Our daughter, Tiffany had sent us tracking information for the Rock 'n' Roll (Half) Marathon that she and her brother, Jon were going to participate in along with Tiffany's friends, Jane and Mary. This was a great opportunity for brother and sister to do something together again.
Jon was finishing his finals at Johns Hopkins so it was a rather tiring week for him but he was looking forward to having this time together with his sister again.
Tiffany and her two friends arrived in D.C. from Chicago on Friday and went to the Rock 'n' Roll EXPO with her friends Jane and Mary, but Jon had to go later after his class.
Tif sent text message photos of the EXPO which we loved.
"I don't know if I can finish," said Tiffany. "My knees really hurt after I did my last run. If they hurt again, I'm going to stop and not take the chance of damaging them."
Then there was 70% threat of rain that was forecasted. This would be a different kind of rain than what we get in Hawaii. 30,000 runners would be really suffering if that had happened.
Since Tif's friend, Jane is a doctor, I was confident that she'd be well looked after. Jon had not been able to train much so we weren't sure what would happen. We knew he'd finish because he is a very determined athlete. He just won't quit. This is why he worries us more than Tif.
Although Tif did send that tracking information for us, there is a six hour time difference between Hawaii and D.C. We figured their race would be starting around 1:30 AM, Hawaiian time. We decided to wait until we woke up to check.
There was no text message in the morning so we were a little concerned. It turned out that they were all eating a celebratory lunch by the time we woke up.
What a relief! They'd both done even better than expected. It's a little humbling to think they finished their 13.1 miles in MUCH less time than I did walking the 8.15 miles in the Great Aloha Run. (It must have been my bathroom break during the race.)
Both kids were exhilarated and said the temperatures were in the 50s during the race and no rain at all.
Art and I are proud, happy, relieved and excited for them all. However, the best part for me was to see brother and sister together again. When Jon was born, Art and I hoped that they would have the kind of happy sibling relationship that we did. They do, and that's what we celebrate today!
Along with St. Patrick's Day!!! Happy St. Paddy's Day, everybody!
Jon was finishing his finals at Johns Hopkins so it was a rather tiring week for him but he was looking forward to having this time together with his sister again.
Tif sent text message photos of the EXPO which we loved.
"I don't know if I can finish," said Tiffany. "My knees really hurt after I did my last run. If they hurt again, I'm going to stop and not take the chance of damaging them."
Then there was 70% threat of rain that was forecasted. This would be a different kind of rain than what we get in Hawaii. 30,000 runners would be really suffering if that had happened.
Since Tif's friend, Jane is a doctor, I was confident that she'd be well looked after. Jon had not been able to train much so we weren't sure what would happen. We knew he'd finish because he is a very determined athlete. He just won't quit. This is why he worries us more than Tif.
Although Tif did send that tracking information for us, there is a six hour time difference between Hawaii and D.C. We figured their race would be starting around 1:30 AM, Hawaiian time. We decided to wait until we woke up to check.
What a relief! They'd both done even better than expected. It's a little humbling to think they finished their 13.1 miles in MUCH less time than I did walking the 8.15 miles in the Great Aloha Run. (It must have been my bathroom break during the race.)
Both kids were exhilarated and said the temperatures were in the 50s during the race and no rain at all.
Art and I are proud, happy, relieved and excited for them all. However, the best part for me was to see brother and sister together again. When Jon was born, Art and I hoped that they would have the kind of happy sibling relationship that we did. They do, and that's what we celebrate today!
Along with St. Patrick's Day!!! Happy St. Paddy's Day, everybody!
Well, my side of the family, my son, was drinking bear and playing guitar in a band under a tent at the same event. Guess we know who has the healthiest genes.
ReplyDeleteI know my son wishes he could play the guitar better.
DeleteOur family has a goodly heritage of happy sibling relationships handed down for generations. My dad was an only child so he adopted close cousin as his siblings and they were always supportive of each other.
ReplyDeleteWonderful! Glad to hear they did such a good job, no injuries, no rain, and best of all, each other! Thanks for the great pictures and congratulations to everyone for a fine race. And St. Paddy's Day back at you! :-)
ReplyDeleteHappy Saint Paddy's Day and congratulations on your kids record run. They are super fine looking kids and super athletes to boot.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! I wish we could have been together to celebrate St Patrick's Day!
