Running Through The Eyes of a Child

I started my second running career with a four and seven year old watching my every step. I ran in high school, but had long since given up the sport for less motivating ventures. However with my 36th birthday just completed, I began to realize why it was so important for me to continue my running journey.

It was early October and I had been training for my first marathon since June. I began my second running career the previous December, barely able to make it a half mile and graduated to the distance of 26.2 miles just 10 months later.

It was a glorious October day, highs in the 50s and a crispness in the air. I was at the starting line ready to barf up the bagel I had forced myself to eat before leaving home at 5 a.m. As I stood in the sea of people not knowing a soul and wondering why I thought I could do this, my daughters came up to wish me good luck and that they would be cheering for me. Each had made a special sign which they proudly waived as I started my twenty six point two mile quest.

Even though I trained all summer, the race was anything but easy. I went through a whole range of emotions from joy and elation, to despair and despondence. It was at these low moments that our silver Honda Odyssey would drive past and I would hear my daughter’s cheers. I was driven onward because they wanted me to do it.

When I reached the finish line, both of my girls met me for the final quarter mile and ran to the finish. I can still remember the pride that each of them had in telling their friends and teachers that they had finished a marathon! It wasn’t until a few months later that I truly saw the impact my running had on their lives. My oldest daughter was talking about her favorite sports, of which running was one. She looked me in the eye and said “mom, when I grow up will you run a marathon with me?”

Note: since I first wrote this piece, my oldest daughter has competed in and completed two 5K's (see photo above!)