While Lovebug's primary sport is swimming, he has completed several 5k's and was on his school cross country team this past fall. With each 5k, the point at which he starts to wonder why he signed up becomes later and later in the race. At this year's Commitment Day 5k (www.commitmentday.com), he decided that his "commitment" for the year was to complete a 5k every month. He sets time goals for himself and has gotten progressively faster but isn't nearly as consistent about his running as he is about his swimming. He's the type of kid that never wants to miss a cross country or swim practice but when it comes to training on his own, he is totally fine with blowing it off.
For this month's race, he decided to substitute a Dash and Splash race for a 5k and chose the 3 mile run/800 meter swim over the shorter kids' events. We signed up to do it together with the goal being for me to pace and encourage him on the run, and then I need to try to stay with him on the swim so that I don't have to admit that I got my ass handed to me by my 9 year old.
This past weekend I decided that it was time to get back to running twice a day so I told him he needed to come out for me on my short afternoon runs as part of his training for next weekend. It was a bit of a white lie because one week of training isn't going to do much, but I wanted company and enjoy spending one on one time with him. I am also trying to teach him about the importance of preparing for races.
Saturday's run was a blast. He complained about getting ready to go but once we started running and he realized that it was just a fun training run and not a race, he started to just talk to me about whatever was on his mind. I just listened and smiled. Lovebug was an early talker. He started talking at 6 months old and from that point on, it was always a constant dialogue from the time he woke up in the morning until he went to bed at night. I used to find it exhausting sometimes. But now that he has gotten older, he spends more time on his own and doesn't tell me every thought that pops in his head anymore and I miss it! I was finally getting some of this special time back.
Sunday's run was different. It went more like this:
"How far have we gone? Can I rest? When can I rest? I hate running. Mom, you are killing me! I really hate running. I can't believe you took me out in the damn afternoon, in the damn heat, in the damn Arizona sun. Why can't I walk? You walked during your Ironman. Ok, I just have to go down the street and take a right and we will be home. Will you make me juice when we get home? Close your mind and just run! Mom, I have almost forgotten that I hate running!"
It was beautiful! The true mind of a runner.
And, for the record, I did make him watermelon lemonade in the juicer and he loved it! I think the juice made the whole run worth it for him. Here is the recipe:
1-2 cups of fresh watermelon
1 lemon
Pour over ice and enjoy!
I used my Breville juicer but this can also be made in a blender with ice if you want slush consistency.
For this month's race, he decided to substitute a Dash and Splash race for a 5k and chose the 3 mile run/800 meter swim over the shorter kids' events. We signed up to do it together with the goal being for me to pace and encourage him on the run, and then I need to try to stay with him on the swim so that I don't have to admit that I got my ass handed to me by my 9 year old.
This past weekend I decided that it was time to get back to running twice a day so I told him he needed to come out for me on my short afternoon runs as part of his training for next weekend. It was a bit of a white lie because one week of training isn't going to do much, but I wanted company and enjoy spending one on one time with him. I am also trying to teach him about the importance of preparing for races.
Saturday's run was a blast. He complained about getting ready to go but once we started running and he realized that it was just a fun training run and not a race, he started to just talk to me about whatever was on his mind. I just listened and smiled. Lovebug was an early talker. He started talking at 6 months old and from that point on, it was always a constant dialogue from the time he woke up in the morning until he went to bed at night. I used to find it exhausting sometimes. But now that he has gotten older, he spends more time on his own and doesn't tell me every thought that pops in his head anymore and I miss it! I was finally getting some of this special time back.
Sunday's run was different. It went more like this:
"How far have we gone? Can I rest? When can I rest? I hate running. Mom, you are killing me! I really hate running. I can't believe you took me out in the damn afternoon, in the damn heat, in the damn Arizona sun. Why can't I walk? You walked during your Ironman. Ok, I just have to go down the street and take a right and we will be home. Will you make me juice when we get home? Close your mind and just run! Mom, I have almost forgotten that I hate running!"
It was beautiful! The true mind of a runner.
And, for the record, I did make him watermelon lemonade in the juicer and he loved it! I think the juice made the whole run worth it for him. Here is the recipe:
1-2 cups of fresh watermelon
1 lemon
Pour over ice and enjoy!
I used my Breville juicer but this can also be made in a blender with ice if you want slush consistency.