A 5K Day

Saturday was a racing day for the Houghton family. We started out bright (or should I say foggy) and early for the 5K Run in Palmer, MN. This run was a very special one, because it was one I ran with my dad. My dad took up running early this summer with the hope of running a race someday. Well, it didn't take long for him to get hooked (like the rest of us)... and before I knew it, he was calling me to tell me he was ready for a race.

The course was along Brigg's Lake and through the town of Palmer. We ran together the whole way and had a great cheering section. Mary and her dad, Mike and the kids, and Celina and her boys came to give their grandpa a winner's hug and high fives after he crossed the finish line. We shocked Mary when we crossed the finish line before her estimated finish time. He is already talking about running another one, so I know he enjoyed the experience. I think it's safe to say my dad is "following in my footsteps" on this one. We are all so proud of you dad!

After the race, we stayed in Palmer for some post-race fun. The kids enjoyed playing on the playground before lunch, we ate grilled food and yummy baked goods from the food tent, and then settled in for the afternoon parade. We left Palmer with bags full of candy, tired kids, and plans for another 5K event that evening...

Mike had been wanting to participate in the Quarry Park 5K scheduled for the same day, so after an hour of returning to Sartell, we laced up our shoes and headed back out for another run. The kids ran the 1K...Lilly competed in her first race and had a ball. Nolan really impressed us too. He passed several kids and even had a little kick left for the last stretch. Mike insisted I run it too, since this course was so different than other courses I've done before. It was an off road one... and beautiful at that. It was a trail run, which made it a little more difficult, but I enjoyed every minute of it and managed to finish 2nd in my age group and about 25th overall. Crazy Mike, pushed both kids in the double jogger stroller up hills, around corners, and over large rocks through the woods and came in 1st in his age group and 5th overall. Total ROCK-star!

We had a blast after this event too. Free pop and pizza, chair massages, silent auction, and health fair were all available to us. There were inflatables and carnival games set up for the kids, a musician playing on stage, and lots of prizes. Mike went home with a gift certificate to the Endurance Run Shop and Lilly won a gift certificate to Revolution Bike Shop (which also made Mike happy).

Everyone raced to bed when we got home...couldn't tell you who fell asleep "first". It was an active, fun, 5K day for the Houghton's that's for sure!