Strawberry Firecrackers - Kid Tri Recap & Cupcake Recipe

The Sunday of the holiday weekend was a busy one!  My day started bright and early with open water swim practice with several training buddies.  Getting self out of bed early is never a strong suit of mine, but beautiful summer mornings (and good friends) always make it worth it.  The peave of the water didn't last long though, because the next stop for me and Gypsy was the Quaboag Plantation Triathlon!  We didn't race the adult portion this year, both being tired from the NE Trifest a week prior, BUT our kiddos were still all for crushing the kids race!

 

With my little athletes.  Yes, I wore last week's race
 shirt in case anyone wondered why I wasn't racing myself!

So... out of the water, back in the car and grab the families to head to the race start.  Mercifully, the kids race didn't start until 11, so getting there at 10:30 was plenty of time.  The kids got their race tats (which was adorable, since there were no assigned numbers.  The volunteers just asked the kids each what their favorite number were!).  Set up transition (my and Gypsy's kids wanted to be together), took a billion photos then the kids wanted to play at the beach.

 

 

Difference between adult and kid tris - adults "warm up" in the water.  Kids splash around at the beach and refuse to come out, even though their race is starting soon.  lol....

 

I love this photo of Gypsy, who ran with her 4 year old the whole
time.  Go mommy go!!

Transition set!!!

For this race, the "swim" is mostly a run through the water.  The kids were divided into age groups, with my kids in the 4-6 AG going last.  My little girl was the first our of the water for her group!

I had volunteered, so I took up a position with a few other adults at T1.  The bike ended with a downhill and turn into the actual transition area, so after a few kids wiping out last year, the organizers decided to let the kids just ditch their bikes at the bottom of the hill and run from there.  What that meant is that there were several of us yelling for the kids to stop, helping them off their bikes, unclipping helmets, sending the kids running and then pulling the bikes into the grass and off the road in time to catch" the next kid.  A little tricky, but doable and way better than skinned knees!  I was happy to be one of the parents helping instead of standing in the middle of the road and/or run path getting in the way!



Jedi telling my son, coming on the bike, to "Go see Mommy!!!"

The run portion was 300 meters around a field.  Since the kids were mostly done coming in on their bikes, I sneaked over to cheer on my kids, who both ran and finished strong.

My little girl arguing with me on which way to go. 
Even during a race she argues!  She sure can run tho!

The kids were so proud of themselves - they really did amazing.  It was so much fun to see even super little kids (as in, three years old) finishing with their parents.  Gypsy's older racer even lost her shoe while running, but sprinted the finish anyway (shoe in hand) rather than let a boy behind her pass her.  True grit! 

This wasn't a USAT race - the kids could use training wheels, floaties, etc.  I definitely think that more "serious" races have their place, but as long as everyone is being safe more informal kid tris like this are a great way to get kids exposed and excited about the sport!

In red white and blue PJs for the fireworks!

The rest of the day passed in a blur - after the race we had less than an hour to get back into town for the parade.  My mom surprised us by joining us for the day (yay Gramma!) to take in the festivities.  The fireworks were excellent as usual, and we tucked in two incredibly tired and happy kids that night.

Since it's summer, since we went strawberry picking last week, and since it's been a while since I shared a recipe, I wanted to put up the recipe for our famous (while we were in business!) strawberry cupcake recipe.  Perfect for this time of year - enjoy!

Summer Strawberry Cupcakes

Add caption

 

• 3 cups AP flour
• 4 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 sugar
• 1 1/2 stick butter at room temperate
• 4 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 1/2 cup fresh strawberry puree

1. Sift together all the dry ingredients. 
2. Beat butter and sugar in an electric mixer until smooth
3. Beat in eggs (one at a time) and vanilla until incorporated
4. Add the dry ingredients to the mixing bowl in 3 batches, alternating with the strawberry puree.

 

Fill cupcake pans 2/3 full and bake at 350 for approximately 12 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the thickest part comes out clean.  This recipe is very consistent and rises well.

 

After completely cooling, top with strawberry buttercream (regular frosting with some strawberry puree added).  Also great with lemon buttercream.  You can further decorate with sliced strawberries (if eating right away, or with fondant or marzipan strawberries (as pictured).  Enjoy!

