Swamp Run '11

This morning, we all participated in the annual Okefenokee Swamp Run. Unlike the last two years, the race was actually held at the Okefenokee Swamp Park instead of at Laura Walker Park this year. I must say, I missed Laura Walker. The 10K trail this year was extremely tough. I had more difficulty with this race then I did with the Gate River 15K- and that race ended with a bridge! The problem was that four of the six miles were run on a dirt road, and the dirt was not packed down. It was like trying to run through the thick, loose sand that you find at the beach (not the kind close to the water). All of the runners had trouble with the course. I ended up with a time of 55:42, which is exactly a minute slower than last year. I'm lucky that I didn't lose more than a minute because I was really struggling. Even though I disliked the course, there were some positives about having the race at the swamp park. One perk was that all runners got free admission into the park. So while I was out stomping through the sand, Brian took the kids to look at the gators. This kept them occupied until it was their turn to race.

Once my race was complete, it was time for the 1-mile to begin. Like last year, Brian ran with Olivia and I ran with Owen. The kids did great this year. Other parents with small children had to pick their kids up and carry them, but Brian and I didn't do that. If the kids get tired, we try to teach them to slow the pace or walk because that's what they'll have to do in a couple of years when they're running alone. Olivia did really well and finished right around the 15 minute mark. Owen finished at about 17:30. The big news, though, is that for the first time in three years we didn't finish last. Don't get me wrong- we were very close to the end, but we weren't last. Yay- progress! Both kids received finisher medals for completing the race. They are really building a nice little collection of these.

Even though I hadn't run as well as I would have liked, I ended up placing second in my age division. The medals this year were really cute. So, I'm happy to report another successful year at the Swamp Run. I look forward to next year, and cross my fingers that they will change the course.

Owen 3rd Birthday Party

Three years ago, my precious Owen came into the world. From day one, he was such a sweet and easy-going boy. He somehow managed to totally evade the "terrible two's". (Olivia's terrible 2's was probably enough to make up for it, though). Owen has really been a blessing to our family. We celebrated Owen's birthday this weekend with a Mickey Mouse-themed party. We were so happy to have many of our family members attend. We kept the party really low-key, and it turned out nice. We all gathered, ate pizza, had cake and ice cream, opened gifts, and then let the kids play outside. My Aunt Connie and Uncle Mike were visiting from Delaware, so they got to come. It was especially nice to have them there. When it came time to open gifts, Owen did the cutest thing. Someone would tell him who the gift was from and then he would carry the gift to that person and let them help him open it. I don't know where he got the idea to do this, but it was sweet. Owen got so many nice things- including a Wizard of Oz pop-up book from Aunt Sherrie (which both he and Olivia LOVE), a Buzz Lightyear toy and pillowcase, much-needed swim attire and new shirts, and lots of fun toys. His gift from Brian and I was a hot-wheels set and some cars to go with it. We weren't sure how well he'd like the cars, but I'm pleased to say that they were a hit. After opening gifts, we all went outside and let the kids play. Brian blew up the bouncy house, and we moved the playhouse to the front yard. There were also bikes, scooters, and sports equipment. One of the highlights for everyone was watching Ava smack the tee-ball around. That girl is a natural- and she gets bonus points for hitting every member of the Dowling family with the ball. Thank goodness it was only a tee-ball. Below are some random pictures from the party.

