Easter Weekend, Part 1....

So, if you read yesterday's post, you know that, after Luke's nap, Luke and I headed to this STATE PARK....about an hour and 15 minutes from our home.



Marc spent most of his Saturday of Easter weekend running in a 50-mile race. Yes -- a 50-mile race.

Around noon or so, Marc had texted me to tell me what time he thought he'd finish. So, we went according to that text.

We hadn't been there long, when all of a sudden, we see this....



If you can see the person in this photo, it's Marc, coming toward the finish line. He ended up finishing a good 15 minutes ahead of what was predicted. So, we had only been there a little under 10 minutes when he finished. That was a close one!

Right before the finish line, he picked Luke up and carried him across the finish line. Luke now has officially "finished" two 50-mile races with Marc. He did this same thing as well last year -- when he was only 8 months old.

Sorry that you can't really see Luke much in this photo -- I was on the wrong side. It all happened too fast in that I couldn't get to the correct side for a photo.



In the end, he finished the 50 miles in 11 hours, 13 minutes, and 53 seconds. Go Marc!

While Marc was recovering in the nearby shelter (supper, snacks, and beverages were provided by the race directors), Luke entertained himself immensely by running out of the shelter, petting some dogs, waving at people, and running back into the shelter. I didn't sit much throughout this time as Luke needed to closely be watched (there are a few too many areas Luke could wonder off into in this park and get REALLY hurt -- some cliffs to fall over even).

But, I did manage to capture one of Luke's "inside" moments with Marc. I had to snap the photo quickly as it didn't last long.



And, here are a couple of photos of the "outside" Luke -- if you look closely, there is a large poodle in these photos. Luke really liked this poodle, Charlie. I didn't get a photo of the other dog that was there, a bassett hound, but Luke liked him as well.

Thanks to my parents for helping Luke get comfortable with dogs (at their home) because that certainly hasn't happened at our home -- a home without any pets.





And, just for some scenery, here is the lake at this state park -- the photogenic area at the finish line of this race. This was taken right around sunset last night.



Then, once Marc was recovered....we travled to the other side of the park (about 10 minutes or so) to stay in this cabin for night....



We stayed in this cabin to avoid driving home so late and to just have a little night away from home. But, it really was a quick night and not so much relaxing. We got up early enough this morning to make it to church in time for the Easter service.

And, two fun facts....

1) I love my husband dearly, but I have to admit that sleeping in the same bed with him the night after a big race like this really has its disadvantages.

While running all day, he takes quite a few "salt tablets" so that his electrolytes stay in balance (a good thing). But, upon recovering from the race, that fluid that has been retained thanks to the salt, needs to get out. Therefore, Marc got up a whopping 4 times to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night -- I NEVER got up that many times while pregnant.

Also, his muscles are sore and tense. The lactic acid built up throughout the day needs to be released. That "release" for Marc comes in the form of restlessness throughout the night. So, I slept (or DID NOT sleep) with my husband who tossed and turned most of the night.

So, while it was nice to NOT have to drive home late from this race, perhaps it would've been better for me to sleep in a different bed in the cabin.

2) Those of you who go to the same church as us might know Lynn M. -- you know, the guy who is married to Jill, the guy who parents 5 boys with Jill :) Anyways, Lynn completed the marathon section of this race yesterday. So, GO Lynn and congratulations for completing that!

And finally, I found a couple of photos from this same race last year -- again, when Luke was only 8 months old.



Luke, with our friend, Jamie, at the finish line.



And, Luke, with our friend, Stacy, at the finish line.



Luke wanted nothing to do with Jamie and Stacy this year. He doesn't see them often enough to know them well. And, those of you who know Luke know that Luke's pretty much a complete "Mama's Boy." So, he doesn't go to too many other people very well.

But, if it makes you feel any better Jamie and Stacy -- Luke was too busy at this race this year (at the age of 20-months) to want to be held by anybody -- even his Mama. His Mama spent all of her time chasing him around.