Rockin' Around the Playground - XMas in July!

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY EVERYONE!!!





With any luck, no one is reading this, because you all are out watching the fireworks on a gorgeous clear night.  But for those on us on the eastern seaboard, chances are you are like me.  Inside (hopefully with a glass of wine), listening to the distant pops of a few of your more drunk determined neighbors setting off crackers, as your town festivities were rescheduled due to storm Arthur.

No parades for you!

That's all good.  Better safe and happy than very wet and sorry.  My town does a killer job celebrating our nation's independence, and I'm looking forward to two days worth of parades (yes plural - one bike and doll carriage for the kids, one Big Parade on Sunday), food and fireworks.

However, the change in plan does threaten to make Sunday the "Busiest Day Ever", as the kids begged me to let them do the kids race of the Quaboag Plantation Triathlon.  Immediately followed by hauling our cookies back home for the parade and the fireworks. If only they had red white and blue tri kits that would be perfect!  (I am not racing the adult sprint beforehand.  I would kind of like to just to see how much my times improved from last year.  It was, after all, my first triathlon ever.  Something is bound to have improved!!!)

Anyway... Yesterday, after finishing up a hasty day of work, I dragged the kids to the town center to practice before the storm hit.  Neither child has been on their bike in weeks, since we've been doing more family rides with the trail-a-bikes.  I wanted to be sure that they could keep the bikes rubber side down.  A little practice beforehand could very well stave off a total freakout during the race itself.



Clouds like this... what could go wrong??

The town center has a dirt track around the athletic fields that is just shy of 1/4 mile.  I told the kids they each had to complete 4 laps on their bikes before they could retire to the playground.  While they did so, I'd get as far into an interval workout as I could before the skies opened, running one loop at a relaxed pace and sprinting the next (which for me means keeping pace under 9:00 minute miles).

Sweat dripping

Little girl chasing little boy (harder to see) on her bike

To say that it was hot and humid does not give the brief workout justice.  It was murderously oppressive - like breathing nice warm tomato soup instead of air. The thunder started threatening, a few drops fell.... but we stayed until it really started pouring.  (I've gotten enough compliments on my favorite "Are my kids still chasing me?" shirt that I just have to share where I got it.  LOVE this shirt..... especially when my workouts occur with kiddos.)

Before we left (and once we got home since it was cut in half), I added in a strength workout using the playground swingset.  It was hard (ouch really hard), but I also had fun playing around and the kids thought I was hysterical.  That silly mommy......

Pushups using 2 swings.  Photo credit - Little Yoda Girl

So yes, kids and I BOTH got in our workouts for the day.  Which is really important, because <<pausing to step up on soap box>> it's really just so fundamentally, critically, just-no-way-around-it-important that kids get out and get moving.  There's a reason this picture is funny:

No judgment - I had bacon for breakfast too

Americans love their bacon.  And their ice cream.  And their TV, videogames, and sedentary office jobs.  Though I do see it changing, ours is not a culture that encourages physical activity.  Even now in schools recess and gym is being shortened or cut, allowing for more class time.  I certainly understand the pressures of education, but... kids just aren't meant to sit still.  They are meant to run, play, climb, fall, scrape their knees, and generally act like hooligans in every direction for most of their days.  One of the best ways to encourage this is to be a role model yourself.  Or just drag them out...



She only looks sweet and innocent...
more star hair!

Stepping back down OFF my soapbox, I will also admit that that little speech I gave is a bit misleading.  I do believe all those things, but truthfully my kids are out and moving so much because they are, near as I can understand, the small human equivalents of Dalmations.  Large, friendly, incredibly hyper dogs that must be exercised vigorously for hours each day.  My kids, being 5 and 6, seem to live to annoy each other, and possess boundless energy which with to do it.  In fact, they have 4 settings:

1. Running around like mad things (swimming, hiking, biking, jumping etc. also included in this category)
2. Trying to kill eachother.
3. Sleeping
4. Videogames.

