Runners High & 100 Bucks

Post Race Pic-- Me, Ryan & one very ready to get out of the stinkin' cold, Max
I've often heard others describe runners as a "different breed" or just plain "crazy". I often dismissed the remarks as I considered myself somewhat of a runner and thought, "I'm not one of those runners". Then I met the Loveless' several years ago. Then I married one and witnessed obsession first hand during their marathon training and it all started to make sense. Still I never considered myself one of those crazed obsessed runners. You wouldn't find me in sub-zero or 100+ temps getting in my miles. I have my limits.Grandpa, Grandma, & Jeff wait out the cold for the prize give-away

Saturday was another Loveless Family tradition--the Nestle 5K in Springville. Last year it was blazin' hot. This year it was about 40 degrees and raining. As we were parking in the rain, I was watching all these crazy runners warming up in the rain...for a little 5K no less! I thought to myself "these people are crazy" followed by a very quick after thought "and I am one of them." That's right. We bundled Max up in the jogger, put the rain shield on, handed him off to the grandparents (who walk with the babies every year), and Ryan and I jogged on over to the starting line with beads of rain pelting our face...at 7:30 am no doubt! I did hear voices saying over and over again "Why are you doing this when you have the comfort of a treadmill at home?" But there's just something about the race vs. a run. I guess I know why people are crazed with running and racing. It's the high that you get when you push yourself, when you train, and when you are sprinting those first 100 m with about 2000 others. I set a goal to finish around 24 minutes and did just that. Ryan, who could easily have finished 2-3 minutes faster than that, was kind enough to stay with me to help me keep pace. I love him for that.

Mark keeps Camilla warm after the race

After the race, is about 1 hour prize drawings. Before the race became so popular, someone in the family would win every year. (I believe a certain tool set we own came from the Nestle 5K prize give-away). The past three years have not been kind to the Loveless family. However, I am beginning to believe that my luck is changing...first the pots and on Saturday they called #1423 and I won $100 cash!

Max cheers for Mommy winning $100

Was getting up at 5:45 am, driving to Springville, running in the rain, shin splints, and sitting in the freezing cold waiting for a 1-in-who-knows-what-chance to win something worth the runner's high and the $100?

I suppose you can call me one of those crazy runners because I'd do it again tomorrow.