I don’t even know where to begin.
The last time I blogged, I blogged about my period. That was a long, long time ago. I wish there was a way for me to show you what I’ve been up to since then, like in a comic book or something, I mean, could I really have been too busy for blogging?
Oh my word, yes. 
Saturday was the 5K Run and Family Fun Walk that my two amazing friends and myself put on for our local Friends of Heroes Light The Night team, which meant that after Wednesday was crunch time as far as preparation goes. I can only be so grateful that Lynette, Misti and I are very, very organized individuals so there was no last minute craziness going on that we created due to disorganization. Before I go on, the children also started school on Thursday and Friday and I had a migraine on Thursday, which did not stop me from doing anything, it just almost killed me. Thank God for Imotrex.
But something did happen that we could not have planned.
Like rain.
And more rain.
And rain some more.
It rained more this month, than any other month. Ever. Not more rain than any month this year, not a record breaking August. Just more rain ever. Record Wettest Month is what the Weather Channel is calling it. That’s all. So on Friday afternoon when Misti called me to tell me the 5K location (the location name is Coffee Creek, please note the word creek, if you will.) called her to inform her that the trails were "knee deep" in water and getting to the pavilion would be impossible, the pavilion where registration and activity time with Gymboree were to be held, well, it shook me up. We were off to the location to re-route the course. Luck of all Luck, Lynette is the trail Wizard. Wizard I tell you! Because it only took about EIGHT hours to create and measure a new route and make sure it was right. Had it been Misti or myself we would probably would have asked them to run back and forth in front of the pavilion for 3.1 miles. We would have asked nicely.
While we were at the event location on Friday, the sun came out and it was beautiful and gave me hope for a beautiful and dry event. Y’all, in the end, if it were to rain at the event, I thought I was going to die. It didn’t rain all night long and when I woke up on Saturday at 4:35 am, it still hadn’t rained. The race was scheduled for 8 am, certainly it would stay dry until then.
Then I looked at the radar. And it was green, so very green.
And this is what it looked like at 8:01, one minute after we announced our rain delay to the runners.
We had volunteers on the course who yell out times at mile markers and also a volunteer to direct traffic, not to mention volunteers on the course who distribute water to the runners.
They did not have umbrellas in this downpour, so Lynette was running to give them some umbrellas.
Nice girl that she is. And I took pictures of her while under the pavilion, cause pictures are very important, don’t you know?
We began the race shortly after this picture because it let up and everyone there had a "we better go now" type of attitude. So they did. And it was awesome.
See. Runners. Go.
This was a glorious sight to me. Yes, in the rain, runners still came out and family fun walkers still came out. The DJ was still there, we still had great (free!) food and great (free!) drinks, Gymboree still came out and organized activity time with the children and we still raised money. And when I think about all of the volunteers that came out at SIX IN THE MORNING on a Saturday, well, my heart can hardly take it.
I love this event, even with the rain. (but I’m not going to lie to you, I am too often thinking about about many people WOULD have attended had it, you know, NOT RAINED.)
I totally can’t wait until next year.
__________________
By the way, although you weren’t able to attend, you can still support this cause and enter to win a chance to win one of these custom bags, just go here for details. The contest ends on Thursday!
Congratulations on your success. Sorry about the rain. I can empathize as I am sure my entire family was on the verge of sprouting gills from living under water for so long! Mercifully, the sun has made its return today — at least for the moment.
Congratulations on your success. Sorry about the rain. I can empathize as I am sure my entire family was on the verge of sprouting gills from living under water for so long! Mercifully, the sun has made its return today — at least for the moment.
I am so sorry we had to miss it! I just couldn’t take any more of the rain either!
Steph
I am so sorry we had to miss it! I just couldn’t take any more of the rain either!
Steph
Looks like you all seriously stuck it out…way to go.
And, I have given you an award at my blog. You may already have it, but I thought you deserved it again!
Looks like you all seriously stuck it out…way to go.
And, I have given you an award at my blog. You may already have it, but I thought you deserved it again!
All those runners even in the rain! It is a glorious sight, yes it is.
All those runners even in the rain! It is a glorious sight, yes it is.
It looks like the race was a success, despite the rain! CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Will you be able to take a short breather after this?
It looks like the race was a success, despite the rain! CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Will you be able to take a short breather after this?