I admit to the judicious use of #4, when #1 is no longer an option, having already done so for large chunks of the day.  When I've lost my voice from yelling at them (#2), and #4 is still hours away.  People think I'm kidding when I tell them we started using laps around the house as punishment for my daughter when she was three years old.  We're not kidding.  And it's not really a punishment, because she likes it so much.  We are just trying to tire her out.... 

They are good kids.  Great kids.  But a mom's gotta do... you know!

Now that we've all agreed that kids in motion is a matter of survival (yours or their is up to debate), I wanted to share a very cool find from today.  The rain kept us indoors, so we took the kids to the Worcester Ecotarium, our favorite local children's museum.  There is a fabulous new exhibit, all about different ways for kids to get moving and get active.  Partially disguised in a superhero theme, Run! Jump! Fly! has stations for climbing, surfing/snowboarding, strength training (boo yeah just like Mommy at the gym!), martial arts, dance, and yoga. 

After completing each station, the kids get a stamp on their card.  The flip side of the card is an Activity Challenge for the following three days, where they record everything they did to get moving, up to 60 minutes per day. 

How many kids are gonna get to write "Triathlon" on their card??  Oh yeah.....

Lest anyone think I'm slacking with all this museum fun, I did get in a one hour brick today.  In my basement, on my trainer and treadmill, which was remarkably peaceful.  Cool and quiet with lots of bad TV to watch.  Ahhhh.... adding this into my "more often" column.....

Tomorrow Team Cupcake Tri will be crushing the competition at the town Bike and Doll Carriage parade, having spent a few hours decking out their bikes and helmets with all manner of dollar store Christmas in July junk.  I hear our Elf on a Shelf will also be making an appearance....

Sneak peek.  His helmet is under there!
Can I leave on for the triathlon?  USAT?

Enjoy the fireworks -- and a safe, happy, and ACTIVE holiday weekend to you all!!


Shake Your Pom Poms

This past weekend I got to do a lot of cheering.  Not only was my coach Anthony and fellow triathlon blogger Courtney from The TriGirl Chronicles crushing IM Syracuse 70.3, but my kids raced in their first obstacle race.  The Extreme Field Day for Kids is a race series that put on Warrior Dash-like events for the younger set.  Not only that, but the race was being held at Wachusett Mountain, our nearby ski resort.  Also the place that we got married nearly 9 years ago. Jumping ahead - after the race we rode the chairlift to the top and then hiked the short hiking trail up to the summit.  This picture is us on our wedding day, then our munchkins running up the same trail.  Pretty cool.

The event itself was great. Very well organized, with lots of goodies (included Yasso Frozen Yogurt bars - yum!) available to reward the little racers and their parents.  Gypsy also brought her gang, so my two and her oldest three all ran in various heats.  They had the kids do jumping jacks, knee touches, and generally goof around in the moment before each wave went off, which I think helped dispel some of the anxiety the kids were feeling.

  

I was really impressed with the way my little guy attacked the rope climb and the mud pit.  He was not messing around.  He was in the Cubs heat, so he ran a total of 0.5 mile.  His sister was in the Tigers heat, so after doing about half of the obstacles she was sent to run up and around the lift to make her total distance a mile.  The older kids would run all the way around the lodge for 1.5 miles.  The obstacles were all kid-challenging but kid-appropriate.  Parents (myself included) were called in to help on a couple of tricky spots, but overall everyone seemed to have a great time.

Over the barricade

My little guy in is the white shirt and brown striped shorts.
Attacked that rope climb!

Through the rainbow tires

My little girl (orange) jumps over

If the Extreme Field Day series comes anywhere near you and you have little ones, I would totally recommend signing them up.  It was a ton a fun, a great confidence builder.... and come on.  What kids doesn't really want to jump in a mud pit??

Podium finish!!!

 In other awesome kid-related news, Hummingbird (left) and I spent chunks of the past week and then most of Saturday making this Marvel superheroes cake for a little boy's sixth birthday.  We donated the cake through Cakes Against Cancer for Kids, a nonprofit that connects bakers and children fighting illness in order to provide a special designer cake for their birthdays or other special occasion.  It was a lot of fun to make, and the first time that Hummingbird and I have worked together on a large project.  She got to deliver it (I was at the race with kids), but she said the little guy adored it!  Success!

