As for the race, the guys did great!! They didn't have any injuries or problems come up. And, they were so fast! I really need to find out the average age for this group because they were running against young college age mens teams and their times are right there with them. I think our youngest team member might have been 27 or 28 and our oldest in his 40's. So it is very impressive! They placed 5th in their division of 20 teams (Men's Division). They placed 11th overall out of 157 teams. And their team pace was 7:40! The teams ahead of them were 6:58, 7:09, 7:13, and 7:15 and we know one was from t.u. and one was the Corps of Cadets. So, I am so proud of them! It was slightly different this year because they had to make the race only 180 miles instead of 200 miles, but it was great because it meant only 36 legs instead of 40. So, every guy only had to run 3 legs which is really helpful because those 4 guys that have to run a leg at the very end of their 24 hours are really spent.
Vic was so proud of his times. He actually trained more this year for the race than last year, because last year he felt he didn't train enough. Vic is always so diligent with meeting his goals and working hard. His paces and distances were:
Here's photos from the rest of the day!
My handsome hubby excited and pumped for the race!
We arrived with the kids and the boys immediately started playing ball.
And the sweet big girls took care of the sweet little girls who wanted to be pushed in one another's strollers!
A little warming up before we all walked down to the start line.
Look at these beautiful girls! Lizzy is 9 in this photo and the sweetest little girl. Grace loves to play with Lizzy and looks up to her and it makes me so happy!
Lucas, Lane, Vic & Atticus
Now they are seriously warming up for the race!
Two sweet friends! And side note: how are they such big boys now?
The team and Ronald, Lucas's dad, who was their driver again this year!
And they are off to run the first mile together as a team, before the first runner continues on with his leg.
And then we got a quick Erwin family picture.
I told Charley to smile because Ana might want his picture. He said "she won't!" hahahahah!
Don't Stop, Give 'Em Hell is always their team name! I make the kid call them Don't Stop, Give 'Em Heck. haha!
We took the kids to this great park to play and they had fun, until it just got hot!
I didn't really hear from Vic much throughout the race, but here are some of his photos.
I am not sure what this is, but he took it so I will post it. It must have been significant!
The route ran through Shiner and they stopped to get little tiny cups of beer.
Vic & Geoff
This year, instead of ending up at the San Jacinto Monument (boo!), they ended on top of a parking garage. Vic felt so bad for the guy who had to run up the garage to end the race. But, this was their view.
Their team finished and got their medals! Such a great race for them! Even the two new guys immediately wanted to do it again next year!
They arrived back to the house and started cleaning out that disgusting van. It is just so stinky after those guys are in and out of those vans!
As they pass other runners on the race, they mark them down as "Kills".
Once everyone left and Vic returned the van, he struggled with what to do next. He is always tired, but still energized from the race. And he doesn't want to go to bed too early because he wants to sleep all night. So, he sat on the back porch to tell me all about the race and then even played football with Atticus for awhile. In fact, he actually watched the John Wayne movie, The Alamo, with Atticus that evening too because Atticus was doing a project on the Alamo for school. I would have showered and slept, but Vic just kept going until bedtime where he crashed!
And, I just thought I'd document the good ole' spreadsheet Vic uses each year. He is possibly the most organized team captain ever!
