As luck would have it, I got to run back-to-back 5Ks this weekend.
On Saturday, Linc and I joined our dear friends and neighbors at the Jen Bush Lawson Foundation 5K. This is one of those charming, uphill both ways kinds of courses through the mountains of Arlington. I could have done with a little (or a lot) less incline.
Then, Nate surged ahead with a 1/2 mile to go. As his temporary guardian, huffing and puffing, I decided he’d probably be fine in this family-friendly crowd. When we caught up with him at the finish, he announced that he just might like running after all.
Yippee! I love hearing that. (And I wonder if beating the pants off your friends and mom have anything to do with this sudden realization. Hmmm…)
And Jen. Wow. I was just so impressed. She set a goal, knocked out her training, and crushed her run. Not only that, she was the top individual fundraiser for this cause that is especially close to her heart. This earned her the honors of smushing a pie in the founder’s face. HILARIOUS!
Then this morning, the girls and I finished our fall Girls on the Run (GOTR) program with a 5K at Reston Town Center. This national program aims to, “inspire girls to build confidence and other important life skills through dynamic, interactive lessons and physical activity.”
Everything was going fine until the start when I immediately lost all my kids in the crowd. It’s one thing to lose your own kids but I was buddy running with a friend of Baya’s. So, that means I’d also lost someone else’s kid. Ugh! Panicked, I raced up and back the first mile twice looking for them before catching up. I’m pretty sure I set a PR darting in between the more responsible parents while lugging a bouncy and loud backpack filled with 6 cans of color hair chalk spray stuff, 2 water bottles that weren’t mine, a dozen unopened handwarmers, and the extra hats and gloves everyone shed before they started. Sigh.
In hindsight, I should have known. Baya and Marin’s PE teacher had offered them challenge before the race. Whoever crossed the finish line first got to pick a crazy outfit for the other to wear on Monday. There was no way Baya was going to lose that bet. I’m pretty sure she and her friend did a sub 7-minute mile fueled purely by sibling rivalry.
Now relieved that I was able to reconnect with everyone I’d brought to the event, I can reflect and say this.
Coaching this season was truly one of the highlights of my year— running, life skills, personal empowerment, and…. hair chalk?! What’s not to love?!
Coaching alongside 3 awesome women and getting to know 29 of Marin and Baya’s friends and classmates was pure joy. Each practice, they all brought all the energy, positivity, and humor without an ounce of drama. They all showed up big time today on a chilly, chilly morning and finished strong. I am SO PROUD and can’t wait until Spring session!
#GOTR