Weekend of Pain

The weekend of pain began on Saturday at 3:45am with the buzzing of an alarm in Ogden, UT. Stephen rolled out of bed at 4:00am, ate breakfast, dressed in his running clothes, almost forgot his i-pod, and started on his adventure.

Uncle Wayne drove Stephen, Brandon, and Derek to the bus that would take them to the beginning of their race. The bus dropped them off at 5:30am and the starting gun went off at 7:00am to start their 26.2 miles.

Uncle Wayne took Mitzi and I to meet Brandon and Stephen at the 14 mile mark. While waiting there were these marathon runners holding long sticks with balloons attached to it and a time on them. Example "3:30" and "3:45" and "4:00". We later learned that the people carrying these signs were professional marathon runners. They knew running so well that they could keep a specific pace so the other runners would know their own pace. It was very intense looking.

We met Brandon first...and completely missed Derek. He was fast. Eight minutes later Stephen passed through. It was so crazy to think that they had already run 14 miles! I forgot to bring my camera at that point, so I don't have any pictures.

After seeing the boys, we dropped Uncle Wayne off at the house and then rushed to the finish line. We weren't sure what time the boys would get there. So we made sure that we got there early enough. My dad, Kory, and Charisse came to meet Stephen at the finish line. It was so good to see them!

Kory was very "patiently" waiting. He kept telling me that Stephen was dead on the side of the road. He was very supportive. He was the entertainment for Maycee.

Stephen came across the finish line with a time of 4 hours and 45 minutes.

Stephen did it! Here he is just before he ran across the finish line.

BROTHERS WITH THEIR FINISH METALS!! CONGRATULATIONS!

Our little family! We were there to hug our sweaty Stephen when he finished his 26.2 miles of pain. I LOVE YOU STEPHEN!!! You were AWESOME.

On our way home we stopped and stayed a night at my parents house. Stephen wouldn't make it all the way to Boise with those sore legs. While on the farm we got a cute picture of Grandma Donna and Maycee Donna! As a side note, Grandma was complaining forever before we took the picture that she was TOO ugly to take a picture. Hey...she smiled. Don't they look cute together?