it takes a village

On Friday morning, my family & I are traveling from Georgia to Pennsylvania.

On Saturday, we're going to a family wedding.

From the wedding, we're heading to Ohio to stay at my in-laws and the next morning driving to Pittsburgh so that I can run my 8th marathon. 

As with most things, when I planned this little excursion, I didn't really think it through.

The conversation with my husband went something like this, "OH! We'll already be in PA why not run a marathon while we're there?"

God has blessed me with an amazing man who just smiles at my crazy ideas and goes along with it. He's the one who now has to drive a gazillion miles all over the Eastern seaboard just so that his wife can cross Pennsylvania off her #50marathons50states list. 

God has also blessed me with amazing best friends who are driving 5 hours, with two kids and one in utero, to watch my kids so that I can run said marathon. They are also bringing homemade cookies and muffins. Am I not the luckiest girl ever?

And if that wasn't enough, my husband's amazing Aunt & Uncle agreed to drive to Pittsburgh to pick up my race packet for me and deliver it to my in-laws.   

Clearly, it takes a village for a runner to run a marathon. 

And I couldn't be more thankful for my village. 

previous post: Runner's World is shutting down it's Classic Log and I'm freaking out

Thanksgiving Run down

Stats for Thanksgiving 2011: 3 states in 8 days (NJ, NY, PA), 29.5 hours spent in the car, 21 miles logged (6 of them with Seth! I think he was impressed by my 3 mile race time. Little does he know that I was trying to keep up with a chick less than half my age [see below] ).

1 Turkey Trot run with my 11 year old cousin, Emma. She finished the 3 mile race with a clock time of roughly 28:15. That's with 2 stops to retie her laces - she's amazing. I want to be like her when I grow up.

 1 turkey dinner with the family. My family's thanksgiving cooking skills could beat your family's thanksgiving cooking skills up. Its like the food network elves come and make this incredible meal only its really my Gram, my Aunt, and my Mom. I really want to be like them when I grow up. Plus, we had chocolate cake for dessert... who has chocolate cake for dessert on Thanksgiving? um, we do and its because we rock.

2 days of 3rd generation Parry boys hanging out playing Angry Birds. These boys are no joke. If there was an Angry Birds competition they would dominate. Although they do have a tendency to cheat - if they don't like the board or their score they'll quit and start a new game, but hey they're cute so its ok.

2 head colds for Seth and I. You've never had fun until you've been in a car for 14 hours with two kids and sinus pressure & congestion. seriously you should try it sometime - its a blast.

1 tin of Gram's cookies. The deal is if you bring back the tin she'll refill it. I think I've already eaten 4 today. Chances are slim that they will last the week.

8 wonderful days of spending time with family. I must say that's what I'm most thankful for.