That all changed a few months ago when my son said he wanted me to help him train for a 1/2 marathon. Of course, I couldn't refuse him but, as I've written before, I worried about giving up that solo morning run for a late afternoon run with another person.
It didn't take long before I realized the advantages of having someone else to hold you accountable, to push you, to encourage you. Together, we ran through snow storms, freezing fog, warm sunshine, and rain. We ran 4-milers that felt like death and 10-milers that felt like magic. I've watched my son progress from struggling to finish 2 miles to running 12 miles with relative ease. I've watched myself actually becoming faster (wait... what?) to the point where I'm actually hoping to PR this race instead of just finish. No doubt, a little part of this is due to the little competitive voice in me that still doesn't want to be beat by my child. Some runs were completely without conversation. Most, though, included talks about classes, friends, homework, and other "stuff" that probably would have been left unsaid had we not been spending this time together.
Life still continued. My "running partner" got his driver's license (yikes!). We celebrated Thanksgiving, Christmas, and my husband's birthday. Through it all we ran.
It will all culminate this Sunday when we run the Davis Stampede Half Marathon in Davis, CA. I am so excited to run this race! I can't wait to see how well my "running partner" does.
Of course, just when I'm getting used to and enjoying running with somebody else, he's already talking about running another half-marathon and maybe training on his own in order to get a faster time (sigh). I'm sure that, soon, I will be back running alone in the early morning hours. But, I will always remember this time ... the one time I allowed for a "running partner".
Fantastic! I hope I can someday have this experience with both my son and my daughter. I don't plan to force them to run, but I do hope at least one of them wants to.
ReplyDeleteBest of luck to you and your running partner this weekend! I bet you'll both exceed all expectations you have for yourselves!
Good luck with the half this weekend! Hope you both do really well!
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome you guys are doing the half today! Hope its been a great day!
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome opportunity you have had. And of course you want to see him excel and move beyond you, as well. I will SO enjoy it if my own sons will run with me, and savor that golden window before they are so fast or well trained that they must leave me behind.
ReplyDeleteYour photos are so fun. :) That must have been COLD.
Hope your race went well!!