Adam & John's Totally Awesome First Marathon

Today was the Seattle Kid's Marathon.  John and his good buddy, Adam, signed up to participate back in early October.  The kid's marathon works differently than a traditional marathon.  The kids complete the miles in segments adding up to 25 miles prior to the day of the kid's marathon.  The day of the kid's marathon the kids run the last 1.2 miles- giving them their 26.2 marathon mileage and cross the finish line.  In addition to running a total of 25 miles since early October, the boys (as part of the marathon requirements) also had to each read 13 books and complete 13 good deeds.

The highlight of the race- receipt of a "space blanket" at race completion

John's 13 reads included:  Deltora Quest- book 6, Deltora Quest- book 7, Deltora Quest - book 8, Inkheart, Inkspell, Warriors-series 4 book 1, Warriors - series 4 book 2, Warriors - series 4 book 3, Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, Jabba the Hut's Palace, The Last Olympian, The Three Musketeers, and The Time Machine.

John's 13 "good deeds"included:  Took ice cream to a friend that had eye surgery, helped sister at a friend's house, helped school through PTA dinner, read favorite books to sister, took sister out to help her with her choir fundraising, picked up trash during the neighborhood clean up, good deeds at school earning character counts monthly award,  helped clean up after harvest festival at church, helped to make and hang a welcome home baby sign for a neighbor's new baby, gathered pictures of veterans in our family for the Veteran's Day presentation, cleaned up toilet paper from neighborhood homes that had been hit by some "t.p.-ers", babysat sisters for mom to help her out, cleaned up downed tree blocking our road.

Marathon bracelet that helped recognize John's miles, reading and good deed accomplishments.

As a special celebration of the boy's accomplishment, we had t-shirts made for them.  The front said:

Adam & John's Totally Awesome First Marathon.  The back said:  Friends for the Long Run.  Seattle Kid's Marathon 11/26/2011

10:00 AM this morning was the start of the final 1.2 miles leading to completion of the marathon as they crossed the finish line at the Seattle Center.  Erik ran with the boys as their chaperone.  They said it was really crowded and a little hard to have room to run because so many people were participating.  John said it was still lots of fun and he wants to train to do the half marathon some day.



Waiting for the boys to come across the finish line.



Coming in to the Stadium and
about to cross the finish line.

The Marathon Finishers!