Gate River Run 2011

For the second year in a row, Anna, Krystial, and I ran the Gate River Run 15K- the national 15K Championship. A 15K is equivalent to 9.3 miles. This race is AWESOME, and it is the highlight of my spring running season. I was a seeded runner this year, but I was not able to start with my group. The traffic was terrible and we barely made it to the starting line at all. I guess that's what happens when the field of 15K runners is almost 17,000 (not counting 5K runners and spectators). Due to the late arrival, I had to start near the back of the pack and I spent the first couple of miles weaving in and out of walkers and slower runners. Even though the start was shaky, I still did pretty well. I didn't even have much trouble with the bridge at mile 9 this year. I'm glad I did the Sidney Lanier run a couple of weekends ago. Next to it, the bridges on the Gate River Run look like kiddy toys. I ended up with a time of 1:28:18. That's more than 3 minutes faster than I finished last year. This time put me in the top third of women in my age division and in the top half of all runners who actually finished the race. I will also qualify to be seeded in the "orange" section next year- which is better than the "black" section that I was seeded in this year. Who knows- maybe next year I'll actually show up in time to take advantage of the seed. Above is a picture of the starting line. Can you see me? I'm the little speck in the back of the photo. Below are pictures of me, Anna, and Krystial after the race. For some reason, we just couldn't all be in the same place at the same time for a group picture this year.

98 and Counting

Today we celebrated my Granny Moore's 98th birthday. To be clear, this is my great-grandmother (Owen and Olivia's great-great-grandma). Each year, there is a big party at Granny's house and tons of people come to eat and to wish Granny another year of health and happiness. The well-wishes must be working, because Granny is doing very well. She still lives at home and gets around fairly well. I only hope that I'm doing this well when I'm 98 (crossing fingers). Although the birthday party is an annual thing, we don't always take pictures. We did this year, though, and so I have posted a few. There is one with Granny Moore and her four children (Granny Buie is the oldest), and there is another of Granny and all of the grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren that were in attendance. Of course some couldn't make it to the party, but the ones who did sure enjoyed themselves.

Pierce County Fund Run

This morning, the kids and I participated in the first annual Pierce County Rec Dept. Fund Run. The kids did the one mile run and then Gigi and Papa watched them while I did the 5K. I am so proud of how well they ran. Both kids went the whole way by themselves, and they did actually run most of the time. Of course we weren't very fast and we ended up dead last- but it was a lot of fun. The kids both received medals at the finish line.

The 5K began in City Park. As a side not- I run four to five times a week in Blackshear, and City Park is part of the training course that I've created for myself. When the race began, I discovered that the entire course looked familiar- the race was run on my personal training course. Talk about me having an advantage! I ended up with a new personal best time of 25.30, and finished second in my age group. Next weekend is the Gate River Run- the national 15K championship. It was good to have my last race before "the big one" be on familiar turf.

Super Dolphin 2011

I have been running pretty consistently for a little over two years now, and I'm beginning to develop a list of races that I like doing every year. The Super Dolphin Day Race is one of those. The course is great because it's flat and runs near a beach. I participated in this race last weekend with Krystial (and Bryce). I ended up with a time of 25.46, and received the first place medal for my age group.

An Awesome Decade

Today marks ten years that Brian and I have been married. I woke up this morning to find a dozen roses and two CDs on my computer. I didn't get a chance to look at the CDs before work, so when I got home, I loaded them. Guess what Brian had done- he had taken ALL of the negatives from our wedding and had them put on CDs so that I would have a digital copy. That's two CDs full of pictures. Since we purchased our negatives from the photographer years ago, we have access to every single picture that he took. There were some photos on the CD that I didn't even have in my wedding album. What a great gift! I am posting a few of my favorites here for everyone to see.





This one is great. I look so young. And Brian has hair!









This one is another favorite. It is a picture of Walker / Buie / Quarnaccio family. It's not very often that everyone is together like this...

...And the same can be for this picture. This is the Sanders / Ford clan. Doesn't everyone look so nice?

Here is a picture that I forgot we had, but it is officially my new favorite. All of my grandparents look so spiffy!

Here are the my lovely bridesmaids in their "rainbow" dresses...

...and the handsome groomsmen in their tuxedos.

It has been so much fun to look back over the old wedding photos. I must say, that this has been an awesome decade. I could not have picked a better husband and father. I cherish every moment that we have had thusfar, and I look forward to many, many more years together.