Santa Claus Lane Half Marathon

There are so many amazing things about Clayton, but this particular day I was in awe. This is the same half marathon that I ran last year with my good friend Nora, but this year I decided to run with my friends Cindy, Cheri and Allie. So, needless to say I have been training for several months to prepare for the race. No big deal really, just getting my endurance back to its best, and my running legs ready to RUN! Well, the day before the race Clayton decided he wanted to join in and run too. Just so you know, he hasn't ran/trained AT ALL since he was deployed, and even then it was at the beginning of his deployment (so like December of last year-ish!) Well, he ran and not only did he run the whole thing, he ran it crazy fast! This is a picture of us before the race.

Here I am crossing the finish line.

Clayton and Cheri crossing the finish line....the clock is the actual time. The race started at 9:00.
So, this is a funny story. Clayton and Cheri decided before the race that they would try to run together. Cheri did a full marathon earlier this year and maintained a really good, fast pace throughout the race, but Clayton is just generally fast. So Clayton thought she would be a pretty good running partner for him, and was kind of guessing that somewhere in the middle he would have to go on ahead with out her. He was SO wrong. Clayton pushed her in the beginning and gave them a good pace for the first few miles. Then all through the middle miles they kept and maintained a really good pace as well, comfortable for both of them. But towards the end, the last few miles were harder on Clayton and she pushed him through them. All the way to mile marker 13, where Clayton just stopped. He forgot the last .1 of a mile!! Cheri turned around and yelled at him to keep going and reminded him that it's 13.1 miles!! It took all of his might to pick up and keep going for that last little stretch on the grass to the actual finish line. In the end, their partnership was perfect! They are both competitive and fast and talkative....I am SO glad he had Cheri to run with. Thanks girl! But Clayton, I have to say I am so proud of you!! You did great!

This is where he had to pick up and get going again. He's mentioned how hard it was to try and catch up to her and finish. I think he even mention wanting to die! But he did it!!

The 5 of us after our race. From left to right - Allie, Cindy, Kari, Clayton & Cheri
So next year, Cindy and I are determined to do the Mayor's Marathon in Anchorage (June), but once again Clayton is going to beat me to the full marathon finish line. He decided just a couple days ago that he is going to run the Equinox Marathon on September 18th. Just so you know, the Equinox is said to be the nations 3rd hardest marathon. He has just over a month to prepare himself for this. Mostly I think he is crazy, but I have no doubt that he will not only finish it, but he'll do great again!