Joseph's Marathon

 This summer Joseph was all about pushing himself physically. He thought about doing LOTOJA but wasn't sure he'd get selected in the lottery, and I wasn't sure I wanted to give him up for so many training hours with a toddler still at home. Somehow his plan turned into completing a marathon and he chose the Big Cottonwood race in September for his first one.

 The kids were so excited about making signs for their dad. I love this shot with all of them creating away (they are all little artists). And then Luke in the background playing play-doh —such a great shot of all my littles in their element.

 The race came all the way down BCC and then hooked right to head north along Wasatch Blvd. until right before 4500 south. The runners turned around there and headed back along Wasatch and then over to Fort Union and 1300 East for the finish line. We met up with my mom at the turn around spot on Wasatch to watch for Joseph (19 miles in).

 

 He stopped for a quick breather to say hi to us and rest for a few minutes. He looked great and I was so proud of him for finishing 19 already — sounds crazy hard to me. He did tell us he felt pretty done by then and was losing steam but he pulled it together to finish 7 more miles.

 Luke saw Joseph stretching across the way and decided he needed to do some too. 

Crocs on his feet and all — we loved it!

 

 For some random reason these Star Wars guys were there to cheer on racers so we got a shot with Darth Vader because hey, why not?

Here are a couple pictures from the race organizers showing Joseph running in that gorgeous canyon: 

 And this is just an awesome picture (obviously from early on when he was full of energy!)

 

And he finished!!

Our friend across the street was volunteering at the race and made sure she was there to give Joseph his medal and grab this picture for us. We cheered Joseph on at the finish line but it was a madhouse down there filled with hundreds of people. We saw him as he crossed but despite our yelling and cheering he didn't see us — and that race had a very long finish line zone only for runners and volunteers, sending them past lots of booths and aid and food stations before they could exit and find family. We roamed forever and finally found him sprawled on the cool grass in the shade.

 Love little Livs making sure the ice was in the right spot 

and Luke wanting to inspect Joseph's cool medal.

 

Cute Mary met us at the finish line with a cooler full of all that ice and my hubby was elated to have it for his joints! She had run a half marathon earlier that summer and said she had wished for ice at the end of it so she brought it for Joseph. Brilliant! My parents were also there to support and congratulate him and we were both so grateful for their efforts. 

It was a huge accomplishment for Joseph!

**In the end he rebounded really well too. He did finish the race with just one bloody nipple :( but then he napped for a few hours Saturday afternoon which helped a lot. He was sore for after and didn't enjoy going down stairs or sitting on the toilet for a few days :) He also had two toenail casualties in the following months but I don't think he's run his last marathon.