Walla Walla Crush anyone?

The Walla Walla Crush 5k or 10k is coming up October 2. I registered this week for the fun. Is any one else planning to run? This is my favorite race in the area and I had to miss it last year because we were training for the Columbia River marathon. I hope we can put a car full or two would even be better, and go run in the vineyards of Washington.
Happy trails!
BG

Missing everyone!

I went for a 6 miler yesterday morning out Mission Hwy and running is a lot more fun with your friends. It helped a little that I found a penny in front of Hal's hamburgers on my way back in:) I have missed staying caught up on everyone's lives and the chit chat. I am sure hoping we can find a time to get together to eat and share stories of the relay. When everyone is back and school has started, lets give it another try. Long live SHINY PENNY!

Hey Ladies!

Hey Ladies, I love the pics!! I am in Pocatello, Idaho and The show Extreme Home Makeover is building a house in here. My Hubby and two Brothers and Brother-in-law are voluntering! They all have worked along side Ty Pennington, Pauly, and Ed, they are having sooo much fun! I got to go see the house and it is Beautiful! What an awesome experience! I will have to show ya'll the pics!

Memories for a lifetime - Spokane, WA to Sandpoint, ID Relay 2010 - Team Shiny Penny Syndrome

Hurry up and wait!

Waiting at the 1st major exchange. I was SUPER nervous and just wanted to get out there and go. Nothing a few good giggles couldn't fix but still spent time pacing while I waited to run.

Preparing for the tat contest

I thought we were Team Shiny Penny Syndrome not wokeuptatooed:) LeeAnn was realxing while we got her all ready for the tatoo contest. Looked great!

LeeAnn gettin' showing her team spirit

You never know what Shelli might come up with next...that's why we love her!

Gettin' Ready

Bless Fawn's heart...she was in our hotel room braiding hair. I mean...we didn't smell good so we might as well look good right:)

Some more Relay Fun!

The first picture is Sarah handing off to Kelley...The second picture is of Kelley and her twin (in the Brightest Running Outfit contest). I believe her name is Megan and she was on the Princess This! team... Aren't they bright and cute? And the 3rd picture was actually leg # 3... This was Linda's loooooooooooong HiLy leg, but she is amazing and rocked it!! Way to go ladies!

The Runaway Bride

We got 2nd place in the Awesome Costume Contest for our runaway bride. Thanks for all the help making the costume, well I guess "Awesome!"... It was a fun experience and not many people can probably say they ran 3 miles in a wedding dress and a veil with pennies dangling.... good job ladies!

Sympathies and Prayers

While the Spokane 2 Sandpoint relay was certainly the highlight for many of us in our running careers, it was also a difficult time for the race directors and a couple of our fellow running teams and their families. Tragedy struck the race early on, shortly after exchange 3 when one team, with whom we had quickly become friends with, saw a fellow runner struck by a car. Robin was runner 4 on the Jiggle Belles team. That team rocked, they were so awesome, and full of so much energy! Last we heard Robin was recovering from some broken ribs and a broken leg. Then again on leg 29 a runner and her cyclist pacer were struck by a drunk driver. The runner survived, but the cyclist did not. I think I can speak for ALL of the Shiny Pennies when I say we just want those teams, as well as their families, and those involved in putting on the race that our thoughts and prayers are with you. There is nothing we can say that will ease these difficult times, but know that you are in our thoughts and our deepest sympathies go out to you. God Bless!

Ready...Set...RUN!!!

Here we are at the start of the race, lined up with fellow wig wearers. Then down the hill we go to exchange 1 where Stephanie, runner 2 our run-away-bride is posing with another costume participant. The picture of the ginger bread man we just couldn't resist. How in the world did he run in that thing. Then it's the hand off at exchange 2 to Linda for leg 3.

What Time Is It?

Morning came way too quickly for most of us. But what a team, we worked together and we got it done.

What an incredible experience!

I don't have any pictures to share but I do want to share some of my feelings. I loved the opportunity I had to work with, learn from and cheer on a great group of women. This race/relay was so much fun and at times harder than I thought I could endure but we did it! At approximately 1:00 am on Saturday I was curled up in a ball in the middle of a field trying to get a little sleep and freezing. Slightly functioning on no sleep and looking at a 3.2 mile run, I wasn't sure I could do it, but I did and I ran it faster than I have ever run 3.2 miles before. On finishing my 3.2 miles I immediately took off my running hat and put on a bike helmet, hopped on the bike and escorted my team mate, Chris, on her 5 mile night run. There are many stories like mine that we could all share. Now that I have had some sleep and got my body back on a normal diet and I still get emotional thinking about this experience, I know the emotions are real and not based on sleep deprivation. Thank you to all of the Shiny Pennies for working hard and following through on your committment. Thank you to my wonderful husband for his love and support, my two daughters that I got to run with, the support of all of our families and the great community we live in! A wonderful experience! Thank you, thank you, thank you! Good job Shiny Pennies

Van Decor

Here is a sneak peak of what our vans looked like.

It's a Pig Party

One of the contests we participated in was Van-A-Ram, and the best decorated van wins. So the night before the race when we should have actually been sleeping, we were busy decorating the pigs that would adorn the tops of our vans. Cindy Jennings, owner of Creative Signs, also printed out several penny logos for us to decorate and stick all over the vans. We aren't sure who the winners are yet, but we'll keep you posted when we find out.

Red Robin....YUM!

Here we are eating our pre race dinner at Red Robin. Carb up ladies it's a long road ahead of us. I think I did just fine packing in the carbs. That pesto pasta rocked! How was your dinner girls?

We Did It!!!

Well we did it, we finished the relay! What a cool experience to be able to work as a team to cover the distance that we did. We got up at 3:15 Friday morning and it was off to the races. I am not sure I have ever been as tired as I was last night, but it was worth it. We spent all of Friday, and until early afternoon Saturday, on the run. I don't think any of us got much, if any, sleep on that run. You are so filled with adrenaline, and there is so much commotion at the exchange points it very hard to sleep. I can't speak for everyone, but I think it was a great experience. I think all of us had our ups and downs but overall it was great! The pictures I have posted are of our team race number, which was obviously 11, the race shirt, and the finishers medal. I promise there will be more pics to follow soon.