The Stone Rabbit

The Mother's Day 5K was AWESOME!

 

Last week my blog post was about the Mother's Day 5K I was going to do.  Well....I did it and it was awesome!!

First, the shirt we received for registering for this race, was an awesome blue with an awesome design!!

 

 

 

Since the "daisy" is a symbol for this run, Mary (on the Left) and I had a chance to get a picture taken where we looked like that awesome flower!

 

 

As usual, UP UP and AWAY did their awesome balloon arrangements !!!

 

 

Sherri (middle) had awesome eyes!!  She spotted us in the crowd of 3,000 prior to the race starting!!  It was so fun to have her join us in the corral for a bit ! She and her husband served as two of the MANY awesome volunteers this year!   

 

 

My race photos were as close to awesome as I've had in a long time!!  haha  I'm usually good at spotting the photographers along the course so I can at least smile and wave and try to look like what I'm doing is really easy for me to do!  This time, I didn't see that person, so they got a shot of me being very intent on covering those 3.1 miles in the fastest manner I could!  :)

 

 

I wanted to show you a picture of me crossing the finish line... as usual, I was  behind another runner/runners in the photo.  However, this time you can sorta see me very near that awesome finish line!!

Also, look at those awesome balloon arrangements on each side!

 

 

 

Here I am with two awesome running friends....both named Mary!!

We had just finished the race.  Mary on the right came in first place in her division...and Mary on the left had one of her best race times.  I had my best time for that run in the 6 years I've done it!!  I came in third place in my division.  That was definitely awesome.....and   I received a beautiful plaque plus a gift certificate from DICK'S!!  Now that was over the top awesome!!

This event is pretty much awesome in every way:   

awesome volunteers.

awesome post race food and drink (and PLENTY of it!)

awesome decorations on the porta potties!!  :)

awesome signs along the race route.

awesome free photos.

awesome parking....and lots of it!

and.......

 

 

always, always a new awesome charm!!  

THE STONE RABBIT and I love the blue daisy we received this year!!  One of my goals is to put all six charms I've collected on a necklace chain or a bracelet.  They are too awesome to not enjoy!!

 

 

The rest of my Mother's Day was awesome, too!!!    My son and husband (but mostly my son  :)  fixed a wonderful brunch!!  We did get family photos. . .under umbrellas in the rain!!  That was my DIL's idea!    It was really fun to do that and such a great way to remember the awesome day !

 

Please visit Beverly as HOW SWEET THE SOUND!   There you will find many awesome bloggers who are ready with their awesome shares!!

DANA

Mother's Day 2015!

 

 

There will be lots to celebrate this Mother's Day by this Mama Robin and her little babies!!  She and Mr. Robin built a nest in a wreath right outside our front door. . . giving me a great view of the daily activities going on with the little family!

 

 

On a back downspout, there's another Mama Robin. . .awaiting the arrival of her babes!!  This nest was left from last summer. . .and I think it was used three times to raise robin families!!

 

THE STONE RABBIT brought me home a Mother's Day gift!!  He found my favorite color of red vincas to put in pots on the back patio!!  He's so considerate!!

 

Here's wishing all of you moms a great day full of family and fun and perhaps some pampering!!  I'm looking forward to doing a 5K Mother's Day run with my daughter on Sunday.   Tomorrow will be a great day, too, as I'll be attending a Mother's Day Tea with my DIL and grand girl and my daughter!!

Please visit Beverly's blog HOW SWEET THE SOUND for a long list of other bloggers who have great posts ready for you this week!

Happy PINK Saturday!

 

DANA

 

Another FUN Mother's Day Run!

 

Last Sunday, my running pal Mary and I participated in an annual event. . .the KANSAS CITY EXPRESS MOTHER'S DAY 5K RUN/WALK FOR WOMEN!!  This was my fourth year to do this run and it was Mary's sixth.

The promoters of this 5K go all out in making it a great occasion. . .full of many fun and special details.

One such detail is having this awesome " start/finish"  balloon arch!!  This is the arch from last year!

 

 

We arrived early enough to meet up with the special artists who own the business, UP UP and AWAY,  as they were putting the finishing touches on the 2014 arch!!

Last Sunday morning it was very, very windy. . .making the task of keeping that arch in place a bit challenging!  However, they pulled it off and it was amazing!!

