The Lanksters: October - The Ironhorse Half Marathon, Run Like Hell, Pumpkin Patch, and Halloween

I participated in my first half marathon this year at the Ironhorse Half Marathon in Midway, Kentucky. Gretchen Brown Macy and Emily Venters Coomes (friends from high school and college) saw my posts about running the Bluegrass 10K and convinced me to give it a shot with them. So I signed up and instantly felt sick to my stomach! The training was very difficult - not only because I had never run 13.1 miles before much less trained to the extent that running a half marathon required - but because I had a slew of injuries along the way. Two weeks into training I threw out my back and had to take two weeks off from training. Then I hurt my IT band and started experiencing hip issues. I ended up at weekly chiropractor visits in an attempt to keep my body going to finish the training, but three weeks before the race I was in so much pain from my IT band and so emotionally spent from the death of a friend that I had to quit training and frankly decided to give up because it wasn't meant to be. But anyone who knows me knows that I did not handle that very well - quitting just ate at me because I hate to give up after so much effort. So the day of the race I decided to give it a shot and promised myself that I would run just half of it. Jeremy ended up going with me for support (kudos to him for enduring the saga that got me there - trust me, it was harder on him than it was on me) but I didn't invite anyone else because I really didn't have much confidence that I could do even half the race. But I ended up finishing all 13.1 miles. My time wasn't great - a little over 2 1/2 hours - but considering I had to walk the last 3 miles because my hip, IT band, and now foot hurt so much, I don't think that is too shabby. It was an incredible feeling to finish that race and I have to say that the run was so incredibly beautiful. It was a perfect fall day in Kentucky to run through horse country - the horses could feel the excitement and ran with us. At the risk of sounding cheesy, the experience at times was very spiritual for me. I kept thanking God along the way that He had given me the physical ability to attempt this and the courage to go through with it despite the odds. An experience I hope to repeat, but for now I am going to have to do a little rehab to get my body up to speed - my age is catching up with me!

Just out of the starting gate!

An absolutely beautiful fall morning in Kentucky!

This is the halfway point. Don't look too close - you may see a look of agony on my face.

Preparing to cross the finish line!

I am done!

Emily and I post-race. Gretchen had to leave early, so she missed the picture!

My medal and bib number :)

Jeremy and I also ran in the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's Run Like Hell 5K this year with Scott McConnell. It was so much fun! We dressed as minions from the movie Despicable Me and our costume was so popular! But the best part of the night was when the drunk lady at Mellow Mushroom joined our table - a very interesting conversation and awkward experience!

Just a few fall pictures of my beautiful girls.

Olivia dressed up as lawyer for career day at school - just like her mommy :)

It was a little brisk at the pumpkin patch, but we managed to pick out our pumpkins all the same.

The girls picked out some difficult templates for Daddy to carve into their pumpkins this year. I have to say that I was really impressed with the final result - Daddy is pretty amazing!

They are not big fans of the gutting process.

The finished product!

Olivia dressed up as Captain America for Halloween this year - this girl loves superheroes!

Lilly wanted to be a "zombie wrapped in toilet paper" a/k/a mummy. Bobbie made the costume for her and it was so amazing that Lilly was terrified to put it on. It took a lot of coaxing to get her into the costume but we finally managed it and the result was adorable. Here she is striking a mummy pose. Cutest mummy I have ever seen!

Trick or treat was cancelled on Halloween due to bad weather and rescheduled for the day after, so we spent Halloween at Laura and Mac's house for a Halloween party. Laura put together an amazing party (she is a Pinterest queen!) and the kids had a blast with Lola, Charlotte, Anna Claire, Charlie, William and Larkin!