pat's run 2011

We did it!!! Team Milne (plus a couple of outstanding stand-ins) went out and completed Pat's Run for the 3rd year in a row! We missed Tan and Ave and their little ones since they are having a blast at the happiest place on earth right now- so fun! My sister Jamie took Avery's place and Julie's friend Troy ran for Tanner. It was so much fun!

(stu, angie and baby milne- our little family out for a run)

As predicted, this year was not too easy for me as I had baby Milne along with me for the ride... Stu didn't expect much out of me (I don't know if that's a good thing or not). He didn't even plan on me running any of the 4.2 miles and was excited for a nice little stroll along the course with me. Well, I've never been one to sit anything out and I was so pumped when we got to the starting line! It's hard not be when you see so many people running for such great causes! I told him I wanted to run as much as possible, so we settled on a nice easy pace that really couldn't be called a "jog" maybe more like a bouncy walk... My competitive nature set in a little too, so I had Stu time us on his fancy runners watch. Our time ended up being 57 mins 40 seconds (Stu stopped the timer for the almost 10 mins when we were stopped for a bathroom break at the halfway mark, it was hard running with this baby girl squishing my bladder with every bounce!) We "ran" most of the course, minus some of the inclines, and the spots where my friend Mr. Braxton Hicks decided he would like to join in on all the fun. I know my time isn't that great, but I am more proud of myself just for doing it. For crossing the finish line strong and doing the best I could.


Thankful List:
(because I know I could not have finished without these things)

-my sweet husband who I know was watching me every second to make sure I was okay, who supported me and ran by my side the whole time, who even told me that "these people probably don't understand why we're running slower because you don't look pregnant at all from the back!" when we got a rude comment from a snappy jogger telling us to get out of the way... Oh, I could have kissed him right then!!! I am so lucky to have this man by my side through it all, he is my rock.
-sweet strangers who helped me along by offering encouraging remarks. One lady totally made my day with her nice comment, and it definitely gave me a major boost right when I needed it. I did get a couple funny looks and one or two kind-of-really-hurt-my-feelings comments, but overall it was a great experience!
-porta-potties at mile 2 that saved my life! And the lady who pushed me to the front of the line after waiting a while behind the twenty other people that were needing to use them. I felt bad cutting, but heaven knows I probably couldn't hold it another second!
-"MORE" by Usher, I played it three times in a row on a particularly hard stretch. Such a great song to run to!
-people running while carrying the flag, and the troop of soldiers that ran together that offered up so much inspiration to Stu and I. It was hard not to get choked up when they ran by.
-and last but not least, we are so grateful to Mama J aka Joann Milne for getting us out to this event every year. She is responsible for putting it all together so that we can run it as a family. Isn't she awesome for running this every year?!! We love you Jodie!!!


ps thank you sweet friends for your comments on my last post. Seriously, you are all SO nice! It totally gave me the confidence I needed to get out there and FLAUNT this cute belly :) Plus, I think I would have been wayyyy too hot with that extra t-shirt, holy cow it was hot yesterday!