Last-minute 5K race with a 15K chaser.

The Lifemark Esquimalt 5K was Saturday, March 10th. The final day of registration was open at the Rec centre from 7am to 7pm on the Friday. I debated it all day; back and forth, yes, no. And then I finally called them up, registered and picked up my race number after supper. Why not?

And then the fun began. I texted Christy at around 6.20pm and told her I was running the 5K on a whim. She texted back just over twenty minutes later, asking "Can you still register???" Long story short, I called Esquimalt Rec, registered Christy and we ran the race the next morning at 8.30am.

I had both my girls in the Chariot, so the undulating hills in Esquimalt and the steep, rocky climb through Macauley Point park were seriously tough, but we came in under 27 minutes; a PB for Christy!

There were four best parts of the experience:

1. Running this race with Christy. She kept saying she was just struggling to keep up with me, but I could see just how strong a runner she has become over the past year. She killed that hill in Macauley Point park. Killed.

2. Running Moms recognition! We wore our Running Moms shirts and we had several people ask us if we were the Running Moms; the ones that run out of Frontrunners. That was a very nice surprise and very satisfying.

3. Eunice, one of our Moms who runs with us Mondays, was running with her friend, who happened to be pushing two kids in a stroller. Christy and I waited at the finish line and cheered Eunice on as she pushed her friend's stroller across the finish line. Eunice looked strong!

4. Watching my little girls cheering all the runners in at the finish line. So cute.

This morning, we ran 15K in the sunshine. Cold to start, but a stellar morning to be sure. It was the first time I've ever taken this group over King George Terrace, one of the steeper hills in town. Malaika was the only one pushing a stroller and she and Waymouth did just great on the hills and along the Brighton Trail, where Waymouth had his Chariot hoisted up a flight of stairs. Like royalty. What a little cutie. 


Our pregnant Moms ran a shorter course, so there were actually two more runners with us this morning. Plus me; we took this photo in front of my picture in the Frontrunners window. Do you see me? 


Oh, and the dog? That's my dog, Jett. He stayed in the car while we ran because for the first time ever, I actually had a sitter for my kids! Normally my husband, Peter, will stay at home with the girls and when he's away I bring them along for the run. Not today. It was so worth it; they would much rather be playing at home than sitting in the stroller for an hour-and-a-half. Win-win.


Have a great week, everyone! This is a recovery week, so that means the workout will be shorter (but not easier) and the long run will be around 10K. See you all soon.