It's been a long time since we last posted!  We've had plenty of very successful races and some glitches but overall, we love to see people cross that finish line.  It's so exciting to see someone finish their first 5K/10K or half marathon.  There's so much that can be accomplished if you just believe in yourself.  March, April, and May were busy months with almost every weekend booked with races and all for such great causes!  If you haven't looked at the pictures of the different events, take a minute and look at the fun people are having! 
May 18th was our Race4Taylor, Taylor's 21st birthday.  We always are so overwhelmed with all of the support from all involved and thank you cards are being sent out but there isn't enough thanks to give to all of you!  We were so blessed and surprised to have Zola Budd Pieterse run for Taylor!  She ran in the 1984 olympics as a 17 year old with the world record in the 5000 meters at 14:48:07 and was twice the World Cross Country Championship.  She has always been one of my favorite runners, running barefoot when runners didn't do that.  We appreciate her and all of you taking your time to come out to help us celebrate Taylor's 21st birthday!  This year $5500 was given in college scholarships, and $2300 was given to the USATF Florence Cross Country and Track Club, which has been such a great success with many runners going to nationals!!!
Lickety Split was today and was another successful race!  We noticed a new running group-TNT- running. Just months ago, they couldn't run more then a couple of minutes and now they have run a 5K.  We are so proud of them and their efforts!  Running is such a great sport.  One that everyone can try and do.  Your efforts will surely show and it is a life long sport, with 2 men 70 and over running under 30 minutes today!!!!!  Awe Inspiring!!!
Lastly, I ran my 20th state in California 2 weekends ago.  It was supposed to be a marathon that was mostly downhill.  I really didn't see or feel the downhill, was on target at the half marathon point for a 3:45 marathon, but bonked at mile 18.  Colitis and Celiac, I believe, got the best of me but won't give up!!!  The scenery was beautiful, spending time with a great friend, and spending time with Taylor on my run was worth every minute of the trip!
Until next time.......

It's been a while since we posted on our blog and although we have ran a few different smaller races, we ran the Walt Disney Marathon in January and the Myrtle Beach Half Marathon a week ago.  If you've never ran a marathon and you are looking to run one, the Disney Marathon is the one you want to do.  It's 26.2 miles through all of the theme parks at Disney and I can't imagine a more exciting stretch of running than coming up through Main St. in the Magic Kingdom running towards the castle as the sun is coming up.  The street is lined with people cheering along with various Disney characters. 
This year we ran it again with Michael Vause while his wife, Lauren, ran the half marathon the day before.  Last year the weather was great and this year it was clear weather but warmer than I would have liked for a marathon.  It was in the 80's by 9:00 a.m. which made it tough the last few miles.  Belinda finished in under 4 hours while Michael and I gave her plenty of time recover, eat, use the restroom, and possibly go back to the hotel and shower, before we crossed the line a little over an hour later.  Nonetheless, we had a great time and enjoyed the excitement of running and meeting new people.
Last week we did the Myrtle Beach Half Marathon and again we were with Michael and Lauren, Britton Yarborough, and Lee Hicks.  We also saw many of the Florence area regular runners as well.  Although I didn't run my best time, it was a great day to run since the weather was clear and cool.  Of all the races we've done, I think the Myrtle Beach Marathon/Half Marathon has the best post race food and events. 

