While watching the Pearblossom parade a few weekends ago we happened upon a table promoting the first annual Skeeter Run, a local run put together by some do-gooders to raise money to buy malaria nets for countries where the disease runs rampant. We are big fans of doing races and big fans of good causes, so we went home, checked out the website, and registered. It helped that a) registration was $10/person (the cost of a net) and b) it was a two mile walk (easy for everyone). Roland has done a bunch of races now, this is his sixth, but shorter races now that he likes walking sometimes seem like a good idea.
Mainland races start at 9:30. 9:30! I was getting up in the predawn dark to do races in Hawaii, and here I can almost wake up at a normal time. Awesome. Still cold during the race.
Though to call this a race would be generous. No numbers, no timer, no actual start or finish line, no real start. Just the race director giving instructions then saying, "Ok, go." Oh? Now? Ok.
Angela walked with the boy in the stroller and I ran off. We were given fly (mosquito) swatters and fake mosquitoes had been placed along the course to keep us busy. By the the we got to many of them they'd been swatted within an inch of their pipe-cleaner lives since there were kids sprinting out ahead and whacking bugs with all the force they could. *exploding pipe cleaner mosquito everywhere* Still, there were plenty hanging in the trees and Roland caught on quickly. I did the first mile at a run, and then when the course looped back on itself I caught up with Angela and walked the rest of the way with them. No reason to run the whole thing then wait alone.
The run ended with a lap of the host elementary school's track, so we pulled him out and let him walk it.
Fun morning. Fun run. Good cause.
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| Posing out with the Mosquito Lady |
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| Swatter at the ready |
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| Family Fun Run! |
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| Because he's adorable |
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| Someone brought a dog |
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| Dog must be petted |
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| Wearing his official race shirt |
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| Much dog. Many squee |
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| This is his race face |
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| Prepared to swat |
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| Swatting accomplished |
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| Race selfies are hard |
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| Taking the final 1/8 on his own |
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| Lean forward, off the forefoot! |
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| He's gaining on me! |
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| Momma walking backwards to keep him on track (get it?) |
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| Whacking other racers for motivational purposes |
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| The final straightaway |
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| And across the line! |
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| Hail Hydration |
