Best General Conference prep ever

Early on the first Saturday in April, we walked up to the elementary school to participate in the First Annual Color Me Woodway 5K Color Run. I planned to jog ahead with Ellen and Jack Jack, and Jack planned to walk with Rose while pushing Elijah in the stroller.

When it was our turn to start the race, we ran around the corner of the school and started down the street. At this point, most people started walking. Ellen and I slowed down, but Jack Jack just kept going. So I had to encourage Ellen to keep up the pace, keep an eye on Jack Jack up ahead, and try not to kick myself for not running any substantial distance in the last 15 years.

We ran through several color stations and got to the half-way point, had a drink of water and turned around to run the same course back to the school for the second half of the race. A few minutes after we had turned around, I saw Rose running along all by herself. I stopped for a second to check in with her. She was supremely confused to see me running "in the wrong direction" and said Daddy was somewhere behind her. I told her to keep going, and I would see her soon. I figured that with the 600 people running, mostly kids and their parents, she wouldn't get lost, and I could always find Jack and send him to get her or run back to her once I finished with Ellen and Jack Jack.

Jack was waaaay behind Rose, and it turns out that she started with him, but as soon as she saw everyone else running, she took off running, too. 

Elijah was a particularly attractive target for all the teenage female volunteers throwing colored chalk at the color stations. He was cold because I didn't anticipate how cool it would actually be, and he rode the entire time, so he wasn't really feeling it by the end.

I finished the 5k with Ellen and Jack Jack (who ran most of the way. That's three miles!) Then I went back for Rose, who also was still running along, looking very earnest and intent, and maybe a little worried. But she also ran most of the way.

For our first family 5k, it was amazing. All of us had so much fun (well, maybe except for grumpy there in the middle), and we were set to go home and watch eight hours of General Conference over the course of the next two days. I cannot wait for our next race!