Although we already ran a race at Disney and in Florida, we decided to run the Tower of Terror 10-miler because if just sounded like fun.  This was a 10 mile night race that started at 10 o'clock at night.  This was an eventful weekend to say the least.  I flew in from Pennsylvania on Thurday night getting into Florence around midnight.  Since we were traveling and running the race with Michael and Lauren Vause, our plan was to leave around 5:30 and get to Orlando around midnight, sleep in a little on Saturday, visit the expo and visit one of the parks, and then after resting go to the race and then hang out in the park for awhile.  Unfortunately our plans didn't go as planned.  Just prior to leaving, Belinda decided to take a short run while I finished getting ready and packed.  Less than a half mile into her run, she tripped and fell resulting in a huge gash in her leg.  We went to Urgent Care but they said it was too deep and we would need to go to the ER.  After being evaluated it was determined the wound was too deep and would need surgery to flush the wound and then sew it up.  By the time she was out of the surgery and recovered it was 10:00 pm and her leg was wrapped from her ankle to her mid-thigh and 28 stitches.  Nonetheless we decided to still drive to Florida and the plan was that Michael, Lauren, and myself would run and she could walk part of it if she felt like it so she could get the cool finisher's medal.  We arrived Orlando around 6:00 am as the sun was rising and went striaght to bed.  Unfortunately the kids in the room were ready to go Magic Kingdom around 8 am and let everyone in the hotel know.  Needless to say we didn't get much sleep.  We headed out to the Expo at Disney's Wide World of Sports around 10.  We hung out for awhile did lunch, went back to the hotel for a nap, and then Belinda and I went to Animal Kingdom.  After getting back to the room it was time to get ready for the race and head out to get parking and shuttled to the start line.  If you haven't been to a Disney race, you need to plan on running one.  They are run first class.  Besides the music and excitement of being at Disney, the race starts off with Fireworks.  Michael and I started in the first corral and Belinda and Lauren started in the last corral since Belinda was planning on walking.  It was extremely humid and hot although it was 10 o'clock at night but I got off to a great start running the first 5 miles running about 8:30 miles.  At 6 miles I began hitting a brick wall.  Between the humidity, very little sleep, caring a few extra pounds, and not training properly, I was wore out.  This was the hardest race I've ever run because of those different reasons.  My last 3 miles were over 10 minute miles.  But something interested happened during the race, when I was hitting the 4 mile point I was passing runners that were running up 2 mile point in another lane.  These were runners/walkers in the last couple of corrals.  From the darkness and the crowd, I heard my name and see my wife running by with her leg still wrapped from ankle to mid thigh!  Belinda ended up running the race.  24 hours after getting stitches and having surgery on her leg, she was running a 10 mile race.  By the time I got to the finish, Michael had just beat me by a couple of minutes, and then Belinda came across the line.  Although she started after us, with her chip time she beat both of us by a couple of minutes wounded leg and all.  We stuck around the park for a little while and then back to the hotel by 2 am.  We left Disney the next morning and back to home.  This was a great race with a great finisher's medal.  Our next big race will be the Disney Marathon in January.

We ran the Providence RI Rock-n-Roll Half Marathon last Sunday.  Brian, Belinda, Rachel Smith, Dustin McRae and myself.  The course was surprisingly hilly in parts, but the weather was awesome.  When the race began, the temperature was in the low 60's, low humidity, and sunny.  Brian had his slowest time in a half but still came in 81st of 3607 runners.  Dustin was 289th.  Rachel, Belinda, and I had slower times but still finished in top half of runners.  This was Belinda and my 3rd Rock-n-Roll Race and our 16th state.  Our next out of state race is the Tower of Terror 10 miler at Disney World in September.
This is Belinda writing now.  We are all still trying to recuperate from this short but also long weekend.  The drive up north was so slow.  The 8 hour drive to PA. took close to 12 hours.  The 5 hour drive to RI took  close to 10 hours.  we almost missed picking up our packets. We were up early by 4:30 on Sunday with very little sleep (the fire alarm in our room would not quit going off).  We made it in plenty of time for the race and if you had never done a Rock-n-Roll marathon or half, they are well worth the money and time (not so sure about the long drive).  Dustin did get his PR and the rest of us finished but not with our best times.  I think all of the driving really got to us but we were so happy to be together.  One more state down for Taylor.

Greg, Brian, Rachel Smith, and I headed to Sullivan's Island for our first 5K together in a very long time.  Brian's been studying in Turkey (we think studying, although pictures show us otherwise) and Rachel has been studying in Costa Rica.  They are both back safely now and thought it was the perfect time to run together again.  Although we love going to different places to run the 4 am wake up call is never pleasant, especially for Greg who has to drive.  We arrived on this beautiful Island and knew we were going to have good race regardless of our times.  How could you not, when the weather is perfect, there is beach all around, and everyone is always so friendly at races!  
    Wow!  Runners sure are fast in Charleston!  The top men ran in the 15s and the top women ran in the 17s.  How in the world do they do it?  But that is what is so great about running or walking, you just do your best and are always amazed at the people/runners around you.  Brian won his age group and I won mine (no 17s for either of us).  We spent the better part of the day at the beach and then ate at Poe's Tavern (best burger ever)!  A great day!  We love you Taylor!

In our journey to run a race in 50 states, we just registered for the Providence Rock-n-Roll Half Marathon in Rhode Island on August 19th and are registering for a 5K in Conneticut for August 18th.  We'll leave around 12:30ish on Friday the 17th, drive about 12 hours, and wake up to run the 5k in Conneticut.  After we finish that we'll head to Providence, Rhode Island!  I believe Rhode Island will be our 15th state!  This race is on Sunday and then we'll head back to good ole' SC to start school the next day!  It will be a long drive but well worth it.  We love our running adventures!  In addition to that we registered for the Tower of Terror 10-miler at Disney and the Disney Marathon.  We've already run at Disney but it is such a cool race we registered again for this year.  Make plans now to join us for the fun.

Run to the Rescue was a great race.  We want to thank all of the runners, walkers, and volunteers.  It's always such a pleasant surprise to work along side such nice people who have their own reasons to run and/or walk.  The race ran smoothly with very little glitches.  Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and the weather turned out to be a warm day.  Thank you everyone!