This coming weekend, it's my turn again to race.  Gypsy, Gill and I are headed north to Fairlee Vermont for the New England Trifest, sponsored by Sun Multisports.  The weather looks great, and I'll have some great friends by my side.  All that said, I do have a certain amount of nerves about the event.  It will be my first Olympic distance triathlon, and I have some concerns about nutrition and the run.  I've not been able to run continuously since I started back after my cortisone shot a few weeks back - the most I've managed in 5 miles doing 4:1 intervals.  So that part could be interesting.  I have some nerves about crashing my bike, since a good friend bit it at the Patriot 70.3 two weeks ago, and Anthony did this past weekend at IM Syracuse (they are both more or less ok.  But still).

Actually the former friend that crashed turned into a really sweet story.  She hurt her shoulder, but finished the bike and did the whole half-marathon anyway for a strong finish.  After the race, another triathlete in our community organized a secret fund - her students (she is a personal trainer), teammates, and fellow triathletes all chipped in to cover the cost of the ER, her bike repair, and of course a new helmet.  That is one thing I really like about the triathlon community.  You never know who you are inspiring, and people really do join together to help each other.  Very cool for what is, by its nature, a pretty competitive sport!

My next post will be a race recap!  Fingers crossed - I'll be in the water by 7:30 am on Sunday!!!

What should Jedi and I do for my anniversary??

Win Some, Lose Some - Mommy's Brag Rag

Before our races

It was a Big Weekend in the Cupcake Triathlete Family's house.  Mini-me stole the spotlight with not one but TWO epic athletic escapades.  First, after months of anxiety (hers and mine) and protestations (hers), she finally took a deep breath and ditched the training wheels on her bike.  This is extremely important for three reasons.  First, because we are a big biking family and, well if you're gonna roll with us, you've got to ROLL with us.  Second, because my little dude lost his wheels when he was three and has been lapping his older sister for almost a year.  Moreover, he's outgrown his bike and needs the one Mini-me is currently riding, so she's got to graduate up to the next size bike.  Third, this was the last missing piece for her to be eligible for the YMCA's kids triathlon team!  She's been working hard on swimming, can run like nothing else (more on that below), so the training wheels were the only things in her way.  Success!  I take a big chunk of credit for all of this, as I've been taking her weekly to the pools to swim, doing plenty of training runs with her, and working on the right mix of encouragement and patience to break through her reservations about life on two wheels.

She's pretty proud of herself.  Love it!

Friday afternoon I came home to her zooming up and down our driveway.  Yay!  My coach had assigned a full 24 mile ride as a baseline for my upcoming Oly training.  I was supposed to pick "relatively easy terrain" and keep a steady pace the whole time.  Well, there is apparently no such thing.  I live in such a hilly area that, while my ride was 24 miles, it was anything but steady.  Also anything but a fast speed.  Ah well.  I will rock the hills.  Plus we all went out for ice cream to celebrate our respective biking awesomeness anyway.  Mmmm rocky road.....

Saturday morning was Race Day for both Mini-Me and myself.  She was running the mile, I was running the 5K.  I was not feeling in the best condition after grinding through nearly 2 hours of hills the night before, but I was determined to cheer on my little girl.  The kids were up first with the one-mile race.  She was the smallest runner - see her on the right there in the pink shirt and tutu (yes, she runs in a tutu)?

And they are off!

 She did great - 9:54 for a mile!  She did a great job pacing herself and I ran with her the last quarter mile into the finish line.  You've never seen a kid so proud of herself, or a mom so proud of her little runner.  For heavens sake, a ten minute mile is a stretch for ME some days and I'm more than 42 inches tall!

Mini-Me helps me run the end of my race

 My race was up next, and I surprised myself on a very hilly course with a PR for my 5k time - 29:39.  With nearly 500 feet elevation gain and very sore legs, I feel pretty happy with that!  Not at all the plod-fest I was expecting.  Plus my little girl hooked in with me and ran the last quarter mile with me, just as I'd done for her.

 ...Love.....

She looks cute in uniform, too...

