Running With Kids

I wanted nothing more to run long and strong this morning.

But I have kids. Two of them to be exact, and sometimes my wonderful, wouldn’t-trade-them-for-the-world little ones alter the reality I think I live in. Remember my post about what it took to run 18 miles?

Anything, there is a gorgeous paved trail close to where I am this weekend. I figured it’d be an easy route for the kids to ride their Razors (accompanied by grandma) while I push through a warm, 6-7 miler. No sweat, right? How complicated could it be?

I explained where the path was and where I was going. Everyone knew how long I planned to run out and how long I planned to run back.

I just wanted to run.

But then there were tears from my 9 year old because I said no to having him trail me on his scooter.

I just wanted to run. My pace. Lost in my thoughts. Absorbed by my miles.

Leaving the kids with a grandma fully capable of dealing with the tears, I ran 2 miles out. Then I turned around, ran back and met the threesome on the trail.

I turned around again, this time accompanied by my son on his Razor and continued out once more (daughter now in tears with grandma).

After another mile or so, the son and I turned around and met back up with grandma and daughter.

I then left son with grandma, grabbed the extra scooter and rode with daughter .3 miles. We then stopped in the shade (she’s only 4) and waited.

When grandma and son caught up, I left daughter with grandma, and son and I took off (he on his scooter, me running).

He then needed to stop in the shade, but I continued on another .5 mile or so. Then we both turned around and met grandma and daughter. I left both kids with grandma and went just a bit further solo. Then I turned around and once again met the threesome.

And we all walked back home together.

All-in-all, I completed a 5 mile run at 6,200’ elevation. The kids got outside. Grandma got outside. It worked…more or less.

Sometimes you just do what you need to do, right?