 

 

Mary and I took a photo op moment, as did several other runners, to stand beneath the arch before the 5K started!!  NOTE:  PINK flower!!!  :) 

 

 

 Here's another design!   It had been at "packet pickup" on Fri. and Sat. and it still looked wonderful on Sunday at the run!!

 

 

 

As I said, it was really windy around 7:45 that morning. . .note the arch in the distance!  It did recover in fine order so we could cross beneath it when the run started at 8:00 a.m. .

The official shirt color this year was purple, but you can see tons of PINKS on the participants, too!

 

 

Mary is such a good sport. . .as are my other running buds.  They KNOW I'm gonna be getting a lot of pictures of our times together.  This is a "selfie" I took of us as we were in the crowd, getting ready for the run to start!!

 

 

Mary's husband was there, too!  He's becoming very good with snapping photos!!  Here we are as we were moving toward the start line! :)

 

 

I am in a much different place this year than I was a year ago with respect to my running ability.  Last year my time was sooo much better and I ran the entire 3.1 miles.  However, this year, I'm still recovering from a strange leg issue that kept me from running for several weeks.  In fact, it wasn't so long ago that I couldn't jog for more than 5 steps without pain, so my ability to run the first 1.5 miles of this run without stopping was pretty good, I felt.  

Not only was it windy that morning but it was SOOOOO muggy that I struggled with my breathing. . .mainly because I'm still majorly out of running shape (endurance).  So when I stopped to run/walk, it wasn't because my leg bothered me , it was because I wasn't in condition to totally run the rest of it.

 

The following picture has floated around the internet. . .and I normally can soooo identify with it!

 

 

However, this time I was sooo tired by the time I finally crossed the finish line , I knew I would look like it on any pictures that I'd happen to be in.

 

 Mary's husband DID get this one of me not too far from the finish line. . .I looked like I was walking, but it was really an extremely slow "run" at that point!  ha ha.  The one good thing I observed in the picture was that I wasn't bent over as far as I have been in other pictures. . .a very bad habit I have been trying to work on. . .I get tired and I slump and it isn't good for running!!

So, all in all, I was pretty happy with what I did that day as far as running goes.  That was the third weekend in a row that Mary and I had participated in 5Ks. . . and I was able to "run" the first third of each of them. . . a big improvement over just a few weeks ago!

 

 

Besides those special balloons, they have special porta potties, too, and LOTS of them. . .which is great when you have over 3,000 females participating in the 5K!!

Each year they have a Porta Potty Decorating Contest!!

 

 

There were many cute designs, but I'll just show you a couple today.  I loved this one with the Wizard of OZ theme. . .after all, we were in Kansas that morning!!

 

 

Loved this one, too!

 

 

This one had a great sign on it. . .SOOOOOOO another "selfie" was in order!!

This was taken after we'd recovered from the run. . .hence the sweating hairdos. . . but the happy faces of "determined" women!

 

 

THE STONE RABBIT always enjoys hearing my Running Reports .  He was especially pleased that I'm slowly getting my running endurance back. . .he hated the weeks that I was hurt . . .mainly because I was a real grump about the whole thing!!  

Life is better for him, too, when I can run!!  :)

 

 

Please be sure to visit our Pink Saturday Hostess, Beverly, at HOW SWEET THE SOUND!    You will find a long list of other bloggers who are ready to share their PINKS with you!

Have a great PINK SATURDAY!

 

DANA

Flowers Potted BEFORE Mother's Day. . . a first for me!!!

 

 My mom could put a stick in the ground and it would root and grow and bloom.  Among the thousands of great qualities she possessed was that "green thumb" of hers.

She was so good about "bringing plants in" for the winter. . .so she could "put them back out" and enjoy them the next summer.  One such plant she almost always included in the "bringing in" would be a begonia or two.  

She was great about "starting" new plants over the winter and often times (usually on or around Mother's Day) she would give me one of the begonias she'd started because she knew that was one of my favorite outdoor plants. . .and during those days it was a plant she knew I couldn't kill cuz we had a super shady yard then and those begonias thrived there.

My mom did pass on  some mighty fine qualities to me, but she knew that Green Thumb wasn't one of them!  

I know she found great inner peace when "piddling" with her plants and garden.  One of the greatest joys in her life came when she and my brother and his wife shared a home and garden.  She loved to show off their latest planting efforts, and he his, and I know that brought great happiness to her cuz he also had a pretty Green Thumb in those days.

