SWEAT YOUR THORNS OFF!

What better way to celebrate the hottest weekend of the year than to run 3.1 miles in the upper-90-something degree heat and humidity at the end of a long work day with 9 of your craziest friends? 

I saw the race advertised on The Boring Runner (which actually has many hilarious posts related to running and parenting a toddler, and is not at all boring) and crossed my fingers that I could convince Jay to do it with me. Imagine my surprise when 7 of my crazy coworkers happily signed on - and with much enthusiasm! Cari recruited her kids, Sandy whipped up some salted chocolate-covered oranges for post race refreshment, and Dawn made everyone medals! By lunch today we were all pounding bottles of water (hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!) and psyching each other up... "It's not as hot as it COULD be", "Misery loves company", and "At least we have pizza to look forward to at the end". The race is technically scheduled for Saturday, but since it's a virtual race (and the latest blog update stated that the miles could be completed on Saturday OR Sunday), we decided to go ahead and do it this evening (mostly because Team Lindsay is heading off for a camping trip at sunrise tomorrow). Luckily, the bib was fully customizable, so I just changed the date and personalized them with our names:

Here we are, all lined up at the starting line (famous park entrance arch in the background):

And here is our chosen route (the lower loop of the Vicksburg National Military Park is a perfect 5K), elevation map and all (see those two big dips?, the first one is steep, but the second one is really killer because afterward you just keep going up, up, and up for a LONG time):

As for the race report?

It was hot. And humid. And hot. And sunny. And hot. But we all stuck it out (not that you have much choice on a LOOP course) and finished, with iced water bottles and chocolate-dipped oranges awaiting us at the finish! I don't have everyone's finish times, but Jay and I came in at 41:20 (we took turns pushing the double stroller, walked a good bit, and enjoyed running with the kids and our friends - it wasn't about the time, it was about having fun). After everyone reassembled, we took another photo to document our utter sweaty-ness. And show off our SYTO5K medals, created by Dawn to match the ones Adam makes. We were so soaked that our paper bibs (not Tyvek like you get at races with registration fees) practically melted off of us. Now THAT'S a fun Friday!

(Sorry it's not the best photo - my camera battery died and we had to go with the one and only shot we got!)

Race participants (from left to right): Bridger (8-years-old, who finished ahead of Jay and I with his mama) and Cari, Denise and Dawn, Jacob (10-years-old) and Cora, Zac, Sandy and Manu, Alex (he surprised us halfway through the course by catching up to us when we thought he was just going to hang back with Manu and Leo in their stroller and wait for us all to come back), Sophie and Leo, and James and Jay (Cora and James and Manu did not run the 5K, but they did sprint the last few tenths of a mile, and they were proud of themselves).

Once everyone cooled off enough to brave the heat of our parked cars, I ran out to get the pizzas (with Jacob's help!) we'd previously ordered and met everybody downtown at the Catfish Row splash park. I'm sure I totally grossed-out the Papa John's dinner shift, but oh well. That splash pad never felt so good, and I was particularly impressed with the multitasking ability it provided: an ice bath while massaging my shin splints = awesome!

Of course, the kids had a great time too. You just can't beat pizza park picnics!

Cora was so happy with the post-race festivities that she walked to the car still enjoying pizza. In her undies. Because that's how we roll. (See Uncle Davey? The kids DO wear clothes. Just not very many...)