Donut Dash

At the end of August the family signed up for their first race together along with Melissa and Kathy's families. It was actually my first official race as well. The kids participated in some events when Kerry did the Tinker-bell Half Marathon in Disneyland but I have never been in an event where we intended to run. (We've done the walk for the Child Development Centre but that was 2k and we walked.) This particular race was 5k and was located at the PNE. We arrived before it opened and the race took you through the PNE and Playland grounds. It was fun walking past the rides with no one on them.

I should mention that this particular race was called the Donut Dash. The PNE is famous for it's little donuts. They have machines that make them automatically and you typically buy them by the dozen. It seems only fitting that the first official race put on the PNE would be donut themed. I originally thought there would be donuts everywhere however they were a bit more reserved than that. Nothing for the first 3k and then they offered some small bags of cotton candy and donuts at the 3k and 4k marks and you finished off with a chocolate covered donut with sprinkles. Probably a good idea that we didn't get too much. Running and donuts don't really mix.

The race started okay but I think Callie and Carter didn't really enjoy running in the large crowds and were a bit apprehensive about their abilities. Carter was very unhappy that we had to do jumping jacks and various warm up exercises as a group before the race started. I think he felt we were using all of our energy up. We walk/ran as a family for the first 2k but then I decided if this was my first race I wanted to actually run for a portion of it. I ran on ahead and since we had done so much walking, I was able to pass several hundred people who were also walking. My time was 45minutes for 5k which is quite terrible but not so bad when you consider I walked 2k. Me running ahead was apparently a bit of an incentive for the kids who started running more as well. Everyone finished happy and we got our medals. The kids are already starting to show an interest in other races. (Disney themed of course.)