But, like I said, that Green Thumb just skipped right over me.  I really don't find relaxation in dragging huge bags of soil around or putting the dirt in the pots or even placing the new little plants in them and it REALLY irritates me to shell out money to buy the plants in the first place.   Oh and I HATE to water them!!

So why do I do it?  

I like the results.  I like to sit on the patio and look at the pretty blooms.  That's the time I find very peaceful and relaxing.

However, this year has been somewhat different.

I still didn't like having to pay WAY too much for my little flat of plants OR dragging the dirt from the garage to the back patio.  However, once I started the process of "potting" the little plants I felt the presence of my Mom.

She's  been on my mind a lot more than usual lately.   I think of her every day. . .but recently it's been nearly overwhelming.  This will be the 11th Mother's Day without her. . . and I still can't believe she's not with us.   I know all of us who have lost our parents go through similiar feelings. . .and I'm sure it's simply a sign that we loved them so very much.

So, as I pulled the little Vinca plants out of their starter containers and placed them three to a pot, the "job" of getting the patio pots filled this year didn't seem so bad.

I wish I'd had a video of the thoughts that were going through my head during this time.

I know I was having flashbacks of Mother's Days Past . . . and being so grateful that we did have those times together.

 

 

Over the previous 9 summers we've lived here, I've found that  Vincas do great on our Western exposure.  It gets like an oven on that side of the house in the late afternoon, but these little beauties can take it!!

 

 

 

THE STONE RABBIT wanted me to show you a picture I took last summer right before a big  storm was about to come through.

 

I'd pulled the Vinca beneath the roof-covered part of our patio to protect them.  Little Twiggy helped me do that!!

 

 

Another plant I've found that does super on that hot patio is Lantana.  For the past few summers I've been putting it in a vintage mop bucket that was given to me by my friend Bonnie.

I don't know how much longer that bucket will be good for plants, however, as I discovered the bottom appears to be rusting out!!!  I'll have to get creative and figure out a way to keep using it as a planter cuz I love it so much!!

 

 

 

 

Here is THE STONE RABBIT with last year's Lantana!!!  It got HUGE and bloomed all summer long!!

 

 

 I often wonder what my mom thinks about me taking up the activity of running?  Bet she LOVED the first 5K I ever did nearly four years ago.  That's me with my son.  He ran it with me. . .every step of the way.  :) 

 

 I'm sure she was doubly tickled as was my sister up in heaven with her, cuz that was my niece's first 5K, too.    That's us running together in our second 5K !!

 

 

Running seems to have come along at a good time in my life. . .when I needed to find a different way to relax and to find inner peace. . .pretty much like Mom seemed to find with her "Green Thumb".    Actually, she might be thinking I'm nuts to enjoy running, but I do know she's most likely my biggest cheerleader and she will be waiting for me at the big finish line in the sky.  :)

 

 

And here are my begonias. . .ready to be placed in their new pots and put in some shady areas on the porches!  

Can't have a summer without begonias!!  :)

 

Happy Mother's Day.

 

Please be sure to visit Beverly's blog HOW SWEET THE SOUND!  There will be a long list of other bloggers ready to share their special Mother's Day or PINK posts with you!!

DANA

 

It Was a SEA of PINKNESS

 

 Here I was (on the right) at 8:00 a.m. with three of my five running buddies last Sunday on Mother's Day. . .getting ready to run a 5k!!  I have to say I LOVED the PINK t-shirts we received this year!!

The morning started out pretty chilly, but once that sun came out and we were into our run, I was really regretting that I'd chosen to wear a long sleeved shirt!  Actually, there was no room to complain ....it was a gorgeous day!

 

(L to R)  Linda, Mary, Joan, me!

 

 

While waiting with 3,999 other female runners/walkers for the official "start" of the 5K, I took this photo in an attempt to capture just a bit of how HUGE this annual event is.  The Mother's Day 5K Run/Walk is put on each year by a local girl's running club, The KC Express.  And it is a BLAST !!

 

 

I don't have any photos of us actually running, but this was taken after we'd finished!!  I think we all look pretty good for having just completed 3.1 miles!

 

 

We are holding little papers entitled "Why I'm Doing the Mother's Day 5K?"    Our answer...."BECAUSE WE CAN, LADIES!"

I have to add how much more I look forward to these events now that I know one of my running buddies will most likely be there, too.   

