McLaws Moments: April 2010

The Saturday we were in CA was the District Pinewood Derby in Snowflake. A huge thanks to Ron Tenney for taking Dustin and Rhett over to it. I was just going to forget about it but the boys really wanted to go so Bruce got things lined up for Ron to take them. Dustin ended up taking 2nd place and got a nice big trophy - he's pretty proud of it. Rhett got 13th - I don't know how many cars were there. Rhett's car beat Dustin's at the ward race but Bruce did something to the wheels to Dustin's after the race that he forgot to do and it obviously made it faster. Bruce asked Rhett what happened that Dustin's car was so much faster then his and he said he didn't put it on the track straight. He said he was in 6th until he lost that race. So I guess Rhett got the glory at the ward race for taking 1st and Dustin got it at the district for taking 2nd. Good job boys - I HOPE Pinewood Derby is over for 2010!!

Wednesday we (Bruce and I, Reese and Marinda, and Spencer and Kelli) loaded up in the big van and headed for California. We had a fun ride there and stopped at some sushi restaurant (not some of our 1st choice but we found something we liked) before we went to the motel.
Here is Bruce eating his salad with chopsticks. I tried for a minute then asked for a fork.

Here is Marinda trying to look happy about her raw tuna she ordered - not knowing it was raw. She was a champion and ate it anyway.

Kelli feeding Spencer fish eggs - YUCK!!! It was pretty funny - Spencer and Reese wanted sushi and they ordered some but had no idea how much they had ordered. It ended up being a ton of food.

After dinner we went to our motel and had a good nights sleep ready for a fun day the next day. The next day was Six flags.
Bruce and I in our room ready to go!

When we got to Six Flags we snapped a picture outside and left cameras and everything else in the van. We had lots of fun here. We rode the biggest - sickest roller coaster very first - X2. It was fun but I got scared when I turned upside down with my belly facing the ground I don't know how many feet in the air. After I got over the scared part of it it was tons of fun. We rode that one again right then. The line was short so we decided to do it then instead of waiting until the lines were longer and walking back to it. Next we rode the Viper. That was the biggest roller coaster there last time I was there (for my Senior Trip 14 years ago). It was fun but it was one of the more wimpy ones now. There wasn't very many people there at all that day. We could ride and wait one time and get right back on. On the Batman we stayed on 3 times in a row with out even getting off. We rode good and hard for about 3 hours then my stomach had to rest. We ate lunch and all of us had had enough except Reese and Spencer. They rode and rode them. Bruce and I decided we would ride the Viper and X2 one more time. I had lost all my adrenalin by then so they just beat me up. After riding about 20 roller coasters I was done. We waited around for time for the park to close and drag Reese and Spencer out of there. Marinda's stomach hurt her most of the time so she only rode the ones we dragged her on. She did really good for not feeling very good.

We left Six Flags and went to Olive Garden to get our good Pasta meal before the race. After that we headed to Ventura where the race was going to start the next day. We met the other van at the motel. Got settled and sacked out. I guess normally for one of these races both vans would go to the starting line together but we let the other vans go and we were lazy. While we were waiting for time to leave for the race all of us except Reese (he wanted to sleep a little more) went for a walk on a Pier that was right by our room. Here are some pictures from that.

Bruce and Spencer

Marinda, Me, Kelli

And of course had to get a kissing picture by the ocean.

We went back to our room changed our clothes and headed out the door for the race. We stopped by a grocery store to get some food to survive on for the next few days in the van.
We got to the first major exchange for us and got ready to go. The other van was running their first legs and we were waiting for Lori to come in so we could start our first legs.
Me in the shoot waiting for Lori - Ahhh I was nervous. All the people around just made me sick.

Lori came in and slapped the bracelet on me and I was off. My first run was my shortest at a 5.3 miles. It was about 2:30 in the afternoon, it was pretty warm but things were good. There were some hills but nothing too bad. It was a good run and made it in to Bruce at the next exchange. My average pace for this run was 8.35 minute mile. I was excited because this was my fastest run I had done.

