The Lescarbeau Family: September 2013

Sunday, September 22, 2013

A city of Red!

As I approach the stadium I was followed by many....each of us in our own world, but we all shared something....It was RED...a love for the color red and what it represents. A world different than I had ever been in and a world I still don't understand completely, but for some it's just a way of life.

From the time I met Eric I knew he liked sports. I saw in the clothes that he would wear that he liked a particular team. It wasn't until being married and spending Saturdays watching a game did I really see how much the fate of a team was a part of his life. After awhile I stopped watching...I couldn't allow my emotions to be wrapped up in a game. My day can't be ruined all because the fate of the clock ending. To my husband it was his whole world. He has gotten better about letting the pains of defeat go...so he can still enjoy the rest of the day...but it is still apart of him.

One of his greatest desires was to be able to see his team play. It was difficult task to accomplish because he never lived in the same state. The cost to travel and the chance to get a ticket was almost impossible if you didn't know someone who knew someone. I was determined that somehow it would happen. Last year his family invited him to a game, but it was the weekended before we would fly there for our race. We couldn't do it.

So after determining that he wasn't going to run a marathon, then signing up on a team to run the same marathon again, we decided to make a small family trip (minus Emily) to Ohio to cheer on Daddy. The girls were so sad last year when they couldn't be there to see him finish. So we bought the plane tickets and then the thought came to my mind. What if....What if they were in town playing the same weekend we were there. It would be perfect. I looked at the schedule and it was if all things where working in our favor. They had a home game the same weekend as the race and we were only an hour away. Eric had already changed his mind about running a marathon...he was going to do the half. Less training for a summer filled with so many other things. Now we just had to get tickets. It used to be harder to get tickets, but they raised their prices so not as many local people go...so we got tickets. We didn't know what time the game would start, but no matter what we would make it work.

Game day came...same day as race day. The race was at 8:30 and the game started at 12:00. We were in Dayton, the game was in Columbus...an hour away. Eric ran fast and I drove even faster. He made it at the end of the first quarter. I dropped him off with the girls and this was his day and his dream. I didn't want him to miss more than he had. I finally made it at the end of halftime just in time to get some snacks for everyone and take the girls to the bathroom.

Eric was tired and sore from running so fast...but he was so happy. He got to see OHIO STATE...in a sea of red play a game. His dream had come true. Exhaustion and a sore body couldn't keep him from the joy that he felt. The game was a blow out...the band was amazing...the girls did great...it was worth everything we sacrificed for that day.

There is still so much that I don't understand about those who love this team...but I understand it a little more. On that day everyone had something in common...on the way to field, at our hotel, and at the restaurant....everyone wore red.

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Air force marathon 2013

Last year Eric and I went to Ohio to run in the Air Force Marathon. I ran the half he did the full. It was a great experience. When we got home we wondered why we traveled so far to run in a race. We decided we would stick close to home to run the next time. The new year came and so did the emails announcing signups for the Air Force Marathon. It didn't take to much to connivence Eric to run it again. He decided he would run on the enlisted village team. If he raised $500 he didn't have to pay his entry fee. We decided that we would take the girls with us this year instead of leaving them at home. Having them be able to cheer on their dad at the finish line is a memory we wanted them to have.

Originally Eric planned to run the full marathon. Then he decided to run a half marathon with me in June. When he started to look at summer vacations, softball, and all the time it took to train to run a marathon he decided he was going to switch to the half marathon. I also decided to run the 5k on Friday night just because I was flying all that way I should do something.

September was hear and it was time for the big race. Eric was more than ready for his half and I was getting anxious to see how fast I could run 3 miles at sea level. The girls were excited to stay in a hotel. Swim in a pool and watch us run. We swam every night we were there. We went to pick up our packets and this is where the girls had a blast. It was like christmas to them. They have a huge expo center where everyone comes to market their product and this includes giving away free things. The girls loved it.

We went to the Air Force museum after lunch and it was amazing how excited two little girls get looking at airplanes. I love watching Eric in these moments. They are some of favorite Dad moments...watching him watch his girls with such pride and joy. To see them get excited for something that is has been so much a part of his life.

Eric's parents came down for the weekend and they brought the cousins. The girls weren't supposed to know the surprise, but it is hard to keep them from guessing. (I brought gifts for the Ohio cousins.) They were a little behind schedule and then Parker got hurt so we decided to meet them after my race.

My race....it started to rain...and then it rained even more. It didn't stop. There was a down pour. Then there was lighting. I got all ready, waited for an hour and then the race was canceled. So we met the family for dinner and went swimming the hotel after we were done. The girls had a blast. Savannah got so good a swimming that she could swim all over the pool without me being in there with her. She over came her fear and trusted in her abilities. It was a great moment for her.

Everything went well the next morning to get Eric off at his race with an exception of the rain. Luckily I had an extra pair of sandals so he didn't have to get his running shoes all wet. The rain cleared up just in time for the start of the marathon and the 10K. The girls and I dropped him off at the shuttle and went back to shower, pack and go to the race. There was a lady at the expo center that showed us a hair style so both of the girls had to try it. I was amazed I was able to do it first time around and it turned out so well.