Part of the fun of this event is all of the great "after the run" food!!!  Lots of great items like bagels and bananas and yogurt and chocolate milk just to name a few!

 

 

Another item we receive each year is a charm!!!  This year. . .we were given the PINK one!!  I love these!!!

 

 

This year, we also received socks with PINKNESS in the heels and toes.....and our bib numbers were on PINK, too!!

I have to share with you that I also had a huge thrill to find out my time was good enough be first place in my age division. . .and for that I was given those wonderful DICK'S gift certificates!!  

 

 

The good stuff doesn't stop there!!  They always hand out tiaras for the participants, too!!   I needed a model for mine and THE STONE RABBIT was only too happy to do that for me!!

Oh, and while it doesn't show up very well in this photo, I also received an awesome little trophy for my first place time!!

 

 

I have to share with you that this is one of the many decorated porta potties!!  Oh my, you just know it's gonna be a good time when you see this waiting for you!!

 

 

 

 

The rest of my Mother's Day was outstanding, too!! I hope yours was as well!

Please visit Beverly's blog HOW SWEET THE SOUND because there are lots and lots of other bloggers ready and waiting to share their PINKS with you this weekend!!

 

Have a great PINK SATURDAY and get out and do something FUN!!

DANA

A Little Drizzle DIDN'T Spoil Our FUN. . . nor will it!!!

 

 

When I started running, nearly three years ago, I had absolutely no idea that I'd still be doing it at this point!!  What started out as " Run a 5K?  That sounds like fun." has become a staple in my life!  In fact, I am so enthusiastic about it that I try to pull others into the fun, too!

Last Saturday, our local Parks and Rec. Department held it's 2nd annual FREE 5K on the park grounds that surround the near-by Bass Pro.

It's not hard to get folks enthused to participate in such an event when they don't have to pay for it!!  Right?  Well. . .mostly.

Below is a pre-5K shot taken of the group of my walking friends and three running buddies and my HUSBAND!!!   It was his first official such event. . .and I was so proud of him for following through and doing it. . .even though the weather gave us some chilly temps and a bit of drizzle!

OH. . .and I'm sooo happy that Joyce wore PINK that day just so I could post this on PINK SATURDAY!!

L to R:  Bonnie, Michelle, Joyce, Linda, Joan, Mary, Kathy, me, and hubby!

 

Even though the sign says "finish" it was really the "START" of the 5K that we were waiting on!   It says "finish" on both sides???

 

 

Still waiting for the 5K to start were (L to R) Kathy and three of my running pals: Linda, Joan and Mary!

 

 

I was especially happy to see this lady arrive as we were waiting for the start of the 5K!   She was not so easily convinced that getting up very early on her day off work just so she could walk for 3.1 miles in the cold and drizzle was the best of ideas!!

 

 

 

 

 

I didn't get any action shots while I ran, but I was able to capture some of the others as they approached the finish line!  Here comes Linda!!

 

Marian looked much happier in this picture. . . now that she and Joyce were moments away from crossing the finish line!!

 

Michelle and my hubby were all smiles, too!!  See how much fun 5Ks can be!!

 

 

His first "finish"!!

 

 

 

Bonnie and Kathy made it just fine, too!

 

 

Here's our Post-5K picture!!!

I think we are a mighty fine looking group. . .don't you?

Check out that ambulance background. . .thankfully,   none of us needed it!

 

 

I told the group that I'd serve them a post 5K breakfast if they participated!!  Actually, they pitched in and brought wonderful goodies. . .and Bonnie and Marian even fixed the scrambled eggs and made the gravy for the biscuits as I took pictures!!  Not a bad deal, huh?

 

 

After breakfast, my hubby set up his camera and tripod so he could get a group photo of us wearing our. . .

 

 

mustaches!!!

 

 

What a bunch of good buddies and good sports!!!

 

 

I have another 5K I'm participating in on Mother's Day.  It will be my third time to run this one.  Three of my running friends are going to be doing it, too!  You can bet I will be  taking as many pictures as I can of it.

I'm really excited because the t-shirt the run is giving out this year is PINK!!!  I'm not excited about what I just heard on the news a bit ago. . .there's a 40% chance of RAIN!!!  Oh well, even if it rains, it will be lots warmer than it was last Saturday at the 5K!!  And I am certain we will still have lots of fun!

