12K's of Christmas...

Rusty has developed a LOVE for running. The race season is just beginning here in AZ, so stay turned for plenty 'o running posts in the coming months.

His last one of 2011 was a local one called the 12K's of Christmas.  I like this run because it goes right by my in laws home so we can cheer him on and because they give everyone santa hats to run in.  But people don't just wear the hats, oh no. They wear tree costumes, dress as elves, ornaments, and the dogs are dressed up too (it benefits some dog organization so a lot of people run with pets). It is the best people watching race. And for the runners there are carolers along the route. Fun huh? The kid in the full blown Santa suit was in the top 10 or 15 runners. Dedication I tell ya. That thing had to be hot.

 I mean look at the grandpa in the green tulle skirt and tights! Hilarious.  There really isn't a lot of places for people to watch this race, it runs along a canal, so people thought the boys were so sweet for being out there.  They gave and got so many high-fives. The runners would go out of their way to come to the boys at the fence. Nearly all said "Thanks for coming out!" The boys thought it was so cool.

 But they were really out there watching for this tall skinny guy we call Dad. So when we saw him we were excited.  We waited for him to make the loop that came back by us before we left. We saw some other friends (Betheas) and Rusty's aunt Alison running too!

Rusty had his best time ever. And I really was quite shocked how close to the front of the pack of what I call 'real runners' he was.  Way to go Rusty!