Spooktacular 5k & 10k – 24 Hours and a minute

Another weekend with a race for Son & Mom. StephenvilleLions Spooktacular 5K & 10K. Almost 120 miles away from home, a good reason to plan a full day trip and adventure spending night in a hotel. 

There were also other couple special facts. Even previous Son & Mom races could be included on the book, this particular race was going to be first one with the fiction running book on mind; and last one before mom’s surgery week after.

Departing time: Friday, Oct 24, 2014 at 5:24 pm. Mom knew they were going to catch peak hours but important tasks such as checking out and printing hotel information, race schedule, race location, race courses, places to visit, eat and activities to do after race as a way to reward son for his effort and company. Additionally, as running fiction book will be based on Greek mythology stories, something running mom is totally ignorant about, driving time was wisely be invested on listening and learning about Greek Gods and Goddesses. So extra minutes added to get audio book into mom’s phone.

All set up. Time to leave home. Car engine turned on. It took only few miles for Greek crew to fill the car.  Gaia and Uranus followed by the Titans. Cronus with his five brothers and six sisters, followed by one-eyed Cyclopes. Gaia convincing son Cronus to do something terrible to his father. Too much! After a couple chapters mom decided to lock Greek Gods inside mom’s phone and switch to music. Since he has already learn everything about Greek mythology in school, instead of listening the audio book with mom, Nick was reading his 39 Clues book.

“Nick, would you mind if I put back the Calculating God audio book you listened part with me the other day?”, asked mom that didn't want to bother son on his reading.

“No. please put that back” said Nick. “I want to listen what is happening with those aliens”. “Great!” replied mom “I am glad we like we can enjoy the same audio book.”

It was already time to leave aliens and paleontologist in the car and go grab something for dinner. We had been driving under the stars for a while. We stopped in Granbury for some delicious Asian food after which we drove for almost an hour more until our final destination, Stephenville. Time was moving fast so son and mom went to bed. No TV.

Wake up call at 6:00 am. Son and mom had breakfast. Hotel was only few blocks from race “We have time to drive the course” said mom. 15 minutes after they arrived at race’s start & finish location with a view of 5k and 10k courses. Lot of hills up with few hills down. Several turns but perfectly marked with blue for 5k, white for 10k and yellow for the half. “After driving it, this 10k course felt like never ending” thought mom, “anyways, last three green miles (surrounded by trees and country land) end with a sweet downhill mile and only few yards up hill to cross finish line are going to be the ‘this is what you are here for, mom!’.”

Packages picked up. Cute lion bibs immediately clipped in and rest of items dropped in the car that was parked next to the start/finish line. Special feeling from smaller running races. No rush with logistics, well almost no rush.

“Come on, mom! Hurry up! Let’s start warming up!” yelled Nick.

“Ok! Let me finish getting ready” replied mom.  And in few seconds son and mom were jogging together. Just mile and a half plus few drills, but Nick with some “Achilles issues” decided to do it by his own rather than keeping with mom.

Starting line. Half marathoners departed at 8:00 am, 10k runners 8:10 am and 5k runners 8:20 am, what gave son the chance to relax and watch mom depart, then race, recover and wait for mom at the finish line. 

“It’s going to be a full 6.25 miles, mom. Relax, and no matter the pace, find yourself” mom thought. Starting line with a voice counting “7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 go!”. One man and two ladies in front of mom. “Patience, pace should (or might) come”. One lady less in front. Now it was mom and a cute blond lady. “Can I keep with her?” mom was wondering for like mile and a half until she realized and told herself “No, you have another gear. Time to apply it without fear” and took over the lead hoping to keep it to the end. And she did it! Second mile, third mile and last three miles “this is what you are here for, mom!”. Then last mile and “run without fear”. Final last quarter mile and “run with fire!”. Mom crossed finish line with son there, cheering with a bottle of water and a big hug for his mom.

“Good job, mom” said Nick.

“How did you do?” mom asked.

“I started in front but then a couple guys passed me. I couldn't keep up because of the hills and my Achilles and …”.

Mom didn't let him continue. “It’s OK. Nick” she said. “Did you try your best? Are you happy with your own performance?”

“Yes, mom.”

And mom’s wishes of Nick placing touched the sky. Son & Mom victory. An overall female lion trophy for mom and a first for his age group lion paw medal for son completed another awesome Son & Mom running event.

Back to the hotel. Hot tube that was actually cold but fun. Packing and checking out took only few minutes, then we were in Granbury square, enjoying a delicious lunch, doing some shopping and going to the Jail (Museum). Nick wanted to tell his classmates “I went to jail last weekend.”

Arrival time: Saturday, Oct 25, 2014 at 5:25 pm. 24 hours and a minute from departure. Not even a wasted minute of high quality time for son & mom together making mom feel strong before her scheduled “hardware removal” surgery few days after.

 

note: mom made the chart with record time for her age.