The rest of the day was taken up with the kids tee-ball game and our town's annual Little League parade. I sincerely recommend all parents have their kids do tee-ball at some point, because there is really nothing cuter than little kids in giant helmets batting and then running to third base while every other kid dives for the ball.....

This morning was the "Lose Some" portion of the weekend.  The winners of Another Mother Runner's Ragnar Napa Relay team were announced, and alas, I am not one of them.  They mention me in the announcement surreptitiously (I was the other of the 2 entrants to make a full cake), but not the chosen.  I'm sure it was a tough choice for them with more than 100 entries.  I'm disappointed, but working on putting my Big Girl Happy Pants back on and getting on with life.

Plus, as a Rio reminded me this morning after I told her the [non]news, there is still more awesome to come in my future....

Thanks Rio.

 Do you have a mini-runner that you are so very proud of?  Cheer me up and tell me about it!!

Pot of Gold - Celtic 5K Race Recap

At the starting line

Warning - the majority of this post is going to be shameless bragging about my daughter.  I can't help it.  I am so unbelievable, over-the-top, giddy proud of her.  If I completely bonk, break something or fall in the ocean next week at the New Bedford half marathon, I will still consider my brief running career a success, because it introduced my daughter to running.

And boy does she love to run.  

Training.  I stay next to her at all times.

A few weeks ago, Natalie asked if she could do a race with Mommy.  We often run together in warmer weather, but this unending winter has meant that our favorite rail trail isn't passable for little feet or the jogging stroller (where she takes her breaks on longer runs), so she's been feeling left out.  I hadn't planned on running the Celtic 5K this year, mostly because it's a little expensive, and because it's a week before my half marathon.  What was the point?  Well, the point started training on the treadmill - about 20 minutes every other day, and was determined to have a great race with mom.

Meanwhile I worked on creating the perfect leprechaun costume.  No small feat, when I wasn't sure what the weather would be like.  I got a clearance green sweater at Old Navy, pinned on some black and gold felt to make a belt.  A bowler hat from Target, some striped legwarmers on Amazon, and her existing white turtleneck and leggings finished off the look.  We tried her costume on for fit the other night and she was very happy with it.  Score one Mom!

We got a rocky start this morning - bleary from a late date night of babysitting and the time change.  Nat was also worried that I'd ditch her, since I DNFed my training run yesterday due to some tummy issues.  No chance honey.  The plan was that we'd all go.  Nat and I would run the race while Jedi and the little man found a spot to watch the parade.  Parking is tough so we got there early.  Got our bib (only one number so I pinned it on her back) and then had a lot of time to kill.  Which, when it's 25 degrees out and your kids are already tired, can be tough.  Luckily the Irish band was already playing, so we danced and jogged and shot some photos.

Dancing!

Brother is ready to make some noise!
The same plastic trumpet I bought them
at the race last year after one too many celebratory beers.
Might as well use it again!

Finally it was almost race time, so we sent to boys off to play photographer, and started jostling our way into the crowd.  By some amazing fortune, we saw our friend Dawn.  We know Dawn well from the farmer's market where we sell our cupcakes, and her gluten-free business has fed my children dinner on many a market night.  Nat gave her a big hug right away, and I had someone to visit with while we waited for the gun to go off.

Finding a good friend in a crowd of 3,000 is great!!!

Once the race got underway, we shuffled toward the starting line.  Dawn help me body block Natalie from the big crowd for the first few hundred yards (thank you Dawn!) and then we started getting some breathing space.  The course is an out-and-back.  Slightly downhill the first half, and slightly uphill the second (obviously).  I'd talked to Natalie before the race about pacing, as she (like many runners, even those older than 6) has a tendency to go out too fast and burn out.  She told me her plan was to do bursts of speed and then back off.  Good plan.  The first half mile or so she did great - she was running a little fast (around 10:30) so I told her to back off.  She took a few walking breaks, and then would start up again.  All the way we soaked in the comments of "Oh she is so cute!" and "how old is she?" and "You're doing great sweetie!!!!".  Both from the spectators and other runners.  She also interjection her own adorable-isms, telling me that "Running makes everything better" and "I hope I always race with you mommy" and many many "I love you so much mommy!"s.

