5K and 1-mile FUN Run

(Daddy took the only picture of the day to prove our awesome run took place)

We finished the weekend properly celebrating the little girl who turned 7, by seeing Cars 2 and eating lots of cake. We officially have a 7-year old in our midst. Crazy.

To top off the weekend, we ran a 5k (mommy) and 1-mile fun run (Caleb, Grace, and mommy). It was so fun running with my kids. They were super excited to run and wanted to run the 5K, but something told me we'd better wait, and I'm glad we did. The mile was perfect for them since they don't pound the pavement all that often.

Caleb took off like a crazy man....against my awesome advice to start slow....and that left Grace and myself. I made her a promise I would not run ahead of her, and when she walked I walked. No questions asked. About 5 minutes into it, she walked. The questions went a little something like this.

Grace: I am a horrible runner. Everyone else is faster than me.
Mommy: That's not true at all Grace. You are one of the best runner's I know.
G: Do you think everyone else is ahead of us?
M: Does it matter? Let's just run this like it's you and me and who cares about everyone else. Rough races happen to everyone. A good runner is someone who has fun and tries her best.
G: I bet you never had to walk in a race.
M: You want to bet? Come and find me at mile 24 of a marathon, and not only am I walking...I'm crying...drooling...seeing things. It's not pretty. (manage to get a small laugh from her)
G: I think I'm ready to run some more.
M: You start and I'll be right next to you.
G: I love you mom.
M: I love you too.

Right as we were nearing the finish, I veered off and let her cross on her own. And my heart was happy. I was sharing one of my most treasured passions with one of my most treasured passions. Grace learned a valuable lesson about running that day. Nothing about running is easy. It takes lots of grit and determination. And when it gets easy, you push yourself further. Is running in her future? A selfish part of me says I hope so. Not in a competative way. But in a face to the wind, breeze at your back, pounding out the questions of life sort of way. I pray it is something we can share together, but in her time......