Source: dandaugherty.wordpress.com
I took my place near the front of the throng of runners, ahead of the recreational crowd but decidedly behind those who high-kneed it back and forth across the breadth of the start line. No sense in getting trampled within the first ten seconds as the crazies in front jostled for first place. Fifteen years of competitive running had taught me to steer clear of that first clump who could be easily identified by their high-waisted shorts, visors, and by the way they fussed over their running watches.
I looked more closely at the crazies and noted that there was a smattering of hopeful young boys among them. I saw a familiar blond head and realized that it was my own Twin B.
Oh, for crying out loud. The child had signed up for this 5K on a whim and had absolutely no business up there. Sure, he was a good athlete. Wiry and strong. An avid swimmer and soccer player. But most definitely not a competitive runner. Did he think he was going to clock three consecutive six-minute miles and win the whole thing?
At the start signal, the crowd lurched forward, and Twin B disappeared from sight. Good Heavens, I thought as I settled into a comfortably brisk stride. Has the boy already been claimed as a stampede victim? My mind’s eye fixated on a morbid, picture book-inspired image image of him - Flat Twin B – until the crowd thinned and I spotted him about thirty yards ahead.
He looked good.
Solid.
Well-paced.
A contender.
So the kid can run, I thought proudly. Good for him. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, I guess.
Be that as it might, it quickly became clear to me that I was gaining ground.
Not that it was all about winning. Because it mostly wasn’t.
At the one mile mark, I approached on his right. Red-cheeked, he cast me a sideways glance. ”Hey, Mom.”
“Hey, man…Just run your pace, ok? There’s two more miles to go.” I overtook him, made sure I was a respectable fifteen feet in front so as not to cut him off, and then worked my way back to the left to hug the curb a I rounded a bend in the road.
My mind began to wander as it often does when I’m out on a run. At about two and a half miles, I was mentally going over the contents of my pantry and thinking about Crock-Potting it for dinner when I heard heavy breathing on my right. A quick look over my shoulder told me that Twin B was on my heels.
This was getting interesting.
I let him pass. I’ve never been the type to alter my own pace to hold a spot midway through a race. ”Hey, man.”
“Hey, Mom…catch you later.” And with that, the boy cut sharply to the left and directly in front of me. No fifteen foot grace space. With a smirk over his left shoulder, he shot off, leaping to grab a leaf off of a low-hanging tree.
Interesting.
Catch you later?
No grace space?
Leaping and grabbing?
Very interesting, indeed.
I trailed my son until the final two tenths of a mile, at which point I turned on the reserves, pushed past him a final time, and crossed the finish line twenty seconds ahead of him.
He threw me a champion’s grin when I high-fived him at the end. And I was as proud of him as I’ve ever been.
Because children need to know that they can’t always win.
Just as I know that I won’t the next time I race with Twin B.
He’s gonna kick butt at the next race, right? Your butt.
Oh, totally. And thoroughly.
Beautiful. My daughter recently asked me to run with her at practice. I’m not a runner. But it was nice.
That’s the way to do it. Cooperatively. With us? It’s a little on the dog-eat-dog side.
That is simply awesome. Neither my son or I am runners, but I keep threatening to make him do Couch to 5k with me. We’d be the two panting in the last pack together.
Your kids rock, as always
Oh! You should!! And then tell me all about it.
Yeah, I can see a re-match requested from him soon. What a fun story this was to read! Congrats on winning
Most definitely. He was a good sport about it, but it is SO on now.
Terrific read!
The Chateau L & G is booked for this year’s Marine Corps Marathon (Kat is coming home to run it), but we will be happy to take your reservation for next year. You know the reservation number
Good to know…I’ll ship Twin B right out next year.
You had a great race!! This was the first you that my oldest beat my husband, by about 20 seconds. He was sooooo proud of himself!!! Way to go both of you!!!
Kind of a bittersweet moment, I’d bet your groom would say.
How cool to do something like that together!
And so now the girls will be Tough Muddering it with you, no?
Wow! Good for him! (And you!).
He never ceases to amaze, Betsy…
Love that Twin B! You both did great!
Very fun. Next year will be a barn-burner for sure!
HaHa! Great story. Reminds me of the year my son decided to kick my butt on the ski slopes. We had a ton of fun jockeying back and forth all season, but he ended up triumphing on a double black diamond and never looked back. Mama got left in the dust.
It’s quite an interesting rite of passage, Cath. Gotta love those eldest (or only) boys.
I think my son is going to be a runner as evidenced by the fact that he’ll say “Hey, wanna see me run”…and he runs laps in our backyard.
I wish I had a smidge of that energy. Jerk. Kidding. I love him.
Goooooo, CHUNKY!!
Oh my gosh, I only hope one of my kids does a race with me!!! I love it…I was running right along with you, and GREAT job to you guys!!
xo
You’ve got one around The Twins’ age, right? Someone will for sure, Jen.
Aww I love his sweet spirit! So true. Kids do need to learn how to lose. We implement this in Candy Land sometimes. The deck doesn’t always get stacked in Coco’s favor. But we do always say, “May the odds be ever in your favor.”
I like this post a lot. You do the serious stuff really well, too! I submit that you should start posting TWICE a week. One serious, one funny. Because honestly? One day is just not enough of the Spin Cycle
Thank you, darling.
But twice a week? And I’ll be tempted to go into hibernation again.
So Hubs is a runner, and A has seen him do a marathon and a few races. She now runs laps around our house in her 2 year old booty wiggle way, panting and saying as she whizzes past me, “I run 18 miles, I run 18 miles, go alice go.” It is hilarious but gives me high hopes that she will enjoy physical activity like her father
I love that. I love that. Go, Sue, go.
Such an AWESOME post! Loved this, my favourite one of yours yet, and mostly because you didn’t let your strong boy win! But good on him for overtaking you, then showing off with the jumping for a leaf bit. He’s not even my kid and my heart is swollen with pride! Good for you both!
Awww…thank you, love. Tell me…you must be grooming a little fitness comp. diva over there, no?
[...] 19.) Running. Now, if you have a little guy like me–going on a serious run is probably not very feasible. However, he will love being active with you. You can “chase” him, and make it into a total game. Eventually, running together might just be a regular activity Karee has run with her boys and participated with them in 5k’s. My friend, Sue, over at the Spin Cycle wrote an amazing post about running with her son and teaching him how to lose. [...]