Friday, November 12, 2010

when expos attack ...

This time tomorrow morning, J and I will be racing. We have been training for this day for months and are both ready to crush our current PRs (J, in the half marathon and me, in the 8K.)

But before toeing the line, we needed to pick up our race bibs. So, last night, I took the girls to the race expo, where we met up with G, the illusive Dave and Earth Momma Mer. The plan was simple.

1. Meet around five. Check.
2. Pick up our race bags. Check.
3. Scope out the booths. Check.
4. Spend zero dollars. Check.
5. Keep the kids reigned in. Fail.

Ever wonder what would happen if you let a five year old and a three year old with sticky fingers attend a race expo? Well, wonder no more ...


The vast majority of this was NOT INCLUDED in the race bag. If it was FREE, my kids were taking it.

With that said, the experience was far from bad. The high points included ...

  • The fact that the expo itself was sweet. I would have been there for hours had I not had the kids with me OR if I had an unlimited budget.
  • P.F. Chang's was giving out fortune cookies with running-themed fortunes. Mine couldn't have been more perfect for me. It said, "Eat to run. Run to eat."
  • Dizzle, who was on the hunt for free food, found a table of GU and said, "Is that free? Or is it regular running GU?" (I seriously love that my kids know what GU is for).
  • The girls made these adorable signs for J and me ...

Cute, right? And if PRs come from channeling the energy of butterflies, unicorns, rainbows and smiling suns, then J and I are golden ...

36 comments:

Rene' said...

Love it! Good luck to you and J tomorrow. I will be thinking about you!!!

Karen Seal said...

Too funny! Best of luck to you guys tomorrow!!! :0)

Katye said...

you have to keep those signs! Did I mention how bummed I am I'm missing out! Wishing the best of vibes to ALL 3 OF YOU!

Beachgirlrunning said...

Love it! Good luck on the race!

Anonymous said...

I love the signs :) Good luck to all of you tomorrow!

Anne said...

Good luck for tomorrow!!!

My kids did the same thing when I took them to a psychology conference expo when they were young :)

S Club Mama said...

it's good the expo was big enough to entertain them - my expo at our 1/2 was NOT big at all. Didn't even entertain me. lol

Anonymous said...

Great signs! Sounds like a decent expo. Rest well tonight and have fun tomorrow- good luck!

dawn @ running the dawn said...

so fun to run a race with your husband out there as well. it will be so exciting for you to celebrate your own wins as well as each other's victories. yay for fit families!!!

Unknown said...

Good luck to both of you guys! I didn't realized this was such a big event (8k sounded like a small local thing). How fun!
Hmmm...will you be having mud pie tonight?

Kim (Book Worm Runs) said...

Your family is too adorable! :) Good luck to you both tomorrow...you will rock that race!!

Running Diva Mom said...

love it!!! good luck to both of ya!

Rae said...

Good luck!!

Does your Hubby's bib say Brobee?? If so that is awesome!

Marlene said...

NICE! Those girls sure know how to collect free samples!

Meg said...

LOVE that your kids are all over expos!

Good Luck!! Have an awesome run!!!!

Jen said...

I wish my kids would snag the free stuff... lol!

Praying for you and J to ROCK THE RACE

Amanda@runninghood said...

I love this post! Taking my kids to an expo sounds like a nightmare. I'm just wondering how I'm going to get to the post office, pharmacy and grocery shopping..at least grocery shopping I can keep them in the cart. ;) Love that you and your husband are running together...We used to do that too..He's my favorite running partner. Hope to do it again soon. Good Luck!

Hunnybee said...

Good Luck! Those are some truly adorable signs.

Runners Fuel said...

So cute! Have a great race tomorrow!

jamie@sweatyhugs said...

Hilarious! Love all the goodies. Best of luck to you tomorrow.

Shellyrm ~ just a country runner said...

Little kids pictures are the best! You and J are going to do great. Enjoy your races!

track coach and adorable wife said...

That's hilarious! Good luck to you both, you are gonna crush it!

Drea said...

Oh yeah, butterflies and rainbows are very powerful :)- Drea

Allison @ Mile Stones said...

I love expos :) Good luck!!

Unknown said...

Hey, I run to eat... nothing wrong with that!

I love the kids signs... something about kid drawn sunshines with smiley faces that makes my day!

Good luck tomorrow!

Emz said...

I'm a run to eat-er. I'm totally okay with it.

Love the signs.

Awesome.

Anonymous said...

Maybe I need to take the kids with me to the next expo... I always feel guilty grabbing too man samples, but I love freebies... teach 'em to scope out the good stuff! Ha ha ha!

Julie @ HotlegsRunner said...

hahaha~! can I borrow your kids when I go to my next expo? =p

Sarah said...

Really enjoyed your post! I laughed out loud, thinking my kids would be robbing the booths blind! Best of luck to you!

The Hungry Runner Girl said...

I have never been to an expo that gave away that much stuff! LUCKY!!
Good luck tomorrow....you ARE going to PR!!

DaphneB said...

My kids are the same way at really any establishment. My son stops at the FREE-TAKE ONE boxes and brings home real estate books and AutoTraders. Today we visited my husbands work and while we were in the lobby and I was chatting with the secretary he was busily collecting one of each business card on the counter.

Unknown said...

So excited for you! Can't wait to read how you rocked that PR! And, could your kids be any smarter? GU ... tee hee hee!

Winks & Smiles,
Wifey

ajh said...

Ahh! I love your kids!

Meredith said...

Love the signs!! Good luck tomorrow! Can't wait to hear how it goes!

Zaneta @ Runner's Luck said...

LOVE it!! :D Good luck!!

Judi said...

Too funny! Multiply all that by four! My kids are always grabbing paper, trinkets, you name it! I never know what to do with it all! The frisby looks fun!

Good luck on your race!