The Amazing Race

Ok, before I start my posts on our whirlwind of a March, I have to write about Grant's amazing relay race that he did at the end of February.  He was part of a 12 person relay team that ran a total 205 miles - from Prescott to Mesa - over 36 hours, or two days straight.  Grant ran 3 legs and over 18 miles.  And we're talking hilly miles.   I was amazed at Grant's ability considering he didn't train at all.  He ran maybe three times before the race and never more than 6 miles at a time.  I don't know how his body can just pick up an run 18 miles over two days.  Although, his body felt it.  His muscles hurt so badly that he was limping for a couple days!  That'll teach him not to train!

The team used two different vans to ride in and our van was one of them.  Here is the lovely decor our little Odyssey sported:

The race started Friday morning and went through the night.  Grant ran once on Friday evening and then his second leg was Saturday morning right by our house.  So the kids and I were there to cheer him on.  

Here's more team spirit that was applied to the van:

Grant's almost done with the second leg in this picture.  I didn't know that he hadn't slept at all the night before because people were getting sick all night and needing assistance.  That, and the only place he could sleep in was an RV Queen-sized bed that he had to share with two other guys.  Yeah, like that happened.  He said they all were just giggling all night like little school girls.  I think the giggling started because Grant was trying to sleep in Claire's My Little Pony sleeping bag.  So, needless to say, Grant was about to literally die as this picture was taken because he hadn't slept in over 24 hours and it was the second leg he'd run and it was all uphill.  Poor guy.  I was proud of him.

I made the Speed Racer shirt for him.

That whole weekend Cole kept talking about what a great runner his Dad was and how he wanted to race with Dad when he got older.

These next shots are at the very end of the race, when the last runner, Chad, was coming into the finish line.  Mike is handing him the Superman "trophy."

Here's the whole team:

And here's the group that was in our van:

Way to go Speed Racers!