I received the email while the kids were at school.
i was so nervous to open it.
i honestly didn't know if i wanted them to say yes or no.
i was starting to doubt our encouragement of this.
but
he knew what he wanted to do and i really wanted my running buddy at the race.
they made the decision that he could run the race.
my feelings were crazy mixed.
but excitement definitely won out.
when i told him he was so excited.
i did inform them that he was not planning to win.
*he had already told me this information*
*he had already told me this information*
also that i would be with him the whole time.
they suggested starting in the third heat, near the back.
i let my boy decide.
he chose the second heat.
we will still start near the back.
i was truly alright with whatever decision would be made.
he is a nine year old boy.
most nine year old boys can't do the training needed for this event and distance.
although, most nine year old boys probably don't care to train for this distance.
i know they made what they believed to be the right decision.
do i believe that they could let in anyone below the minimum age just because the parent asks
and says please?
and says please?
no i do not.
do i believe that they should do it on a case by case basis?
yes i do.
for safety sake they can't have a whole bunch of little runners trying to race the course and finding out it is too long or hard.
am i thankful for the consideration and decision they gave our case?
truly i am.
i would have been sad but fully understanding if it was an immediate 'no - rules are rules.' they have every right to say that.
thank you, powers-that-be, for considering allowing my boy the opportunity to race his favourite trail.
now to continue to prepare for it.
Fast forward to:
Fast forward to:
Easter weekend.
Many runners from Muskoka, and around the world, are heading to Boston for the marathon.
we are not in that elite group.
but this is a big weekend in our house for running.
saturday morning the boy and his dad took the dog
...not ours, but the one we are dog-sitting...
and drove to the Limberlost trails, for a fun trail run.
the boy would be running his longest distance yet.
Over the last couple years
the boy has run 5km about 5-6 times
band on the run, MARs fun runs, XC running club in the fall
He likes that distance.
but this year,
to train for, and then run, the Limberlost Challenge
he will be breaking his furthest distance many times.
Saturday morning he, his dad and Daisy (the dog)
would be running 6km on a portion of the Limberlost trails.
it is a section the boy has never been on before but will be part of the 14km race loop.
he was so excited.
While at home i prayed for him.
i want him to be encouraged doing it.
it was supposed to rain and i really hoped it would hold off.
then i got the text that they were done.
a little over an hour.
When they got home i asked him how it went.
big smiles.
he said it was fun.
he admitted it was hard in sections, and that he got tired...
but...
it was fun!
that's what i wanted to hear.
the rain began as soon as he got home.
his dad told me that he did have to encourage the boy to keep running..
he would want to walk,
but once he would get the encouragement he would continue running.
as i'm doing the same running schedule
my 6km day was on Easter Sunday.
after church we drove to the walking path i was planning to run.
it was pouring!
of course.
my family had their bikes with them and they would bike while i ran.
it was a wet run.
i was soaked.
it wasn't easy,
i haven't run more than 5km since the fall.
i have barely run further than 3km since then.
having my family biking with me, out there in the rain, was so encouraging.
my husband made the boy's training schedule and there are road days and trail days.
he has been informed that he may change any road run to a trail, but not the other way around.
he will be racing on a trail, he needs to be ready for that terrain.
he is happiest on a trail anyway so that won't be a problem.
so, as the elite gather in Boston,
my boy is here at home breaking his own personal distances.
both are significant events for a runner.
*photo taken by Me with Gertie
when they got home from the run.
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