THE STONE RABBIT thinks I've lost my marbles. . .running in the rain and having my friends wear mustaches!!!  However, when he thought I wasn't looking. . . I caught him in a mustache, too!!!  :)    

 

 

 

I hope you have a great Mother's Day weekend. . .and that you have the time to visit Beverly's blog HOW SWEET THE SOUND!  There will be lots of other bloggers waiting for you to check out their PINKS or Mother's Day posts!

Happy Mother's Day wishes to Beverly. . .and a big thank you for keeping our Saturday gathering up and running!

 

DANA

The Last Easter Tag Arrived. . .and A 5K I'm Looking forward to!!!

 

As Grace of PINK IN THE CITY  put it. . .the "carrier pigeon" finally made it to my house with the tag she created for me for our Circle of Friends Easter Tag Swap!  For some reason, it took this amazing tag over two weeks to travel First Class from NYC to KCMO....but it finally arrived yesterday!  And it was truly worth the wait!

Just look at how awesome it is!!  Grace chose incredible Easter images and arranged them atop a lovely yellow background to which she had added a great variety of trim and embellishments!

 

The tag was inside this darling envelope and  she had attached  another sweet tag  to it with a tiny clothes pin!!

 

 

I'm so happy to have all of my tags!  THE STONE RABBIT wanted to pose with the entire collection today. . .he gets just as excited about them as I do!!  :)

 

This is something else I'm getting excited about. . .the upcoming Kansas City Express Mother's Day 5K Run/Walk for Women!!

I registered for it tonight.  If you live in the area and are interested in participating in one of the most fun and awesome and uplifting events. . .well. . .here's the LINK to register!!!  :)

This year, the shirts they will give out are PINK!!!  Each participant also gets a pewter charm, tons of yummy food after the run/walk AND if you're new to the run, you get a TIARA!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the third year I've done this run.  The photo below is from the first year.   As you can tell..there are THOUSANDS of girls and women in these events!!!

 

Where else you can go to find such darling porta potties?

I took this photo last year right before the run started.  I was about a fourth of the way back in the crowd...so you can imagine how packed it was with runners/walkers cuz all you can see ahead of me were runners and walkers!

 

 

My niece took this "lovely" shot of me with her phone camera!!! ha ha  Yes, I know, I look like a dufus doing the old "thumbs up"!  I think I was "winded" and wanted her to know I was OK, but just couldn't get the words out!

 

 

Following the run, folks could pose in front of an offical event backdrop and hold up a sign that said why they decided to run in this Mother's Day Event.   I asked someone to take this with my camera as we waited in line for the "backdrop" pose.

It was really inspiring to read many of the other "reasons" that fellow runners/walkers were holding! 

I can't think of a better way to kick off Mother's Day than to gather with thousands of other females and celebrate life!!  This year will be a bit more special because two of my newer running friends have also signed up to do this!  They'd better be ready for a good time. . .and lots of pictures!

 

 

 

And speaking of a good time. . .you will have just that when you visit Beverly's blog, HOW SWEET THE SOUND!!  Once there, you will find lots of other bloggers who have gathered to share their PINKS with you this weekend!!

Happy PINK Saturday!!

DANA

Remembering Mother's Day 2012

 

This is part of the crowd I was mixing with, bright and early, on the morning of Mother's Day 2012 .  

These gals were standing in line, waiting to receive a nice "giveaway", prior to participating in the  MOTHER'S DAY 5K in Overland Park, KS!!!

 

 

Here were some of the many volunteer folks who helped make the MOTHER'S DAY 5K a huge success.  They were busy readying the "tiaras" for the first time participants in this event!

 

I took this picture as we were waiting for the run/walk to begin. 

There were around 3,500 females participating in the event this year!!!

I can't adequately describe how much fun this is to be a part of!  All females. . .of every age, shape, size and fitness level. . .all out there on Mother's Day morning. . .exercising!!!

 

 

My sweet niece is the one who got me involved with this run. . . she was walking the event with her young niece. . .and got this picture of me with her phone!!

Again this spring, I've been dealing with Plantar Fascitiis in my right foot. . .so my running, after my foot started hurting, has not been consistent. . and because of that, my endurance isn't wonderful.

However, I was very pleased with how I did.  Even with taking two short walking breaks, my time to finish the run was 33 min. and 54 seconds!!  Not bad for an old chick, huh?   There were 138 of us in the age division of 60-64 and I placed 9th!