This was such an amazing time and Beth, you have been a great inspiration with your positive attitude and your crazy ability to multi-task. Great re-cap post. Couldn’t have said it better myself!
This was such an amazing time and Beth, you have been a great inspiration with your positive attitude and your crazy ability to multi-task. Great re-cap post. Couldn’t have said it better myself!
Next year, I will totally plan to be in state if I’m in the country. I would LOVE to do this race, and if it weren’t for half the country separating us, I would have totally been there this year too! You are totally awesome!
Next year, I will totally plan to be in state if I’m in the country. I would LOVE to do this race, and if it weren’t for half the country separating us, I would have totally been there this year too! You are totally awesome!
I had a huge smile reading this post, just knowing all that you’ve gone through to make this happen and that you did not let the rain dampen your spirits or determination.
Awesome, awesome job!
I had a huge smile reading this post, just knowing all that you’ve gone through to make this happen and that you did not let the rain dampen your spirits or determination.
Awesome, awesome job!
Hi! I’m here from Shan’s blog taking a look around.
Hi! I’m here from Shan’s blog taking a look around.
I am so glad that the race was still on!! It hadn’t rained here practically ALL SUMMER LONG, and then it rained for our first day on the prairie. Funny how things like that work!
Way to go–you are doing great things for a great cause!!
I am so glad that the race was still on!! It hadn’t rained here practically ALL SUMMER LONG, and then it rained for our first day on the prairie. Funny how things like that work!
Way to go–you are doing great things for a great cause!!
Bummer about the ran, but you had RUNNERS and WALKERS!!! This was only the first year. I can’t wait to hear how much you made on the event! Congratulations to you, Lynnette and Misti for putting it all together!
Bummer about the ran, but you had RUNNERS and WALKERS!!! This was only the first year. I can’t wait to hear how much you made on the event! Congratulations to you, Lynnette and Misti for putting it all together!
Bummer about the rain, but you had RUNNERS and WALKERS!!! This was only the first year. I can’t wait to hear how much you made on the event! Congratulations to you, Lynnette and Misti for putting it all together!
Bummer about the rain, but you had RUNNERS and WALKERS!!! This was only the first year. I can’t wait to hear how much you made on the event! Congratulations to you, Lynnette and Misti for putting it all together!
Sorry it posted twice. The second one has the correction. I should really proof first. I meant to say bummer about the rain!
Sorry it posted twice. The second one has the correction. I should really proof first. I meant to say bummer about the rain!
Aw, sweetie, I was thinking of you as we were still trying to dry out the basement and re-position the downspouts after the FOURTH flooding/leaking in the last 2 weeks! Glad all went as well as possible!
Aw, sweetie, I was thinking of you as we were still trying to dry out the basement and re-position the downspouts after the FOURTH flooding/leaking in the last 2 weeks! Glad all went as well as possible!
What an AWESOME job you guys did. Your 5k runners laughed the rain right in the face!
So proud of you.
What an AWESOME job you guys did. Your 5k runners laughed the rain right in the face!
So proud of you.
My whole family had a blast, and we are SO proud of you and the way you do-what-you-do! Countless families have been touched by your love and determination. Hugs to you and your team of volunteers! ~JH
My whole family had a blast, and we are SO proud of you and the way you do-what-you-do! Countless families have been touched by your love and determination. Hugs to you and your team of volunteers! ~JH
Weird, funny…I can’t remember how I cam across your blog, but i have been lurking here for a little while. Then I read this post and realized that I was there at the 5K! Well, not really because I didn’t even know that it was going on, but I planned a 13 mile run for that Sat. morning that took me through Coffee Creek. Suddenly when I got to the pavilion I noticed that there was supposed to be a race there – but me, already being 8 miles into my run, didn’t stop except to use the bathroom. So, if you saw some crazy wet, muddy lady running through at say 7:15 or so, that would have been me.
Weird, funny…I can’t remember how I cam across your blog, but i have been lurking here for a little while. Then I read this post and realized that I was there at the 5K! Well, not really because I didn’t even know that it was going on, but I planned a 13 mile run for that Sat. morning that took me through Coffee Creek. Suddenly when I got to the pavilion I noticed that there was supposed to be a race there – but me, already being 8 miles into my run, didn’t stop except to use the bathroom. So, if you saw some crazy wet, muddy lady running through at say 7:15 or so, that would have been me.