Running Stitch

Actually I’ve never known these ladies single.

We met in playgroup. Their youngest and my oldest were the same age, they were my first official mommy friends that I made on my very own. And now those kids are 8. I’ve know them at least 8 years. Supermom threw a birthday party for my oldest the year he turned two, because I was due on that day. And laughing at me all the way has supported me through grad school, teaching, preschool, elementary school, homeschool the Turtledash and now moving. Motorbutt some how got dragged along on our runs and now does Half marathons and marathons and Run Run Runs. She is always there in the background ready to lend a hand or an ear or a shoulder. Our relationships have evolved from diapers to preschool and now further.

The Turtledash was awesome this year. The pictures are harder for me to look than in years past, because each one reminds me of something awesome that I’m leaving behind.

*All the single ladies-Beyonce.

Everyone of these pictures made me do both. So much of me is wrapped up in one Turtledash, every year. My friends and family who have been with me since before The Man (was there really a time before him?) A time before babies, a time after babies, Grad school friends, Mommy friends, Running friends. Brave friends, happy friends. Friends who won’t be friends after I post their pictures to my blog but whose faces I love just as much as all the others.

Motorbutt finishing

Friends of Friends whose stories I have come to know and whose journeys I have been a part of. Family of friends who have become family. And with each picture (some of which are in focus) that I wade through tonight, I see friends I’m leaving behind and will miss with so much of my heart.

Supermom who ran with two ten year olds and one eight year old. And is always everyone’s favorite.

They are all smiling at the end of this run, the Turtledash walk/run that I started and that ends in my driveway.

And this year, it ends…in my driveway.

*smile-Nat king Cole

The Turtledash 2011 photo montage….

The start. Turbo and Turbo Mom

Yo, yo, yo, yo, baby-pop

I’m adorable.

The Supermoms

Waterstation Man. Mile 10

Steve.

me stealing a baby

“Just like shootin’ womp rats, eh kid?”

Six Mile Waterstation

The finish

Mr. Supermom. He’s number one!

bike support finishing…

Turbo Finishes fast 1:58

Lauren finishing.

Turbo mom, not the Turtle.

The Turtle

Three generations.

See you next year.

*Rockin’ in the free world-Pearl Jam

The little kids race, they keep getting bigger, what is up with that?

My Funny Valentine

Seymour, first kid’s dash

The big kids.

Thank you 2011 Turtledashers!  Click here to go to the ongoing Turtledash photo uploads. Or here to go to the Flickr photos Also you can see some at the Turtledash Facebook site here.

Another year come and gone! I’m going to post some pictures here just to drive team website crazy, and to give him something to do (sorry Joe).

Thanks to all the runners who showed up on this gorgeous October morning!  It was really a great day for a run!

There is so much that goes into the day of the Turtledash that it wouldn’t be possible without everyone’s help. Thanks to everyone who brought a potluck dish for the festivities!  Thanks to all the house elves who helped keep things running at Turtledash headquarters while I delivered Mace and looked for lost dashers. Thanks for keeping on top of all the dishes, I know there were a lot. And thanks for taking out the garbage!

Thanks to KJ for manning up and manning the Mile 1/10 waterstation (the longest station on the course)

Thanks to my dad for taking care of the Mile 6 waterstation and for sending me voice memos of all (all!) the conversations my seven year old had  while on the job

Thanks to Tammy for on course bike support! You are awesome, great idea!

Thanks to Joe for helping me with the website and for not burning much of the barbecue.

Thanks to Jenny for not leaving when I made her the childcare volunteer, after she arrived at the Turtledash.

Thanks to Mary for all the homemade goodies. Yum!

Thanks to Michelle for sending lots of canned goodness for prizes!  See you next year!

Special thanks to Nora, official 2011 Turtledash sponsor for taking care of the T-shirt set up fee this year.

Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa for feeding the boys breakfast and volunteering (just like every year that they aren’t in Paris) and for the Apple Tort.

Thanks to Natalia, for finish line duties, marking the course duties, putting up with the general chaos of Turtledash morning, driving down the night before to put up with the cleaning frenzy, making of numbers,  making turtle cookies with the boys even though they were driving her crazy with their middle of the dough cookie cutter ness and especially for night before Turtledash knitting and Movie watching.

Thanks to Leah, Head House Elf. The list of things Leah takes care of on the day of the dash are too numerous to detail but the high points are the chai latte she brings me the morning of  and the still being my friend the day after the Turtledash. Special thanks to the Head House Elf for putting up with the multiple pre-Turtledash phonecalls. Phonecalls that increase the closer to the Turtledash we get.  And the general supportive friendness of coming back to be the behind the scenes person of the Turtledash year after year.  I know I don’t have an ulcer because of you.  ( I mean how many people can you say that to) Thanks Leah.

Thanks to my boys for sleeping all night the night before the dash. I really appreciate that! You can stay.

And last but most importantly thanks to my husband for cleaning all the bathrooms, (with a toothbrush-the Navy! it works!) mopping the floors, running the barbecue, doing the shopping, marking the course,  taking the pictures, taking me running in the dark before the Turtledash so I didn’t have to go alone, putting up with the Turtledash year after year, being fun to be around, and giving me that look that says ‘you are freaking out, stop’ without anyone else seeing. You are my favorite.

Thanks Turtledashers it’s was fun. See you in 2012.

Six Days until Turtledash 2011.

Which means of course, I don’t know whether I’m coming or going.

A sentiment this picture adequately captures.

*Dead or Alive -you spin me right round

Some of the Dashers in Training have never know a time without the Dash. It is in it’s seventh year, and these guys are not. Leading the pack we have Wah and the lady he almost elbows? Lola.

Here they are in their first little dash, not their first Turtledash, but their second Turtledash, the first one they could walk in. (they are 10 days apart in age)

*Memories-Cats

For every beginning there is an end. Another year, another dash, another gathering of friends and family.

Thanks to everyone who was there! Especially in spirit.

It’s time! See you there!

Seven Years ago this month I put together the first Turtledash.

This weekend friends and family will gather yet again at the Burrow to run/walk/eat with friends.

Here is the post from the about page from the Turtledash.

The Turtledash is an 13.1 mile run.

This run is a private run, run at your own risk.

*Runnin down a dream-Tom Petty