Saturday I was out on a 6 mile run. This was a hill run, where I do a 2 mile loop that contains 5 hills per loop. Let me do the math for you: that’s 15 hills and 6 miles of distance all in one run. Normally, I dread my hill run, and have to admit freely that I excel at reasons to do a flatter, more “normal” run on hill run day.
This Saturday, though, I was happy to do my run, almost excited. And no, I didn’t fall at any point and slam my head against the concrete I run on. I raced through my 6 miles and 15 hills as fast as I could. I wasn’t thrilled about the run itself. I couldn’t wait for what came after the run.
Peter K is organizing a 5K run through his club, the “Fit Friends’ Revolution”, that’s taking place on July 17th. And though I love to race, that also isn’t the reason for my exuberance. What I’m so thrilled about is that my 6 year old daughter, Olivia, is going to run the 5K with me, and we’re going for a training run after my hills from hell.
I sprint up and over my last hill and head home. I open my door a bit hesitant; what if Olivia doesn’t want to train with me today? As I cross the threshold, my concerns are unwarranted – Olivia is standing at the front door waiting for me, dressed in shorts, a tank top, and her new running sneakers. She is ready to rock and roll.
We get into the car and drive to the high school track. I thought the track would be a good training spot for Olivia. It’s flat and soft; I don’t want her knees to deteriorate as quickly as mine are. We do some quick warm ups and head onto the track.
I let Olivia pick the pace. She starts to run and I feel my own heart just overflow with love and pride. Now, it wasn’t because I was picturing watching Olivia run in the Olympics some day. Watching her, I quickly realize that athletic ability is genetic, and you can’t pass on what you don’t have. She’s not great, but the look on her face is exactly what I feel when I run; a mixture of sheer enjoyment and dead seriousness.
We run a bit, we walk a bit. But mostly, we talk. Olivia tells me about everything important to a 6 year old: camp, friends, her favorite lunches that I make for her (if you’re dying to know, it’s what we call “PB & S”, which stands for “Peanut butter, straight up”, meaning no jam is even in the kitchen when I make her sandwich. Couple that with a perfectly fresh banana and some milk, and my little girl is loving life).
We also laugh. A lot. Liv got a case of what I called “the running giggles”, where once she could breathe and talk again she told me that she envisioned her little brother, Benjamin, cutting his own hair and what it would look like (and made me make a mental note to move the scissors out of Ben’s reach when we got home).
We had a great morning, and when we were done I told Olivia she’d done 6 laps around the track, for a total of 1 ½ miles. She smiled, pleased with herself.
Later that day, we hit a SNAFU. The mail came, and in it was a birthday party invitation from Olivia’s best friend. And of course, the party is July 17th, the same morning as Peter’s 5K. I explained the schedule conflict to Olivia and told her that it was up to her, but she had to pick. Liv thought for a minute, and then she looked up and asked me, “Mom? If I choose the party, can we still train together on the weekends even though I’m not racing with you?” And just when I thought my heart couldn’t get any more full….
So, on July 17th I’ll head to Central Park for a 5K, and my husband will take Olivia to her friend’s party. And that afternoon we’ll hit the Pelham High School track for more conversation, laughter – and maybe even some running.
This Saturday, though, I was happy to do my run, almost excited. And no, I didn’t fall at any point and slam my head against the concrete I run on. I raced through my 6 miles and 15 hills as fast as I could. I wasn’t thrilled about the run itself. I couldn’t wait for what came after the run.
Peter K is organizing a 5K run through his club, the “Fit Friends’ Revolution”, that’s taking place on July 17th. And though I love to race, that also isn’t the reason for my exuberance. What I’m so thrilled about is that my 6 year old daughter, Olivia, is going to run the 5K with me, and we’re going for a training run after my hills from hell.
I sprint up and over my last hill and head home. I open my door a bit hesitant; what if Olivia doesn’t want to train with me today? As I cross the threshold, my concerns are unwarranted – Olivia is standing at the front door waiting for me, dressed in shorts, a tank top, and her new running sneakers. She is ready to rock and roll.
We get into the car and drive to the high school track. I thought the track would be a good training spot for Olivia. It’s flat and soft; I don’t want her knees to deteriorate as quickly as mine are. We do some quick warm ups and head onto the track.
I let Olivia pick the pace. She starts to run and I feel my own heart just overflow with love and pride. Now, it wasn’t because I was picturing watching Olivia run in the Olympics some day. Watching her, I quickly realize that athletic ability is genetic, and you can’t pass on what you don’t have. She’s not great, but the look on her face is exactly what I feel when I run; a mixture of sheer enjoyment and dead seriousness.
We run a bit, we walk a bit. But mostly, we talk. Olivia tells me about everything important to a 6 year old: camp, friends, her favorite lunches that I make for her (if you’re dying to know, it’s what we call “PB & S”, which stands for “Peanut butter, straight up”, meaning no jam is even in the kitchen when I make her sandwich. Couple that with a perfectly fresh banana and some milk, and my little girl is loving life).
We also laugh. A lot. Liv got a case of what I called “the running giggles”, where once she could breathe and talk again she told me that she envisioned her little brother, Benjamin, cutting his own hair and what it would look like (and made me make a mental note to move the scissors out of Ben’s reach when we got home).
We had a great morning, and when we were done I told Olivia she’d done 6 laps around the track, for a total of 1 ½ miles. She smiled, pleased with herself.
Later that day, we hit a SNAFU. The mail came, and in it was a birthday party invitation from Olivia’s best friend. And of course, the party is July 17th, the same morning as Peter’s 5K. I explained the schedule conflict to Olivia and told her that it was up to her, but she had to pick. Liv thought for a minute, and then she looked up and asked me, “Mom? If I choose the party, can we still train together on the weekends even though I’m not racing with you?” And just when I thought my heart couldn’t get any more full….
So, on July 17th I’ll head to Central Park for a 5K, and my husband will take Olivia to her friend’s party. And that afternoon we’ll hit the Pelham High School track for more conversation, laughter – and maybe even some running.
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