Deletehow fun and the heritage continues to the next generation!
ReplyDeleteOne of the things I am most grateful for is that my 3 kids are such good friends. I think it is great that Tiffany an Jon did this race together. Your pictures tell the story of how great it was for them.
ReplyDeletecongrats on their run
ReplyDeleteSpoken like a mother. All mothers want their children to be friends and play well together.
ReplyDeleteSo nice to see these pics of brother and sister together! Congrats to both for running and finishing this race.
ReplyDeleteGreat job, Tiffany and Jon!
ReplyDeletewell done Tiff and Jon! It is great that they have remained close!
ReplyDeleteI'm using my real given name today as my middle name of Butler indicates the Irish side of the family. Mother was a Butler. I have posted a picture of the Butler Castle on my Facebook for St. Patrick's Day. That castle plus two dollars will get me a ride on the bus. Mom used to tell us we had a castle in Ireland, but I laughed at the idea and thought she was just bragging :-) about her family (in her mind we five kids were really Butlers rather than Chapins) but, naturally, it turned out she was right, as she usually was. I've been there three times for Butler Reunions. Irish family names tend to be place specific and the Butlers hail from Kilkenny. It's actually more of a clan, as I was not closely related to the other Butlers who were there. We Butlers even have an Irish (Gaelic) battle cry: BUTLER A BOO! It's a weird battle cry, and I doubt if it would make anyone quake in their boots.
ReplyDeleteIt's great to see how your son and daughter are so close. FAMILY A BOO!
As in Rhett? Too cool! We've got Ireland in our sights for next year or the following.
DeleteThis post gives me a warm fuzzy feeling. I'm so happy to know such kids and to watch them grow.
ReplyDeleteLove the photos of Tiff and Jon, and so glad they were both able to finish. I hope this means Tiff's knees will be okay.
ReplyDeleteI used to be able to run, but would have been unlikely to enter a marathon because I was a sprinter. Hundred yard dash for me...run flat out and then "clasp" as my sister used to say, at the finish line.
My sister no longer speaks to me or my brothers, which is a shame, because the boys and I are still great buddies.
K
I'm so sorry about your sister, Kay. That's hard. However, I'm glad you've got your brothers being a family support.
DeleteWhat fun pics for you to receive! And it is wonderful that your two kids could share in this experience. Their close relationship is heartwarming.
ReplyDeleteI was always so pleased, too, that my kids had a close bond as young children. they went through a rough patch, but they have come back together. Last night after we got home from the soccer match, we reviewed the game again that I had recorded on TV. In a crowd shot there were Jill and Jake and Isaac side by side cheering the Sounders on. One of my treasures is a photo of the two of them standing together on top of Mount Rainier.
I can just imagine what an exhilarating photo that is of your kids on the peak! Wow! However, I'd like Tif's feet on the ground.
DeleteCongrats to your wonderful children!! I think it is how you have raised them that needs praise too. I did not do so well a job in that department. I know my son and daughter love each other but they are sooo different.
ReplyDeleteL...w
Ohhhh.... Tif and Jon are polar opposites too. However, I think living away from Hawaii and other family made them rely on each other even more. It does my heart good to see them getting along.
DeleteDear Kay and Art -- I tried to figure out how you actually managed to sleep while the kids started their race. Guess Hawaii folks are used to delayed info. Congrats to all, what a cool gathering, nice photos. DrumMajor
ReplyDeleteWe really have gotten pretty used to the time change difficulties. Tif said she tried to text us photos at the finish as soon as it happened, but because everybody was doing it the call didn't go through. It was so exciting to find out they'd done so well.
DeleteJon looks like his handsome dad!
ReplyDeleteALOHA from Honolulu
Comfort Spiral
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Funny, both sides of the family can't figure out who Jon looks like. He was the first boy born at Great Lakes Naval Hospital after two weeks of only girls so we know he's ours. On the other hand, both sides of the family say Tiffany takes after them so we have no idea what to think. He and Tif also don't look alike so it often surprises people to find out they're siblings.
DeleteWonderful seeing the young people out and running!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post.
ReplyDelete