Ayutthaya Races

Our little running group, The Ramkhamhaeng Runners, picked up steam and although we didn't have a lot of people running together on a regular basis, we did manage to have about 20 people taking part in an even in Ayutthaya which is about an hour away. It is also one of the ancient capitals of Thailand and has it's fair share of temples and pagodas.

Of course there is a market and we had to bypass it and check things out on the way to pick up our race kits.

No market pictures except this one....random.

Here's the whole gang.

 

A smaller group.

 Caroline ran the full marathon last year and this year took on the 10 km while pushing Riley who is 4 years old.

 

All I heard is that she was blowing by many people and making it look easy.

 

My consistent running buddies, Colby and Darcy. They were training for the half-marathon and I was training for the full. On weekends, I would start my run  earlier than them and then finish of with them in the light which made it way easier then running alone.

 

The end of their race. This sums up our group...friendly competition (with oneself)

 

 Dan and I were the two who were running the full marathon....Kay had to drop out 3 weeks prior due to injury which was sad.

 

That's Kay and Marc-great supporters.

A 4 am start means dark so we essentially ran a half marathon in the dark followed by one in the light.

 Dan coming in a full 45 min earlier than expected! That's his wife Alis jumping for joy and the rest of the gang beside her cheering him on.

I came in 45 min after Dan but was amazing to have so many people cheering.

 

The entrance by a mother/daughter team. Here's daughter, Sarah who also, along with her husband makes the first few weeks of moving to Bangkok so easy. They are problem solvers extraordinaire.

 

 And here's mother, Cookie. Retired from the US, came to visit her daughter and next thing you know she was teaching.

 

Another mother/daughter, Gretchen (MS director) and her 7 year old. 

 

 

 First timers.

 

My biggest and favourite fan!

Post race meal of deep fried dough dipped in sweetened condensed milk. The glass has warm soy milk with a ton of sugar. Interesting.

 

I won the 50+ women's category. Yeah!!! I am impressed by the women who take up running since it is slowly becoming part of the culture. It was mostly men running the longer distances.

More winners. Jennifer (1st in women's 1/2 m), Kaitlyn (4th in women's 1/2 M), and me.

 

Dan, Alis and their daughter, Sara won the family fitness award since they all ran. They won a fabulous suitcase so I guess it pays to stay fit.

Two random pictures.....here is my friend and neighbour, Alis and her cute little girls.

 

Vince and I on our way to the Christmas formal dance. We usually wear helmets and he usually drives with his eyes open...haha.