Family race weekend

One thing is for certain, I've definitely gotten to practice my spectating skills over the past year! This weekend was the Army Ten Miler, and my brother decided earlier this year that he'd like to take the leap into longer-distance running so we all signed up.  Stuart, Brad, Erin and a few other friends were all ready (more or less) for Sunday's race.  Brad's girlfriend Millie and I were on cheerleader detail.

Despite much protestation in the day or two before the event from Brad (along the lines of "well, SOMEONE has to finish last, right"), unsurprisingly they all did great! Despite nagging aches and pains, Stuart and Erin finished in 1:33 and 1:30 respectively.  Stuart stuck with Brad for the first six  miles before kicking it into gear, and Brad finished in an awesome first-time time of 1:47...much faster than his projected 2hr+ time.

Meanwhile, Millie got to experience the hard work of cheering for a crowd of 30,000 athletes.  I mean, if you're going to stand there for 2hrs, why just cheer for the 10 seconds that you see your loved ones.  So a million cheers and "looking strong"s and "there's better at the finish line" yells  to anyone I could -- DC Tri Clubbers, anyone with their names or colleges or military units printed on their shirts, wheelchair athletes, and the random people I knew and happend to be in the race including a sorority sister I haven't seen in 8yrs (Go Kappa!), a Girls on the Run mom and a former client.

Now it's time to get excited, though...my race season ISN'T over!! Next Sunday Stuart, Erin, Baby M and I will be toeing the line at the Boo! 10K in Washington.  Is there a special division for pregnant women...maybe I can win an award this time! As for Brad, he was moving a little slowly this morning as we took him to the airport...but I know there's a triathlon waiting somewhere inside his soul.  Give it time.  In the mean time, he and Stuart bonded over some brother-in-law naps that afternoon!