OVER THE RIVER RUN 2019

At the starting line with the Mack Pack:

On course photographer:

Taking Cora out for a warm-up mile before her race:

James and Noah at the top of the bridge:

Starting line of the kids 1-mile fun run. Cora made sure to be up front:

And she's off!

(She told me later that she felt like she was flying, and I believe it - she was really moving out!)

She led the pack out to the turnaround, then battled a couple of boys on the way back and was in third place overall as she sprinted up the hill. James had gone down the hill a ways to help run her in and I thought it was so sweet that he wanted to help and encourage her. He did NOT want to race today, and we did not force him to, but it was nice to see him participate in his own way.

It's a lot of work to run a mile as fast as you can, especially with an uphill finish. It's pretty inspiring to watch Cora race - she's determined and (overly?) confident, so she really goes all out for the entire mile, often leaving her tank on empty as soon as she hits the finish line.

I think she has the best form! She ended up taking first overall female with a time of 7:39! I took 3rd in my age group and was awfully pleased with that since I ran a 50:14 (a far cry from my PR in this race of 41:50). 

POST-RUN SUNRISE

There's not much better than a rewarding sunrise after a good run!

MAD SCIENTIST 5K AND 1-MILE 2019

We got up, fueled up, and were ready to race!

It was my first race since the St. Jude Marathon and it was pretty fun to be out in a race environment again (especially since I was done in 30 minutes instead of 5.5 hours). My buddy met me at the finish line for high-fives and hugs.

This was Jay's first race in (forever?) and his first run (at all) in over 3 months. Needless to say, he felt that 30 minutes for the rest of the weekend.

We went to this race even to support ERDC and our Castle Club, but also for the kids' 1-mile race. Cora registered with the goal of finishing first, or at least first female. We had no doubt she'd do it either (there is no stopping that child once she sets her mind to something, and she'd been working hard at soccer practices without a break for the whole year, so she was in great shape).

Sure enough, she crested the final hill in first place, but was passed near the finish line by Luke (her running rival, but a very gracious rival who always shakes hands afterwards).

The kids both received finisher's medals and they were very pleased!

Cora then received her First Female award, presented by our new Colonel, Theresa Schlosser, and our Director, David Pittman:

The kids were (later) super excited to see themselves in the local paper:

MILITARY PARK MORNING

Some mornings, the sunrise during my 5:00am runs is pretty enough to make me stop running and enjoy the moment

EARLY MORNING PICNICS

Post-run picnics are the best

JULY 4TH 2019

My morning started with a long run down by the waterfront to see the big flag hung on the old depot building:

Later in the day, we put on our red, white, and blue, and headed over to Clinton to spend the holiday afternoon and evening with the Kennedys!

We walked the mile or so from their house down to the Brilla soccer fields where the fireworks were set to go off:

HOT HOT HOT

After a long, hot run this morning from coach's house, we jumped in his pool to cool off!

TROOP CAMP 2020

Troop Camp 2020 was probably our best yet! Lots of Troop members and their moms attended, the weather was nice (hot, but not pouring rain!), and the Olympic theme kept everyone busy.

We carpooled down to Camp Iti Kana (in Wiggins, MS) with Sarah, Cara Beth, and Addisyn:

First stop (as always) = swim tests:

Our campground this year was 'Paradise Lost' (across the lake, and a bit of a hike from everything, but slightly closer than last time we went to Iti Kana):

All settled into camp and ready to cross the bridge to the dining hall for dinner and games:

Saturday dawned bright and early with a mama run:

Time to get rolling for the day (after some early morning arts and crafts while we waited on everyone to get ready)! The girls (and most of the moms) wore their Troop shirts for the first half of the day and it was really nice being able to keep track of them all so easily.

Pinning her SWAPs to her cap:

Card games after breakfast (anytime they had an extra 10 minutes between activities they were either playing UNO or drawing in their journals):

First stop? Paint ball slingshots and archery!

(Back Row: Addisyn, Olivia, Cheyenne; Middle Row: Kennedy, Madisyn, Emma, Anna Paiten, Cora, Cara Beth, Abby; Front Row: Autumn, Vivian, Mary Austen, Marie, Lily)

(Adding in the moms: Sarah, LaToria, Catherine, Sarah, me, Kelsey, Ann, Sally, Tiffiney, Jessica, Michelle, and Sally up front)

Never pass up a chance to practice my skills for the zombie apocalypse!

Painting pillowcase with pain pens and water guns:

Getting silly at lunch...

We won the Spirit Stick after dinner! Our camp (our Troop and the one other Girl Scout and her mom sharing Paradise Lost with us) got to add a SWAP and pose for a photo:

More photo posing (with the fake flowers the camp leader gave them during craft hour):

Afternoon swim time (the best part of Troop Camp - when we get to cool off!)

Followed by lake time (Cora did the paddleboard and canoe):

(ALWAYS sprints to the front of the line so she can get suited up in a life jacket and on the water first. I've tried and just can't break her of this...)

(I love seeing these brave, strong girls out there exploring!)

Time for the pre-meal song prayer before we march in to the buffet line:

Checking out the horses after dinner (they were there for the Resident Camp starting Sunday afternoon, not for our Troop Camp):

Being a Goober and sitting on the pokey pinecones:

Time for more post-dinner games!

(I love me some Daisies, and Marie is definitely my favorite - shhh!)

(jelly bean toss)

(water balloon bust)

Day 2 started much slower...

And that's a wrap for Cora's 4th year at Troop Camp!