March - Champoeg Park 10K - Tonya had decided to run the Hippie Chick Half Marathon in May with some of her friends and I had put together a training plan for her to follow. By March, I told her to try a 10K to see where she was at fitness-wise. It was a great morning for a race...the rain held off until just as we were leaving. Unfortunately, the race was only 6 miles due to a downed tree on the course, but it was still a good test to see where she was at...Tonya ran 51:52, so we began thinking about a sub-2:00 hour half marathon. Thanks to Gramma C. for coming to watch the kids so Tonya and I could both run.
Ella all bundled up
Will cheering for the runners
Celebrating a 6 mile PR
The running protege and mentor
July - Stayton 4th of July 10K - Kristin came all the way down from Portland to run this race just to see what I would have to wear after losing another bet with the Pain Train. It was a hot day as usual, but Kristin and I both had good races and cooled off in the creek afterwards. Kristin and Tonya were now both preparing for the Portland Marathon.
I feel bad for anyone who gets beat by this guy
Great picture of the start of the race
Trying to hang on to 2nd place
There was something special about the outfit again
Kristin finishing off her race
A 10K PR
July - Coburg Run in the Country - Tonya ran a great first half marathon in 2:02:43...she really pushed herself in the second half and even puked near the end...but she was cheated out of a potential sub-2:00 hour finish due to the fact that the Hippie Chick race used timing chips but did not have a timing mat at the start of the race...disgraceful! She could have easily lost a couple minutes at the very congested start. For her Portland Marathon training, Tonya's long run was up into the 18 mile range, so I felt she was very prepared for this half marathon...the goal was to run 9:00 minute miles...at this pace she would easily break 2:00 hours. She ended up running 1:56:32...an 8:54 pace! I was so proud. This was also Will's first official race. I have to say, it's so dang cute to see those kids lined up at the start. He had a blast.
High five from Will on the homestretch
Super Mom
Lined up for the kids race
Will having a blast
He's a natural
August - Bush Park Cross-Country Series Week 1 - These races are held every Thursday night in August and are really a lot of fun. They have races of several different distances for all ages. We ended up going the first week. Will ran in the kids race and Tonya got her speedwork in for her Portland Marathon training by running the 5K.
Will explaining how fast he will run
Lined up and ready to go
This is intense
Will has his game face on as he heads down the homestretch
Very cute
Portland Marathon speedwork for Tonya
August - Bush Park Cross-Country Series Week 4 - We didn't make it back to Bush Park until the last week of August. Will had a tough race this week...he decided to line up in front and got knocked down when the race started. He was pretty upset and I thought we were going to have to bag it, but he got over it, started running, and we even managed to pick off a few stragglers. Tonya had a good race and improved on her 5K time.
At the start...maybe too close to the front
I thought this might be a DNF
Finishing it up together...this is my favorite picture
1st time down the big hill
This is fun
Focused
2nd time down the big hill
October - Portland Marathon - This race really became the culmination of the year for Kristin and Tonya. Word on the street was that Kristin's goal for the marathon, her third, was to break 4:00 hours...she had previously run 4:24:03 (1st marathon at Newport) and 4:14:11 (2nd marathon at San Diego). For Tonya, I estimated that 10:00 minute miles was a reasonable goal for her first marathon. In the end, both ran races to be proud of...Kristin took a huge step in the direction of a Boston qualifying time finishing in 3:58:15 and Tonya finished in 4:34:44 and recently said she wants to run another one! I was very impressed with Kristin's splits for the race...she ran very evenly throughout and had a negative second half split. Tonya likely started out a little too fast and had the "classic" marathon experience that I've had several times and I've had described to me by others many times...felt great for the first 18 miles or so, then in the last 8 miles began wondering when is this going to be over! I'll add more pictures as soon as they are available.
Tonya all set for her first marathon
Pretty good view from our hotel room