What's really great is that the ladies who placed in the top three spots in our age division had times of :  24:04, 27:30 and 28:39.

 Wanna hear more?  In the age division of 65-69, with 60 ladies participating, the first three times were 27:55, 29:38 and 30:55.

 I can keep going!!  In the 70-74 group of 23 participants, the first three places came in at 32:31, 40:50 and 42:27.

I can't stop now. . . .in the75-79 age group, with 21 runners/walkers, the first three places were timed at 32:05, 37:19 and 46:12.  

Finally. . .there were 9 participants in the 80-89 group...with times ranging from 47:18 to 1:02:32.

 

 

While it's awesome to see so many great "times" in the various age groups, the really important part to remember is not the speed in which folks complete the 5K, but rather the fact that they are getting out there and moving!

After the run/walk, we could write "Why I'm Doing the Mother's Day 5K" on a piece of paper and then have our pictures taken.  A sweet girl took mine with my phone as I was waiting in line.

Some folks were running in memory of someone. . . there were all sorts of reasons. . . but this time, I felt I did it for me.  Hope that doesn't sound too selfish.

 

After the 5K, I headed over to my son's house, cleaned up, then went to their church because our 4 mo. old Grand Boy #2 was being "dedicated".  It was such a sweet ceremony!!

Here is a precious photo I took of my hubby walking with Grand Boy #1 following the service!

 

The day just kept getting better and better!!  After church, we returned to our son and family's home. . .and dined on an awesome brunch!!!  He made crepes and stuffed French toast.  My hubby fried the bacon and I had made an egg casserole!  What a yummy meal!!

 

After brunch, I watched the Grand Girl show me how she can ride the scooter we gave her for her 5th birthday last year!!   Check out that sweet girl in PINK!!!!  Oh and that scooter. . .well, yes, it's a PINK Hello Kitty number!  :)

Here's Grand Boy #1 heading to the sidewalk for a little ride time, too!!

It was truly a wonderful Mother's Day for me. . . .here I am (clunky blue "running shoes" on!) surround by my sweet grand babies.   It doesn't get much better than this.  

THE STONE RABBIT loved my reason for doing the Mother's Day 5K this year. . . .and hopes you all had a great Mother's Day, too!!!

Be sure to visit our amazing hostess Beverly of HOW SWEET THE SOUND!

She will have a long list of other bloggers who are ready to share their PINKS with you again this weekend!!  

DANA

Happy Pink Saturday Mother's Day 2012

 

I found this awesome basket at a friend's shop recently.  Isn't it wonderful?  I just love the shape of these vintage finds.  I love the faded green color.  I love this kind of basket SO much. . .that this makes the third one I own!!  :)

 

 

They can be used in so many ways. . .like this fast and pretty arrangement!!  I just plunked in two plants I purchased recently. . . they haven't made it to their real pots, yet.

 

Then to make the arrangement look perfect for this weekend, I added a Happy Mother's Day sign!

 

Then I added a Happy Pink Saturday sign!!

At that point, THE STONE RABBIT decided he'd add himself to the picture!!

Would you just look at that cute ribbon he made in honor of Mother's Day!!!!   

He really is a crafty guy!!

Whew.  After all of that creating THE STONE RABBIT and I did, it was time to enjoy a PINK Hostess cuppy cake!!

This one had been frozen for a few months. . . 

but it still tasted superb!!

 

Something else that's superb is paying a visit to Beverly at HOW SWEET THE SOUND.

 

She is our fantastic Pink Saturday hostess.  She always has a huge group of bloggers ready to share their Pinks!!!

 

Happy Mother's Day and Happy Pink Saturday!

 

DANA

RUNNING AROUND ON MOTHER'S DAY

 

If you had told me last Mother's Day what I would be doing on Mother's Day 2011. . . well, I would have said "you've  lost your mind!!"  

You see, last May, I hadn't given a thought to running. . . let a lone running 3.1 miles, but as many of you know, last summer, I set a goal of doing just that and by November, I'd participated in two 5K runs.  Just a month ago, I ran my third one. . . then last Sunday, I put on this shirt, and at 6:45 a.m., drove across town with my husband and daughter .

There we met up with my niece, pictured on the left.  That's me in the middle and my girl on the right!!

 

 

 My son met us, too, just to cheer us on!  Wasn't that sweet?  He is!!!!

