Fun Run for Buns!

Christmas has come and gone for another year.  Our children held up the enthusiasm for Christmas in our house this year, as Papa and I had some sort of flu bug, so we were in survival mode all day. 

three smiling faces

But this post is all about my favourite aspect of the holidays...getting together with friends and family!

Yesterday I took part in the second annual Fun Run for Buns!  I missed the first annual last year, but I will be sure not to miss any future ones. 

The Run was organized by my friends Robert and Tricia, and they do know how to win over runners, that's for sure. The details are really in the name...

Fun

Well, obviously getting up and out the door in running gear before 8am needs to be fun.  Luckily, there was a good turnout of runners of all abilities, with fun stories and experiences to share while we were out running. Stories of Christmas.  Stories of power-failure survival.  Some shiny new running shoes and gear were also a-plenty, which is always fun to talk about. *Runners are geeky about gear sometimes!

Run 

We headed out in the north end of Guelph, toward Guelph Lake on the country roads. It was a bit slushy/snowy in some places, but it was so nice to be out in a group, running along with no particular pace involved. This was my first run since Christmas eve (the flu really knocked me out) so it was nice to breath in the fresh air. There are hills along these roads, so having encouragement during the character building climbs is always a plus. 

Buns

While most of us were out chilling our buns, Tricia was baking some of the most delicious cinnamon buns I've tasted!  The smell of the treats lingering in the air as we left for the run was on my mind as we faced the strong winds before our turn-around. 

 Everyone was welcomed into Robert and Tricia's home (brave people. Runners are amazing folks, but we tend to smell bad after an 8 mile loop) to enjoy treats, fruit, coffee, tea and juice. It was nice to chat and relax, and even talk about the new year, and all of the races it will entail. 

What a yummy spread of food! 

 If only Papa and the boys would pull this together after I go for regular runs!

What a great morning it was. I can't wait for the third annual Fun Run for Buns. I heard there may be a "Tri for Pies" in the future, which I'm definitely going to mark on the calendar!

Enjoy the holidays...the food, the time with loved ones, and of course, some extra time for running!

Amazing

Well.

Today I arrived home (from a very long day) to a lovely bouquet of blue and yellow flowers on our kitchen table.

How nice is that?

I am always greeted by three little boys in need of (very welcomed) hugs and kisses, so I was quickly distracted, and did not realize there was a note with my name on it under the vase of flowers.

After a few minutes, Papa brought the note to my attention.

I was perplexed at first.  Had I forgotten some sort of special occasion?

Then I opened the note, which was actually several pieces of paper stapled together.

The first page had the Boston Athletic Association logo at the top.  Hmm.

I started to read it.  It was an email from them, informing him that they had received his application to run the Boston Marathon in April 2014.  "...due to the large number of submissions received, not all who submitted a request..."

ok..

but...

HIS was ACCEPTED!!


This means he will be running with me in Boston!  I am so thrilled that he secretly applied for a spot.  I am so touched that he wrote (with a very strict word-limit) to the BAA, to share his story, and how meaningful he thought it would be, for him to run along with me.

I have been feeling anxiety over race morning (specifically the part where I leave Papa to head to Hopkinton on the bus).  Last year, in those moments of chaos as I was running through crowds trying to find him were the scariest of my life.

Now, he will be right there beside me.

yahoooooooooo!

Here is the part of the passage he wrote:

...We are the parents of 3 young boys and our trips to Boston have been retreats to revel in our shared love of running.  Our training is often juggled separately but I once secretly entered a race to run alongside her. It was fantastic and it is why I am writing this piece.

Over by the Newton hills I have scanned flocks of runners looking for Amy and managed to be at the right spot to pass on a quick kiss as she prepared to ascend Heartbreak Hill.

For agonizing minutes last year, standing out front of The Lennox Hotel, fear resonated in my head that I may not be reunited with Amy. We found one another in the chaos and were evacuated to a neighboring hotel. There, we went on to console a great lady who had been waiting for her husband to finish his 25th Boston.

Of course, now he must get training!  He will have to keep up with me along the route ;)