I handed off to Bruce and he was off. His first was 7.1. There were some killer hills on this run. He did awesome of course with a 7.43 average. This is right after a huge hill coming down the other side. While somebody in your van was running the van would go ahead and be up there to cheer you on. It was great to get that horn honk or those cheers - it helped keep you going.

After your run you we sent the next person off and jumped in the van to cheer them on. Here is Bruce after his first run just got in the van to take off again.

After our van ran it was our turn to rest before the next legs. We went to Red Lobster to get some "real" food and headed to the next major exchange. When we finally got there (we had some issues finding this) we got the bike ready and laid our sleeping bags on the sand at the beach and tried to sleep. I got about an hour of good sleep and I don't think Bruce got any. We got up, I got changed and was tyring to get pumped to run again. 3:00 AM

This night run was through LA. We decided it probably wasn't a good idea for Me and Marinda to run at night through LA in the dark by ourselves so we brought a bike along. Bruce had to run right after me so Reese biked along with me and Bruce biked with Marinda. I was SOOOO thankful Reese was with me. There were beach bums, homeless and everything else along the way. If he wasn't there it would have been SCARY. This run was GREAT!! I loved it!!! It was along the coast the whole way, it was cool and I was loving it. It 6.9 miles and I beat my first run with a 8.21 pace average. I was excited. I got in and Bruce took off. His was 5.7 miles and he tore it up with a 7.06 pace.
Reese and Marinda while we were waiting for Bruce to get in from his night run. Marinda's all suited up to head out.

Spencer and Kelli

After Bruce's run I grabbed him for a quick picture before he hopped on the bike to be with Marinda.

After Marinda ran Reese ran his then Spencer then Kelli. After Kelli ran we headed to Hamiliton Beach to try to get a little sleep and get ready for the last legs. Bruce and I in the van waiting - looked thrilled huh???

Time for the last leg. I was waiting for Lori to come in so I could take off again. Me with Marinda - MY RUNNING IDOL!! Hope to run like her someday.

Lori handing over the baton (bracelet).

And I was off. This was a yucky run. I was DEAD!! It was 6.1 miles. The van couldn't be with me any of the way so I was on my own. It was at noon so it was HOT Hot out. I was doing good but about mile 3 I lots my juice and needed a drink. They were supposed to have a water station along the way but didn't.

Here I am trying to get up this hill to the exchange. My average on this run was a 9.14. I was so glad to make it to the exchange and be finished. Bruce and Reese switched their last legs so Reese took off from here.

Marinda was after Reese then Bruce. This is a picture of the van while we were waiting to see Bruce along his 8.8 mile run. Almost all the other runs were through cities but this one got out of the city a bit.

Bruce giving me a happy look as he is running by - doing great! He amazed me!

Spencer while we were waiting for Bruce to come in. We were supposed to have these flags any time we got out of the van.

Bruce slapping the bracelet on Kelli as he comes in and she takes off. He did this 8.8 mile in 7.50 - CRAZY!

Bruce just before we jumped in the van to find Kelli. He was pretty pooped.

Two studs walking down to the finish line where we were waiting for Spencer to bring in the last of it.

Spencer came down the hill and the team ran in together. Bruce and I at the finish line with our medals. It was over - we did it!!!

Our Ragnar Team - 51 Kids Home Alone!
Reese Parry, Marinda Parry, Jami Slade, Robby Hancock, Me, Bruce, Lori Nelson, Melody Whipple, Heather Sulzer, Kelli Porter, Spencer Porter, Tiffani Martineau
These are 12 AMAZING People!

Van #1 with their drivers - Tim and Brandon

Van #2 - tons of fun!!

This was a blast and I would do it again in a heartbeat. Everybody did great with their legs and ran what they needed to for the team. It was great fun, with great people. Thanks 51 Kids Home Alone for the great time and memories - you're the best!