Bellingham Bay Half Marathon

Back in January, I signed up for the Bellingham Bay Half Marathon and race day finally arrived! (I don't usually sign up for races that early...but they had a registration deal I couldn't pass up!!) Ben and Kelsey both ran it as well, so we turned the whole weekend into fun family time.

The race started at 9:00 and was a bit chilly...the thermometer in my car read 41* as I pulled out of the driveway! Thankfully the sun came out and the temperature was almost perfect by race time. Kels and I were hoping to finish in 1 hour, 45 minutes and we were both quite happy when we finished in less than that! 

Before I had actually started training for this run, I had decided that one of my running goals was to get back to the place where I could comfortably run 5 miles at an 8 min/mile pace. It's always a bit of a struggle to figure that out because sometimes I run by myself and other times I push both girls in the double stroller and we end up stopping multiple times to get snacks, to take off sweatshirts, to put on sweatshirts and to pick up items that have been thrown out of the stroller.  As the training progressed, I was happy with how it was going and was pretty confident that we could run all 13 miles at an 8 min/mile pace. A big thanks goes out to Kyle for pushing me out the door to go run somedays and for keeping me motivated along the way!!

Ready to Run! Hanging out pre-race.

 The race route...it's a beautiful course that winds its way through downtown and then heads out along the water! 

 Uncle Ben is in the middle with the blue shirt and the neon yellow socks/shoes

 Aaron (another good friend of Ben and Kelsey's) 

 We had to stop and give a high-five to our cheering crew! 

 And I think maybe Kelsey snuck in a little kiss from Mallory:)

Auntie Kim, Uncle Thane, Elias and Malachi were farther along the course so we had more fans along the way! It was a fun surprise when we came across them because we didn't know where they were going to be! 

 We followed the pacer for the first few miles...

and then by mile 5 we upped our pace and ran the last 8 miles a bit faster!

Uncle Ben, Auntie Kelsey, and Mallory after the race...

perhaps a future runner in the family?

Ben finished in 1:29 (ahead of his goal of 1:30) and Kelsey and I finished in 1:41! I think we were all happy with how the race went!

Afterwards, we headed back to Grandpa and Grandma's house for brunch and an afternoon of relaxing/cousin hangout time. 

 Grandpa with Haleigh and Malachi

 Haleigh got a hold of someone's phone!

 Grandma taught Elias and Annaliese how to play Hi-Ho, Cherry-O!

Apparently it's hard work playing all day...this little peanut didn't take a nap at all on Sunday and played hard all day long! She crashed the minute we got in the car to head home!