run to the sun 2014

This weekend marks another successful run! I trashed my knee last year, and was worried I would mess it up again. I ran my first leg and it wasn't feeling great, so I decided not to push it and didn't run my second leg. I was disappointed, but I'd rather be disappointed than not be able to run for 6 months like last year. I had fun cheering everyone else on after my leg. This is going to be mostly a picture dump, with this years video at the end! Enjoy!!

My amazing team! (For some reason my phone pictures aren't fitting, so click on them to see the entire image.)

This year Brandon brought his snare drum to cheer people on, and to make sure no one slept on the bus. It worked.

 And we're off!

 The first stop got everyone excited.

 4 is now my lucky number because...

I won! They gave ridiculous prizes (I got a Texas sized shot glass) and a bottle of great vodka. I was quite excited!

Emily, one of my running partners. She, Larry and I have been running together before school all year long and I was so excited to run with them!

During one of the stops someone asked to interview me for a promo they were shooting for the race and foundation. I'm famous!

It was pretty hilarious/awesome that about half of the stops had beer and/or liquor for us to enjoy.

The Benson's family had another great stop this year! Complete with BBQ, moon pies, and beer.

It was really strange not starting my leg until midnight. Even stranger because a few people had already finished their legs before I even started. Coming in from my leg with Larry and Emily!

Done and done!

Amy's birthday was on Saturday so we decided to have a surprise party for her after her second leg. The UT Texas Cowboys were at that leg and were so excited to be a part of it! They made sure the cake was ready, as well as the music so we could all sing happy birthday.

We were eagerly awaiting her arrival.

So were the boys!

Since the first run we have thrown some sort of food at our runners while they are running their legs. Amy's favorite thing to throw is powdered donuts, so we thought what better way to bring her in than throw 3 bags worth of powdered donuts at her?!

Let the pelting begin! You can see a few of the donuts at the top, those were the first to be thrown. She was so confused and then finally understood when EVERYONE was throwing donuts at her, and the boys started singing happy birthday.

Passing out cake to everyone.

Another stop (last years was Western) was Gilligan's Island themed. The people in charge of the station were all dressed up like the characters, they were showing reruns of the show, and had a whole luau theme ready for us. There was even a baby pool if anyone felt like laying out.

One of the best ones were awesome ladies giving head massages! AMAZING! I told them they should have someone rubbing our feet at the same time. One of them actually considered it! If only...

After a long and fun night, we finished! 

Walking to the official finish line together, united as a team.

That's a wrap!

True story.

Thank you to everyone that donated, and supported me emotionally as we got ready for the race! You helped our team raise over $36, 000!!!!!

Click here to watch our video!

run to the sun, in pictures

Here it is, the weekend in pictures. Apologies for there being so many...but there isn't really any way around that. Enjoy!

As teachers, we are always being safe. Even when standing on a tricycle to reach the windows.

The entire team, ready to go!

At Enchanted Rock, waiting to start

Katie and Kim are off! We sent them off with horns, whistles, silly string, and bubbles.

Every stop had a sticker with an awesome quote on it. This was the first, and one of my favorites.

 First heel click of the day!

Amy and Brandon heading off

A bunch of 4th graders from our school were in charge of this station. It was a lot of fun! One of the best things they did this year was to make each exchange station more of a party to get people out of their cars, keep people awake, and help cheer us on as we keep running through the night.

Why we run. Christiane with Sheri

3 runners and 2 bikers for one leg? Why not?!

On to leg 3

Typical side of the road stretching. 

Meghan and Marilyn, mom and daughter, finishing strong.

Allison, Sara and Lauren heading off 

While we waited, me somewhat anxiously since my leg was next, we were greeted by a crawfish boil!

Jen, Sheri and I waiting to start running

Kissing crawdads for good luck

Leg 5, let's do this!

Coming in feeling pretty good. Especially after my 9:45 min. miles!

Disco music, glow sticks, and signs made by our students awaited us!

This was one of many exchange stations Casis parents, students or other coworkers of ours were in charge of. We felt very loved!

As the sun goes down, and the night continues...things start to get weird. Snooki wigs come out, we get the cougar mascot head from our counselor, and butt pants are put on. Oh my!

Oh, and stale powdered donuts get thrown at everyone running. Along with some accidental driver hits by Amy. 

I didn't get many pictures once the sun went down which I know you are all so sad about. My last leg, like I said in my live blogging, was rough towards the end. What I didn't say earlier was how amazing that finish was. I was struggling in the end. Trying to run, limping no matter if I walked or ran. Amy and Charles came back in Ruby and asked if I wanted to jump in, but I refused. I was going to finish my leg even if it meant I rolled my way there. 

Heather was awesome, pumping me up, sticking with me even though I'm sure the bike was close to falling over because she was going so slowly. I kept telling her to go on, I would see her at the finish line, but she refused to leave me. As we got close I could see the lights, but not people, but apparently they could see my blinking lights and safety vest from where they were because a huge roar of screaming and clapping began. They knew how much I was struggling because Jen and Sandra had come in before me since I told them to leave me, and Amy and Charles I'm guessing filled them in. 

I started running (probably not the best of ideas on my jacked up knee, but I didn't want to walk it in.), their screams helping me along. Jen even ran down to run the last 100 yards in with me. After crossing the finish line (if you look closely in the video below you can actually see me limping in.) I hugged Sandra and immediately started crying. Partly because I actually finished, partly because my knee hurt, but mostly because of my teammates. They were there for me. They got that I was struggling and did what they could to get me to the finish line with them. I love my friends.

Anyways, several legs later we were at the last exchange of the evening. We were pumped to get mimosas and bloody marys. I think I was more excited about the warm towel since it was 40 degrees outside.

One last group shot while we wait for Katie and Kim to come in, and Brandon and Amy to head out for the the last leg.

At the last leg we met Amy and Brandon at the last mile and we ran together, as a team, to the finish line. As we got close we stopped running and put our arms around each other and walked/jogged across the finish line together. As a team. Best moment of the night.

At the party!

Everyone chowing down on delicious food. Sadly I couldn't eat, but I still smelled all of their insane looking donuts. I don't think anyone minded.

We were all happy and a little delirious.

We brought champagne this year! (Probably a new tradition.) We made a toast to Larry, our team leader.

The Bensons speaking about the night.

It was pretty incredible because Charlotte, and Lance (not pictured, one of the main people in charge of the race and the foundation) both mentioned our team in their speeches saying how amazed and honored they were by our togetherness and love for each other and running. In our delirious states I think we were all crying at that point. We even learned that morning that our team raised the highest amount of money! Last year we raised over $17,000, and this year we raised just under $30,000!!! Thank you to everyone who helped make that possible!

Now the moment I'm sure everyone has been waiting for. Click here to see our team video from this years run. I can't stop watching it!