I will admit it - it was really cool being the mom of the cutest, fastest little leprechaun on the course.

Around the turnaround she was starting to tire.  Pacing around 13:00.  But the cheers continued, and Natalie was starting to enjoy the feeling of "picking off" some of the walkers.  There were many joked comments about being beaten by a six year old.  That's my six year old!!!  I taught her how to focus on a landmark up ahead and just think about running to that (like a telephone pole).  We played shadow tag (where she tried to catch up to and jump on my shadow).  I whispered to her how much fun it is to find a racer ahead of you and "pick them off".  She started picking her targets - the girl in the striped socks.  The sparkle skirt lady.  You are going down sparkle skirt lady!  She was still doing great but I knew she was tired.

Nat's little running friend is in between us

Then she ran into the perfect motivation.  A buddy.  Just her size.  As we started to pass a little girl jogging on the side, she said "hey you're my age!!!"  While exchanging life stories (what grade are you in, how old are you, what's your name, I'm a leprechaun... I'm not I'm just wearing green stickers on my cheeks) the two little girls were unwilling to let each other get ahead of the other.

Perfect mini-running friends.  Best buddies, and yet determined to beat each other.

I wondered a bit if Nat's new friend had a parent around, but she assured me her mom was walking and her dad was waiting at the finish line.  Ok.  Go girls go!!  There were no more walking breaks as the girls ran the last mile together.  At one point I yelled at then to slow down - they were running faster than 10 minute miles!!  Just as we started to enter the chute Nat told me she wanted a break.  I said no no no now is when you give it all you have!!!  She took off and finished strong, sprinting ahead of mommy.  I'm pretty sure she tied with her little friend (who's father was indeed, right there to get her).

Sprinting the finish.  Perfect form!!

We crossed just before 40 minutes.  Official time 39:48.

To put that in perspective, when I ran this race solo last year (my first 5K in a long time) my time was 36 something.  That is fast for a little girl!  I hoisted her onto my shoulders and took her to get water, coconut water (not sure she likes that), and pizza.    We met up with the boys.  Tucked an exhausted but jubilant little girl into the stroller for some well deserved rest.

Post race tired and sweaty.

The rest of the parade passed pleasantly.  We were cold and the kids were tired. There weren't enough snacks, so I ran to the grocery store (literally - not an expression) for cheese sticks, blueberries and cookies.  Little guy told me all about the double fire truck I missed while I was at the store.   The mom next to us ended up also being a triathlete so we chatted amiably about which races we had done and what courses were our favorites.  Triathlete moms are everywhere.  For real.  

Bagpipes!!

Finally the kids had had enough so we headed home.  The kids are playing quietly, but Natalie refuses to take off her leprechaun costume.  I think she may sleep in it....

Post-run hair is tough

I have no idea where my daughter gets her energy, her love of running, and her talent.  Certainly not from me.  Not from the Jedi, who will likely only run if being chased by some sort of large carnivore.  At my swim class yesterday a group of us were talking about just why I (we) run if we don't always enjoy it.  I have my answer.

I will always run, to make sure I'm always there to race with my daughter.  For as long as she wants me to.

Happy St. Patrick's Day to everyone!

Giving Thanks

In our family, Thanksgiving isn't just about the bird.  For three years now we have run the local turkey trot 5K, the Holden Road Race, befitting the local food pantry.  The first year was before we started OPC Cakes, and was the first and last race the Jedi and I have ever done together.  We dressed up our bike trailer/jogger like a giant red turkey and made the front page of the local paper, even though the attempt at running 3 miles nearly killed us (me - Jedi was fine in the way that guys can not run a step and then jog three miles like it' ain't no thang...).

Circa 2011

Then last year, we signed on as sponsors of the Holden Road Race, and paid our sponsorship fee with a thousand mini cupcakes handed out to the runners at the finish line.  I was still not to be confused with someone who could run.  Our daughter, however, surprised us by hopping out of the trailer (which was getting too small for both even then) at the half-mile mark, and running the rest of the race without stopping, laughing and yelling GOBBLE GOBBLE!! at everyone along the way.  Not bad for a four-year old, and when we realized we had a mini-marathoner on our hands, so we'd better learn to keep up.

