What an exhilarating morning of cheering, running, celebrating, and getting drenched!  With over 8,000 participants, downtown Austin was buzzing with excitement, live music, and some pumped runners.  Our friend, Chris, indicated last Friday that he wanted to run in the 10k, and because I was unable to run the race, it worked out perfectly for him to use my registration.  So we met Chris, Jill and the kiddos, who were real sleepy-eyed troopers being forced to wake up earlier than usual, at the race.  I was the honoree "gimp girl", but surprisingly, it led to some wonderful conversations with people that I would not have had otherwise.  As people were stretching, warming up, looking like classic runners who knew what they were doing, I felt a little out of place until one kind lady walked up to me and said, "Both me and my daughter feel your pain; we've both been where you are, dear."  Bless her!  And as we hung around the race more, there were a couple other ladies wearing the same black boot, which by the way, was voted by two people (one by phone and one by comment) to be nicknamed "Darth Vader", or "Vader"! 

It was thrilling to watch the thousands of people line up.  I kissed my hubby and sent him on his way!  Jill and I got to see our friends, Aron and Janna, as well; they were running with their twin girls.  As soon as the race officially started, the rain came down.  It would stop every now and then, but basically, we were all drenched!  Jill and I ventured toward the finish line to start looking for our husbands.  The first runner came down 1st Street haulin' it; I think he finished under 30 minutes.  Cheering, Jill, Harrison, Haddie (in the stroller) and I stood planted, peering as hard as we could through the chain link fence to watch for our runners.  As more and more people started heading toward the finish line, the more exciting it got, and the harder it rained.  I kept drying my eyes with my shirt so I could see more clearly.  One hour into the race, my beloved came around the corner!  He looked so good!  He ran his best time and oh, I was likely a crazy woman cheering for him!  And Chris finished shortly thereafter.  Harrison's precious cheers would melt anyone's heart.

Waiting for our husbands to clear the crowds at the finish line, Jill and I watched Harrison delight in playing in the water puddles, "splishing" and splashing.  And then, I saw Matt!  Never do I kiss him when he's sweaty, but because it was raining, I thought he would be less sweaty and more wet because of the rain.  So I planted a big one him, only to taste salt!  Although surprised by this unwelcomed taste, even had I known he was salty with sweat, today would have been an exception to giving him a smacker because I was so proud of and excited for him! 

Way to go, Matt & Chris!

I've already been on the website for Runtex to see what upcoming races there are that hopefully I can participate in as well.  Until then, you'll be catching me wear Vader.

My Runner

Meg & "Vader"

Go Guys!

The very back of the starting line--see the capitol in the distance?

Jill, Meg & H

Harrison splishing and splashing

At the finish line