Are you wondering why they are posing in front of those Porta Potties?  ;)

Actually, they are a focal point of the fantastic event in which the three of us gals were about to participate!!!  We were getting ready to run or run/walk or walk in a "Mother's Day 5K for WOMEN" in Overland Park, Kansas.

The annual 5K is organized by the KC EXPRESS, a local running/walking club for women.

 

 

Back to the Porta Potties. . . not only are they all a pretty color of RED. . .many of them are decorated!!   Note the lovely PINK embellishments on this one and . . .   

 

 the "red carpet" treatment we received!!! 

Someone shouted out to us, near the end of the run, that "running is easier if you have a smile on your face!"  Just revisiting these photos certainly put a smile on my face. . . just as they did early on Mother's Day morning!!  

What a delightful Potty of Pinkness!!

 

 

This was the 7th year for the club to host the event.  A portion of the proceeds are donated to the American Heart Association.  I heard them say that on the first year, there were 600 participants. . . this year there were nearly 4,000!!!

Here we are, just minutes before the 5K started.  It was a blast to be surrounded by all of these females. . . congregated on a glorious Mother's Day morning. . . with so many smiles EVERYWHERE!!!  Age or athletic ability were not issues .  The point of the 5K. . . a good time celebrating women's health! 

This is the one and only shot my husband got of me "running" and it was near the end of the event.  It was a total accident that he pointed and clicked, because he had no idea I was in the crowd until he reviewed the photos. :)

I have not been able to run on a regular basis for a couple of months because of dealing with a foot issue....the dreadful Plantar Fasciitis.  So, my endurance level isn't as good as it was in the fall.  Let me tell you, I came really close to walking many times before I crossed the finish line that morning.  

Don't get me wrong....tons of folks run/walk and probably end up getting better times than I do.  At my tiredest points on Sunday, I'm certain I could have walked faster than continuing my jogging efforts, but for me, if I stop and start walking, I have a real hard time getting back to the jogging part.  SO I kept pushing myself.

Actually, I saw my husband before he saw me and I  shouted and waved at him. . . but he didn't actually see ME until I was. . .  

 

 

 near the finish line.  :)

I have to say, in that sea of blue shirts so many of us were wearing, it was hard to pick out individual folks. . . even if we wore a YELLOW VISOR so we could be spotted!!!  

That day, I wasn't concerned about how fast I ran the course. . .I was just happy to finish without walking.  However, my time turned out to be my "personal best". . . 34 min. and 4 seconds!  I was thrilled.

As happy as I was about my own running experience, having my daughter, Bridget,  participate, too, made me even happier.



And to put the frosting on the Mother's Day Cake . . .  was having my niece, Carrie, and her little niece, Julia, there along with Julia's mom Beth and her friend Sasha.   Actually they did the 5K last year and were the reason I got involved with it.  

I am sooo happy I did.

"Newbies" at this event get a tiara when they finish!!!  ;)

 

Posing at the starting/finish line. . . .it's easy to clown around when the 5K is over!!!  :)

Our post run/walk "group" photo:

top row, L-R Carrie (my niece), Sasha (Beth's friend), Dana (me), Beth (Carrie's SIL)

bottom row, L-R Bridget (my daughter) and Julia (Beth's daughter)

 

Well, that's what I did on Mother's Day morning. . . the rest of that fantastic day is material for a future post!  :)  I will tell you, that I wore my tiara all day!  :)

Here I am with my husband, the official 5K photographer. Beth's youngest boy took this photo of us. . . he did a great job, don't you think?

 

 

THE STONE RABBIT is posing for a close up of my shirt and tiara. . .note the PINK jewels!!  Each participant in the Mother's Day 5K also gets a charm. . . it's a different one each year!

He was really impressed with all I told him about the all female 5K.  He said he was going to try to organize such an event for bunnies only---both real and concrete!!!  

I told him I had a 3.1 route already mapped out in our neighborhood that he could use for the event. . . and I was certain I could get some of my friends to volunteer to pass out water along the course for the participants!!!  

He said he'd think about it!

If you live in the Kansas City area, I hope you think about joining in the Mother's Day 5K Run/Walk next year.  Bring your family and friends. . . you will love to start that special day in such a wonderful way!!

 

 

 

 

 

For another fun thing to do. . . please visit Beverly at HOW SWEET THE SOUND.  She will have a very long list of bloggers. . . ready and waiting to share their PINKS this week!

 

Happy Pink Saturday!!

 

DANA