a half late. This year they decided to start it at 10:00 p.m. It started only a half an hour late. They have to wait until all the shops are closed and all the day time guests have left the parking lot - it is part of the course.
Creed got really excited to begin with but when he saw all the Christmas lights he could hardly contain himself. I must say, I believe in celebrating Thanksgiving before even thinking about Christmas, so running through the Christmas lights is like going against the grain for me. But we love the race. If you really run the race hard, you don't see the lights, they are just a blur to the pain and torture you are putting yourself through .
There were 1500 registered but not everyone shows up for the race.
Waiting to start in the alley. This was Creed's and Cody's first 5K. Cody kept his cool but you could tell he was a bit anxious. He denies being a runner but he can run. I think he could be a good one if he really wanted too. He is good at ignoring the pain of running and just keeps going. Come on Cody - next year you could be on the Jr. High X-Country Team...just think of the meets Cameron, yourself and I would be going to...you could miss school. :)
Creed running backwards
Creed was my running partner for the race. 1. I offered and 2. I was not ready for a 5K since I have only been running, ah maybe, once a week. So we were a perfect match.
While we were waiting to start:
Creed: "I can't wait to pass a bunch of people!"
After we start and have run about 200 yards:
Creed: "HEY, all these people are passing us!"
Me: "They are all grown ups, its okay."
Creed: "Oh, okay."
When you first start the race you run down, down and more down so you can torture yourself coming back up. I told Creed to let the hills take him that first big hill.
Me: "Here comes a down hill."
Creed" "YES!"
Going down the hill:
Creed: "Just let the hill take you Mom."
Every down hill after the first one he would tell me that.
He ran a lot longer than I thought before he was ready to walk. He would see a security guard and say "Hey!" and wave. A kid would pass us and he would say, "I am ready to run now."
As the race went on, about 1/2 way:
Creed: "When we get home I am going right to bed, I will take a shower tomorrow."
Me: "Oh, here comes a big uphill."
Creed: "YES!"
Me: "I thought you were a down hill runner."
Creed: "I am a down hill runner AND an up hill runner!"
Creed: "Can I charge up that hill."
Me: "Creed, look at how it turns and goes WAY up there."
Creed: "Darn! Well I will just charge up that short part."
Me: "Okay."
Creed: "Meet you up there!" Then he takes off.
He stays cheerful the entire time. Waves at people. I had to tell him a few times not to run backwards. As I looked around I saw some college guys running next to us and I I thought, "You can't beat this 6 1/2 year old...seriously?" Okay, that probably wasn't nice.
Creed: "My legs are getting tired and my feet hurt."
Me: "I will give you a rub down when we are done."
Creed (smiles): "Okay, you can give me a rub down when we finish!"
We walk more once we get into the park.
Creed: "Can we ride the rides tonight?"
Me: "No they are closed."
Creed: "Darn!"
Creed: "Remember that ride, I kept going up and up when I was pushing that button?"
(How does he remember that, it was like 2 1/2 years ago I think especially while running a long race like this).
At the end there this very steep hill that makes you want to puke your guts out because it is around 100 yards from the finish so you are tired.
Me: "Okay Creed, there is a really big hill that is kind of hard, you ready."
Creed: "Can I charge up it?"
Me: "If you want." (thinking he will never make it up the entire hill charging after we have been running for 38 + minutes.)
"Creed: "Meet you at the top!"
Me: "Okay."
Sure enough he charged up the hill to the top - I was huffing and puffing keeping up with him. I held his hand at the end because I could tell he was almost done for after that...we kept jogging and then he did a mini sprint to the finish line. Our time was around 40 + I would guess.
When he saw Barry he said, "Dad! I charged up that big hill just like a LION!"
After about 10 minutes his legs really started to hurt and he got a few tears in his eyes. Barry rubbed them and he was all better. Hot Chocolate and cookies also helped. What a trooper.
I don't know why I am so surprised, Creed has more energy than I don't know what...
We don't know any times yet. They have not been posted. Cameron really had a goal in mind and we are so anxious to see his time. He finished w/ in the top 20 we think. Not too shabby. Cody broke a 30 we are pretty sure. Barry and Sierra were probably around 32 - 35 min. I guess you will just have to stay tuned....
