Butte Kicker 2014

Towards the end of August, we participated once again in what we hope will continue to be a family tradition, the Bridger Valley Butte Kicker.  It was awesome to have so much family on our team and we hope next year to make it an exclusive (as in elite and awesome and open to anyone related to us) family group.

It rained for a couple days leading up to the race and then most of the actual race day accompanied by wind (just ask Jill!).  The race is almost all run on dirt roads (think mud and giant puddles), so combine that with a high of 60 degrees and what you're left with is some dedicated runners, no matter what our previous training may look like.

Dan was awesome! He was one of our high milers and even herded a few cows while running.  

Dash handing off to Colt.  Dash did incredible! He ran two solid one mile legs (at about an 8:30 pace!) and then a couple of half miles, plus he helped out on the hills.  

Colt's performance was also mind blowing.  Some of our non-family teammates suggested that we not "make" him run a full mile at a time, but we couldn't talk him out of it! He ran between two and three miles total and insisted that no one run by him.  And the best part...he grinned every step of the way.

Brand was our top mileage guy.  He ran over 12 miles at a fantastic pace.

We loved having Brady and his family as a part of our team.  Brady also ran some big miles (and big hills) and Angie jumped out and helped us run hills.

Boe and Kamber were super fun to watch.  They were both incredible troopers.  They never once wanted out of the rotation and even insisted on finishing the miles they were originally assigned, which I believe was about 4 miles each.  It was impressive and inspiring.  Oh, and don't let the sunshine in this picture fool you -  it was cold!

Jill will try and convince you she isn't a runner, but she did awesome.  Her first leg was straight up a hill, into the rain and wind, through a mud puddle, but she blew through it and was out for more later.

The week before the race, I did something to my groin/hip that the doctor originally diagnosed as a hernia (that's right, a hernia, like an old man).  Fortunately, it didn't turn out to be anything so serious and I was able to run pretty comfortably.

Towards the end of the race, Sport finally changed his flip-flops for sneakers and put in a few meters.

Kazlee and Brady dodging mud puddles and racing in  on one of the last legs.

The kids (and yes, I realized that Brandan and Brady are in the picture, but still, the kids)

The kids ran the last 800 together.

Kamber also ran the last 800, but at a faster pace than the boys.

Our team! The winning team actually, I almost forgot to mention.  The three gals on the left are some last minute recruits that made a huge difference on our team.  Hannah Stoddard (one of my YW) and Hannah Behunin are cross country runners and Nora Laho is a teacher and great runner.