Crazy runners!

Yesterday was the Bridle Trails run in Kirkland.  This is a muddy trail run with the option of going 5 miles, 10 miles, or 30 miles as a relay/team/solo.  Michael and his friends from the cross country team, ran on two relay teams. So most of the boys ran 2 five mile loops.  Kelsey and her running buddies mostly ran the 5 mile. One had signed up to run the 10 mile (and one decided after running the five, that she would do another five!) My dad, a friend and I ran the five mile.  Another unique feature of this run is that it starts at 3pm.  It is only the first five mile loop that is in the daylight.  The other miles are run in the dark.  Yesterday happened to be a very typical Northwest day in January:  rainy and cold.  I thought everyone did very well, for the conditions.  But it was slightly eye-opening for me.  This is the first run that we (dad, my friend and I ran together) were passed by many, but we ourselves didn't pass anyone.  It just reminded me that we were running with serious, die-hard runners.  But I was not out to break any records, or body parts, so we just ran at our own pace.  Michael started 10 minutes after we did, and still passed us in our third mile!  The kids' group pictures are from before the run.  The family picture is taken after the first five miles.  And this is just one picture of the mud!