Marine Corps Marathon and Trick-or-Treating!

Our cheering section on the way up to the Marine Corps Marathon! Katja, Luella, Aunt Becky and Uncle Phil.

Runners and kiddos on the metro way too early in the morning.

What a beautiful day for a run! Watching the sun rise as Tim and Kyla step off the metro into 43 degree weather with hardly a breeze.

About 5% of the port-a-potties at the start line for the runners to use. There was a huge uproar from Jon Stewart from the Comedy Channel about the MCM not letting him rent the port-a-potties for his Rally to Restore Sanity the day prior. Once again, think about logistics before you plan an event on the 35th ANNUAL Marine Corps Marathon weekend! The Marines knew from experience just how much logistic support they needed and got it well in advance of the race.

After walking about 26 minutes, we finally saw the start line and arch! The Olympic Flame made it from Athens, Greece to Arlington, VA for the start of the Marine Corps Marathon!

Running past Arlington National Cemetery.

The firefighters raised this huge flag between two fire trucks just for us! Amazingly inspirational sight!

Georgetown University the first time Kyla saw it. We ran around the campus on the road Katharyn Wheeler, girls, and Kyla "got lost" on while touring the campus April 1st. Kyla spent those miles remembering that fun day in April. The Georgetown Hoyas cheerleaders were at the gates to campus cheering us on!

Since it was Halloween, many runners dressed up. Kyla had to take a picture of Sponge Bob for Katja.

He was right around Mile 4 and Kyla stayed with him until Mile 20, or so. She couldn't always see him, but could hear people cheering for Sponge Bob (and the 10 Wonder Woman and 3 Where's Waldo's).

Tim was right, people do just stop to take pictures of themselves and others on the bridges with the monuments in the background. Thanks to the lady who took Kyla's picture!

The Jefferson Memorial usually gets lost in the sightseeing since it's further away from the Mall. We showed the Memorial lots of love today as we ran past it four times.

The cherry trees are beautiful in April with their blossoms. Not quite as pretty in the fall when their leaves haven't really changed colors. This tree was right where Kyla and the girls had a picnic April 1st with Katharyn, Madelyn and Rysa Wheeler. More good memories helping Kyla push through the miles.

This is officially the longest road race Kyla has ever run prior to today. Her half marathon stopped 0.9 miles before this sign.

Kyla got to see the side of the Lincoln Memorial, ran around the backside (twice) and came out the other side to run along the Mall.

The Washington Monument with more autumnal leaves a week later from the other side of the Mall from the Army Ten Miler.

The White House was just after mile 17.

The Capitol Building was heading up Mile 18.

Our cheering section was just after Mile 19! Tim ran past them and about an hour later, Kyla ran past and took pictures.

Uncle Phil took pictures of Kyla with the girls, but now she's gotta run!

The Holocaust Memorial building had Kyla thinking of a church friend, Becky Tarbet because she works here.

Funny, Kyla never saw the official Mile 20 sign, but at the major points along the race (half-way, the bridge, etc.) there were sign spinners. This guy stood still long enough for Kyla to take his picture. The George Washington Bridge closes 5 hours after the race starts to reopen for traffic. One mantra for the Penguins (little legs makes them slow runners) is to "Beat the Bridge" which Kyla is happy to report that she did! Her watch said 4 hours even into the race, but the official race clock was at 4:26. Kyla's subtle Halloween costume running as a penguin seemed only a little off base when she beat the bridge!

In Crystal City we ran past Montana Ted's where we always eat lunch after the Army Ten Miler. This was about Mile 23 and Kyla's feet had un-numbed and started screaming at her at Mile 22. Kyla wanted nothing more than to stop and eat lunch at this point.

Or stop for coffee less than a block away from Montana Ted's. This is one of two Caribou Coffee's that Kyla knows about in DC. Also around Mile 22 was the most perfect sign, "26.2 puts the F.U. in FUN!"

Almost to Mile 25 and we're running around the Pentagon. It was very difficult for Kyla to keep running because the Army Ten Miler ends at the Pentagon and Kyla still had just under 2 miles to run after this point.

ALMOST THERE! Only 0.2 miles to go! Unfortunately all uphill.

This guy ran like this the entire 26.2 miles. Kyla and Tim saw him at the start line and Kyla finished with him. Run with a gas mask for 26.2 miles, no thank you!

The official finisher photo is with the Iwo Jima Memorial in the background at Arlington National Cemetery. Kyla's cell phone/camera/Internet/music/iPhone battery died taking this picture.

Back home! Kisses for the finishers photo!

Kyla finished in 5:34:36 which was 18,067th out of 21,942 runners! She was 6,686th out of all females and 1,234th in the 30-34 year old females division.

Tim finished in 4:19:25 which was 7,420th out of 21,942 runners! He was 5,391st out of all males and 886th in the 30-34 year old male division.

Just for fun statistics, there were 21,942 finishers with the first person crossing the finish line in 2:23:30, last person crossed in 7:27:36 with the average finisher time 4:44:11.

Kyla and Tim still standing and smiling after a long day running all around DC with a cool medal to show for it!

We took showers and got the girls dressed up to go trick-or-treating. Luella was dressed as Belle from Beauty and the Beast, a costume we got from a consignment shop in Minnesota this summer. Katja was wearing the Cinderella costume Kyla made for her.

The girls dressed up at our front door with the jack-o-lanterns and candy bucket.

The girls at a neighbor's house trick-or-treating.