Pat's Run 2017

This past weekend Justin and I ran in the 13th annual Pat's Run benefitting the Pat Tillman Foundation. It was my 9th time running this race. Crazy! I never sought out to run it this many times but it just kind of happened and now I am committed. My mom came over early Saturday morning to watch the girls while they were still sleeping so we could head out to the race. I ran really well last year and I knew I was not going to be able to run that again but I still went out and did okay. A couple of my co workers also ran along with Justin's brother. Justin stayed back with me the whole run and I thought it would help but I actually think it was worse because I just complained to him the whole time about it being hot and the hills being so hard! It was not even close to my best time but it was also not close to my worst time either. Hopefully next year I am in a bit better running shape. They also changed up a few things for this year's run. For the first time ever, the route was reversed. That was weird. Also, they started a medal series so we got the 1st of 4 medals over the next 4 years. That was kind of cool because I have always wanted to do a medal series. This year they also introduced a beer garden after the race. I know it sounds weird to have a beer at 8 AM but it's free! That was fun. We got lots of fun swag at the expo after the run and then headed home to see the girls. All in all, it was another good year out at Pat's Run. See you next year!

There were 28,000 runners!

Me and one of my co workers in her first race!

Representing the Governor's Office

The start line and the finish!

pooped!

Post-Race Jamba and beers!

So proud of Jared for knocking out his first race, too!

Three Larkins!

See you next year!

Pat's Run 2015

This past Saturday I ran my 7th Pat Tillman Run! This year I ran along with Justin, my sister Kim and her husband Doug, and my two sister-in-laws, Carly and Stephanie. Everyone had run it before except for Kim and she was actually running in place of Katy who had surgery and couldn't run. Katy and my mom watched the babies so we could all run. I normally don't like such big events, but I have learned how to manage the big crowds and handle this event so I still like it. We lucked out for the 2nd year in a row and got cool overcast weather. It was still warm and sunny at points but not too bad. I wasn't putting any pressure on myself to finish at a certain time but I knew I had a chance of beating my best pats run time from 2013 and I did. Only by 23 seconds (4.2 miles in 34:40), but still I am very happy with that. I am getting faster each week. It feels like it has taken forever but I am getting there. When I was 7 months post-partum with Everly, I ran my worst ever Pat's run here. At 7.5 months post-partum with Aspen, it feels pretty good to have gotten my best time in this event mostly because I know I can get an even better time. Hopefully that happens next year! Last year when I ran at 21 weeks pregnant I felt like I had to pee the whole time (read here) so it was nice to run without that pressure, too! After the run we got some free promotional items and Justin took Everly into the Kids Zone to go on a bouncy slide before we left. Of course, getting her to leave after that caused a threenager meltdown and then she passed out in the car on the ride home, haha. Never a dull moment!

my pre-race fuel (banana with some natural PB)

 

In corral 2 of like 20 something corrals and Justin and Kim before the start.

 

Right at the start of the race

 

Kim finishing on the left and Steph and Carly after the race on the right.

After the run. I was pooped!

Everly being 3 and Aspen in the same Sparky onesie the Ev wore 3 years ago.

Me and Aspen on the left and Kim, Katy and the boys meeting the Chic Fil-A cow on the right.

Cam spinning the Wells Fargo prize wheel and Ev climbing the bouncy slide.

Ev sliding down the bouncy slide and passing out in the car after!