We made it with plenty of time and the girls were so excited to be able to cheer their daddy on for the finish. His official time 1:51:22. He said he wanted to run in less than 2 hours and he did that and even more. I am so proud of him. This wasn't his first half, but it was his first half running for himself not just for me. It was a great morning for us to celebrate with him and the girls were more than excited.

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

While Mom is away...

I went away for the weekend for a race. So Dad got to spend the weekend with his girls. I left Thursday night and it was all fun and games for the rest of the time. The girls had some friends over while Daddy watched some football. The next morning is was school for Savannah and Dance for Brittlynn. (I kept him really busy) The girls always love having Daddy do their hair...he hates doing it, but they love it and it looks good. (Gotta love a pony tail)

And of course Savannah loves everything that Daddy loves so Buckeye gear it is.

Savannah got to ride her bike to school for the first time. She is so proud of herself. She told me she kept her backpack on the whole way and made it up the big hill to her school.

Brittlynn was so excited to go to her first dance class. This picture is just as cute and innocent as they get. How I wish they could stay young. Eric was so excited to be able to watch Brittlynn in class. As a stay home mom I get to see it all. I am so lucky and spoiled that I don't miss all of the little things. I am grateful that my husband has a job that every once and awhile he is able to see for himself the blessing that I have.

That night everyone went out for dinner and then it was off to cheer camp. This year was the first year that Brittlynn was old enough to be able to participate. I am not sure how much she got out of the evening but they had a lot of fun and Savannah was so excited to be able to show her sister the ropes. They both had to be ready for the evening dressed to cheer.

Emily was kind enough to help get the girls ready for the big game. (She did their hair) I am sure that Eric was grateful that he didn't have to do that one. Braids really aren't his things.

The girls had a blast and didn't want to leave the game. Eric had a hard time finding them on the field during the game, but they cheered their hearts out. The best part of the afternoon was finding one of our favorite cadets...Clark. These two girls are Daddy's girls completely.

Sunday, September 8, 2013

Ragnar Colorado

Ragnar...a word that I have heard used by many of my friends on Facebook and in conversation. I would see the symbol on their shirts and hats...I was curious I wanted to know what it was all about. So finally I asked one of my friends. He told me...but I just blew it off because I wasn't a runner. Then I started to run...I saw my friends getting ready for Ragnar in Utah. I got an itch...I wanted to run a Ragnar race. So I started talking to my friends and I convinced them they had to run with me. I got a team together and it was happening for real.

My team "Wake me up before you Go Go!" The team roster...Van 1...Diane, Paula, Kristy, Jen, Joanne, and Jessica. Van 2...Me, April, Audra, Diana, Coleen, Sandi. The theme was 80's and we were ready for a little fun in the mountains...Breckenridge to Snow Mass in a little over 30 hours.

So what is Ragnar you say. It is a relay race with a team of 12 divided into to vans. Running for a total of 192 miles. Each racer runs three different times. Mine was a total of 14.2 miles. The night before the race I couldn't sleep...allergy problems and then around 5:00 in the morning when I started to fall asleep I heard talking. I look out my window and I realize we can see the start line from our room. It was a great room. It slept all 12 of us and it was an amazing location. We were able to walk down to the start line and wish our team good luck.

Then it was waiting time. For many runners that are used to getting up and starting first thing it could drive you crazy. For me...not so much, but that is what makes this kind of race a different one. It is not only challenging physically, but mentally.

So we took some pictures...

Checked out other team costumes...

Took a nap...

Ate lunch and waited. I was the first to run. It started to rain...someone said it could snow. Nothing was going to stop us. This leg was almost 5 miles up hill. I had been having problems breathing at home when I ran outside. I wasn't sure how my body would react. My body surprised me and I was able to run. I don't listen to music and I usually have a watch that tells me how far I have gone and how fast I was running. So I had to find something to do to distract my mind...I starred counting lines....yes, I am really weird. The course I ran was beautiful. I had to stop and take a picture.

The fun continued...The night running began. They have very specific rule to night running...I am grateful for the safety, but it makes me laugh at how "good" we looked.

The sun was just setting as we finished our van finished the first run. April ran in the dark. We were back to waiting. I had was the one to start us off around midnight. It was a long and lonely run. I never thought I would finish. I brought my camelpak with water because I didn't want to have any issues on the run. I was grateful because the only water station that they had was within the first 3 miles. The whole time I was running I only saw three runners. One passed me, I passed one, and then I passed the same one that passed me. I was concerned because he was so much faster than me. So I asked if he was okay and he said he was looking for a water station. I told him we had already past the two water stations so I offered to let him have some of my water. It was nice to be able to help someone. I saw him come in just after me. Then I tried to get some sleep. It didn't work very well, but my body was able to rest. I woke up looking great. I didn't think I needed a shower, but I felt a lot better after I had one. I think I looked a little better.

My last leg was less than 3 miles...it was great way to finish off my part of the race....I wish I could say it for the rest of the team we had a long way to finish. It was fun for me.

The last leg was hard. My team was amazing we finished in less than 31 hours and we place 3rd in our group. We did amazing and I am so glad that I did this. We stopped for some dinner and the team slept the whole way home. I drove and Colleen kept me company.