Fort Ebey Kettles Trail Run- Half Marathon

Today was the Fort Ebey Kettles Half Marathon that I was running in honor of Hannah's 13th birthday that is just around the corner next Friday! Jason and I spent the night in Anacortes at Gene and Bette's house last night and then drove over to Fort Ebey State Park this morning for the start. On the drive over, there was some light rain and we were prepared for a wet and muddy run, but we were pleasantly surprised to have a partly cloudy day with some gorgeous sun breaks.

Before you scroll down to see our race pictures, you have to know that Hannah loves to dress up. Proof is below of a new dress she just got last week at Disneyland. Isn't she adorable?! 

We are definitely kindred spirits in this way and so when I saw this sparkly dress (see below) at Target about a month ago, I snatched it up for the race today (and got Hannah a matching one!) as I knew it would be the perfect way to celebrate her. 

Jason and I ran the race together and had a lot of fun together. I will say that I was the only one on the course with a costume and definitely the only one who ran the half marathon with a crown on the whole way!  A few people asked me what the occasion was, and I was delighted to share that I was running in honor of  Hannah's 13^th birthday.  At the end of the race, one woman took a picture of us coming across the finish line and said that in her book I won the “sparkle award.”  Another runner told me that I should win the “fairy award”, and a spectator told me I was definitely the best dressed.

Hannah has told me that she doesn't want to grow up, and my silly antics in running in a sparkly dress and crown today are proof that in some parts of life she doesn't really have to!

As we ran through a very hilly course, the phrase that kept going through my mind in thinking about Hannah and this next chapter of life for her was “joy in the journey.”  During the race, there were ups and downs, points where we needed to speed up and slow down, times that felt easy and times that felt uncomfortable….but all through the course, I was so grateful for a beautiful day to run and a healthy body to enjoy the miles.  We found so much joy along the way, and that is my prayer for her that she would find joy in the journey God has prepared for her.