Circa 2012 - first sponsorship year

We also learned last year just how hard it is to bake and frost 1,000 cupcakes in a single day, plus host Thanksgiving dinner.  My hand was cramped from frosting for weeks afterwards, to say nothing about my still non-runners legs.  So going into this year, I had a serious amount of nervousness.  For the time to bake (multiplied by Jedi's usual refusal to stress about anything, forcing me to stress enough for both of us), to the weather (projected to be sub freezing with gusty winds, unlike last year which was warm), to my horrible cold, to my ability to run that far, as I still hadn't cleared 2.5 miles walk/jogging since my injury.

What 800 cupcakes looks
 like packed and ready to go

Gingerbread... my favorite....

Modeling this year's race shirt the night before

I needn't have worried about it at all.  The day couldn't have gone better.  Granted, we were very prepared. Jedi whipped out 800 cupcakes from the oven and I frosted them with time to spare.  We couldn't decorate the stroller this year (we ran out of white and yellow duct tape), but I loaded it with hand warmers, hot apple cider, Hershey kisses, and enough mittens, hats, gators, and warm clothing to keep the kids comfy for all 3 miles.  I even made them a special playlist on my IPhone to play on the run.  (What was on it you ask?  Sara Bareilles Brave (their favorite), I'm a Believer from Shrek, and I Like to Move It Move It from Madagascar, along with a few other of my favorite workout songs).  With the wind and the uncertainty of volunteers, Jedi decided that he hates running that it was better to stay with our cupcake tables, and I'd try to hook up with some of my many friends at the race if I needed help along the way.

O Dark Thirty.....

... and ready to run!

We even sprung for a race bib for our little girl, since she was so darn excited to run!  We bumped into Gypsy and a favorite trainer from our gym first thing.  Then while lined up for the start, we bumped into a triathlon buddy that I did Title 9 with.  Whoot!

Turkey Triathletes?

The race itself went great.  My little girl started out with me and did a great job of staying close in the crowd.  After it had thinned a bit, but little guy hopped out of the trailer as well and took off.  He is a quick little sucker!  Luckily the roads were closed and my yelling made some kindly parents return him to me.  Rascal.  The kiddos took turns hopping in the stroller to stay warm and rest and popping out to jog along with Mom.  Despite pushing a 35 lb. stroller loaded with 70 lbs of kids, I felt pretty good the whole way, and was happy to accept props from others for being a Mom with Stroller, and to thankfully decline offers from some well-meaning dads to spell me pushing it.  We hooked in with another family in matching Minion hats (Despicable Me) for a while - they had a little girl in kindergarten as well.  Listening to the two girls yammer back and forth while running was adorable.

Ready now!!!

My gang finished strong with one of my best friends who was out there with her son, having been cheered up the last big hill by Gypsy (who had finished and was in her car going home at that point).  Our final time was 42:50.  Not a record-breaker, but considering that my kids ran between one and two miles of the course spread out over about ten stops to get in and out of the giant beast of a stroller, a time I am really really happy with. More importantly, I had warm, happy kids the whole way (so much that Little Dude fell asleep at one point), who were overjoyed and proud of themselves at the finish line, when I gave them the medals I'd made them this morning.

Homemade medals and cupcakes.  Congrats kids!

We went over and checked in with the Jedi, who was passing out the last of our cupcakes to the dwindling crowd.  It was great to be recognized by so many of our fans and be told that they were so happy we were back a second year.  Made all the previous day's baking worth it.  That, and being told by my friend,

"Girl, you make Martha Stewart look like a lazy b*tch!!!"

Going, going, GONE!!!!

Then it was home for hot baths, a second breakfast of pumpkin muffins and scrambled eggs, and the Thanksgiving meal with my parents (who very kindly brought half of it).  I feel so very lucky for my wonderful family, my health, my strong body that carried me through the miles, my patient and steady husband, supportive parents, and all the great things I have in my life.  I truly hope that everyone else had as memorable and joyful a holiday as I did.  

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Armfuls of love