Tanger 5k Run in Lincoln City, OR

Despite my lingering head cold and long week taking care of the family with the flu, we decided to make the trip to Lincoln City to participate in the Tanger Outlet 1st Annual 5k race. Joe, Randy, and James were all supposed to be running as well. In fact, Joe and Randy even had a bet going for $100 to the first one to cross the line. As it turned out neither one of them trained for the race and then Randy went to see his mom in Hawaii and Joe got the flu...needless to say it was just Susan, Andy & Cabella and myself that ran.

The race started in the parking garage at the outlet mall and went up to Devil's Lake State Park, back and through some of the local residential streets in Lincoln City. When the race started it was pouring down rain...this race wins the WETEST race award! The course was kick ass, up hill, down hill, up hill, down hill. The good thing was that it was not cold, just wet. The strong ocean winds actually felt good except that they were usually pushing against us. Andy and their dog Cabella took 10th place out of about 200 people. Way to go! Susan stayed with me through the race to help motivate me. Given that I had not ran in three weeks, was still trying to recover from my nasal congestion, and the challenging course, I think I ran pretty well (about my average). I forgot how good it feels to finish a race, and I was surprised that it actually felt pretty good to run in the pouring rain. Now I am looking forward to getting back to the training program and improving my time on the next race.

The Flu 2009

The flu was unavoidable for the Miller Family this year. Not sure if it was the Swine flu or just the seasonal flu, but whatever it was it was not fun. It all started one Fri. night when Gracie woke up crying with a high fever. By morning Hunter too had the high fever...and then progressed from there. Poor little Gracie had every symptom you could possibly have and a high fever that did not break for days. By the end of the weekend Joe was sick too.
We were trapped in the house for about 5 days and I was left to take care of them all. We slept...woke up...tried to get the little ones to eat...cleaned up...took a nap...woke up...lunch...clean up...bath...bed. Lots of snuggling, runny noses, trips to the bathroom to hold Gracie's hair while she vomited and lets not forget all the medicine. The flu was not cheap either...probably cost us about $200+ but we were just glad to get through it. Thankfully, we had our parents to bring us homemade chicken soup (the highlight of the weekend said Joe) and delicious apple strudle and more medicine. Lets hope that is the end of our flu experience for this year and next!!!

Some moments were better than others...when the kids felt all right they had a tea party in bed. How cute! Love the little snuggle bugs, and glad they are finally recovering!