(Click on pictures to enlarge)

Troy and I decide not to skip the Davis Stampede this year despite our lack of run training due to injuries and our all-nighter with Anna (crying about every 20 minutes).  Our buddy Liesbeth is meeting us there, my knee is much better (see Hour Swim story) so I want to test it out, it's a tradition and we want to eat another great breakfast at Bernardo's in Davis.  I'm not doing the usual 1/2 Marathon as I would like but I'll take what I can get.  I'm actually running again and that's a big improvement!  The day before we were in Auburn looking at our new home to be and we stayed over at Troy's Dad's in Grass Valley.  We leave GV at 6am, ouch, to make it to Davis by 7am.

(Troy) I really didn't think I'd be doing this 10k this morning. Last night was pretty sleepless with Anna's teeth bothering her and thoughts about the house we just agreed to buy. I felt drained and my foot was sore. But as we packed up at 6am and headed to Davis, I noticed my foot was feeling a little better.

It's a chilly morning as we arrive in Davis.  I go to sign us up and Troy gets Anna dressed.  We meet Liesbeth in our secret parking lot.  Right next to where our former swim team practices, the Davis Aquatic Masters.  Troy and I feel pretty good warming up.  It will be interesting to see how our injuries fare.

An hour before the start, it's bitter cold today, but I think I can give it a shot. It's also a leap for Robin, a first big effort after coming off a knee injury that lasted almost 2 months. Our friend, Liesbeth, is here, too, bringing lots of positive spirit to this cold morning. We all do our

warm-up runs.. extra important for winter races.. and I'm happy with how it's going. My focus is always more on God on race day.. especially since this foot problem: It hasn't made sense to anyone or any doctor, but it often leads to precious moments during races where I'm amazed, and suddenly extra appreciative of my blessings.  It reminds me to appreciate everything, the little things, and how God surpasses my own understanding.

We've joined up with Fellowship of Christian Athletes (a great organization) to put on more Iron Prayers throughout the country so we have some new, matching racing shirts. Robin & I pull on our bright yellow FCA-Endurance singlets that say "Powered by Christ" and, along with Anna Rose and Liesbeth, head for the starting line. It's a big field. I'll be pushing Anna in the stroller. We're racing against Robin. It should be close. Robin's plan is to increase her speed from 7:20 to 6:30 by the end. Before the start we take a moment to pray, thanking God and giving the race to Him, and then we find our starting positions and do some more stretching. People around me are laughing and making faces with Anna who is being a ham. She enjoys these races.

The course is totally different this year...Troy and I didn't do our homework and we are surprised to see the change.  Usually we wind our way around the UCD campus but this year we're on city streets.  Hope it's good!

Just before the race starts, I meet some of Liesbeth's teammates from Forward Motion in Danville.  One guy is racing for the first time after crashing in an Ironman.  He broke his femur and has the pins inside to prove it.  Wow!

The gun goes off and the 10Kers and the 1/2 Marathoners take off together.  Since I don't know how my knee will fare, my plan is to start at 7:20 pace and bring it down to 6:30 pace.  My new Garmin tells me I'm running 6:45 pace!  I feel great but I know it will catch up with me.  I ease a bit and watch Liesbeth drift away.  Go Liesbeth!  I hope we'll see each other later.  A few minutes later I hear Troy call my name.  Wow, he caught me and he's pushing Anna.  Game on!  I tell him that I want to finish with Anna but ahead of Troy(;  It's great that we're all running together as a family(=  The first mile is 6:45???.  Too fast!

Go! It's a new course. Anna and I like the wide open, straight first mile because we can run along the side with the stroller uninhibited. I feel good! Now I see Robin up ahead and finally get alongside by mile 1. She's excited to see Anna and Anna's talking to mommy. Other runners make fun comments about the speeding baby. It all helps the run feel easier.

We're approaching a pedestrian overpass.  This is considered a big hill in Davis...he, he.  Just before we get there, the 10kers and 1/2 Marathoners split off.  I see Liesbeth climbing the overpass.  She looks great!  "Go Liesbeth!"  I pass the 2 mile mark, 6:50.  The knee feels good, thank You Lord!  I push the hill because I know Troy and Anna will catch me on the down side.  Wow, this is a tough hill for me!  I look back and see Troy and Anna.  They'll be catching me soon.

 By mile 2, climbing over the pedestrian bridge across the freeway, it's starting to get pretty tough. 7min/mi pace is fast for me and surely shocking my system a bit, but it's pretty exciting moving along so well. I'm glad I raced today!

We get the our 3mile split, 6:55.  Better, but I hope to not slow down too much.  The next one should be 6:50.  I'm starting to feel tired.  Troy and Anna are right behind me and Liesbeth is out of sight.  We're running on greenbelts behind residential homes.  It's actually quite pretty back here.  I guess this is a nice course after all.

Now we're on running paths, weaving through parks and pretty landscaping.  I'm constantly focused on pushing Anna on the shortest line through the curves. I push her ahead with my left arm, take 3 strides, and then push her ahead with my right. Sometimes she's headed off the path and I have to surge a little to change her course. These surges help me pass people.

Anna enjoys seeing the other runners and also waving/pointing at spectators, small kids, and doggies.  Every since the overpass, we haven't been able to catch up to Robin. We keep going faster but so does she! I guess I should realize that.. I did tell her the plan..  but I'm still optimistic we can catch her.

Mile 4 is a 6:48.  Yes!  Alright!  Wow God, I'm actually able to run fast again.  Thank You!!  I'm really struggling to push hard now.  I remind myself of my coming Ironman.  I need to deal with the pain and push through.  I look back and see Troy and Anna.  This is fun to be racing together!  I see Liesbeth ahead in the distance.  There are 3 girls between us.  I try to pass one at a time.
 

We finally catch up to a Forward Motion Sports runner who I hear is running on pins and plates in his leg after a bag crash in an Ironman last year. I'm amazed he's going this fast. I talk to him a bit about how impressive that is. Seems like he has a really good attitude.

Mile 5 is 6:43.  The next one needs to be 6:30.  Come on legs!  I signal Troy to go for it. 

Only 1 mile to go! I stay close to the stroller now because it's gotten really hard to surge to catch it. I pass a few more but Robin is staying out of reach. I think we're almost doing 6:30 pace!

We're heading back to downtown Davis.  We're close now.  I cannot see Liesbeth again but I know that only one girl remains between Liesbeth and I.  I push as much as I can but she surges ahead.  My Mile 6 split is 6:34.  Not bad!  As I turn the last corner I see the finish.  There is an older guy in front of me.  As I pass him, I encourage him to sprint in with me.  We sprint in and I can hear his daughter saying "go dad."  How cool!  We finish together but he tells me I beat him...I'm not sure about that but it's nice of him. 

Robin's gonna take this one but Anna and I are really happy with our effort. We fly through the finish chute in 42:31. Robin was only 15 secs ahead and Liesbeth another 30 sec ahead of her.

I look back and see Troy and Anna finish.  We all finished within a minute of each other.  Cannot get any closer than that!  So cool!!  Liesbeth had a great race and ran a possible PR.  What a great day!

A great day :) We all get to eat now and Anna eventually falls asleep in my arms. Thanks, Lord.

Later on we run into Megan Canova, our CIM Relay teammate.  She had a tough race but she'll be back in force soon(=  Beth Bourne from my track club finished 3rd in her age group in the 1/2 Marathon.  Great job Beth!!