An inspiring story of 2 kids.
A few weeks ago my son asked me to help him to run longer distances. He has done plenty of 5Ks, numerous triathlons, lots of swim races and very long bike rides, so I thought it would be easy to get him to start running. I was wrong. He hated it. I had to work on fixing his running form, do extra work to strengthen other muscle groups for running rather than biking. This was going to be a challenge. But we persevered with shorter runs, drills and then started to build. I got him involved with my close running friends and we took him out for a scenic though cold 6.8 mile run.
He did great, pushing through as he was part of the “ adult group” now. Yet before that during the father son runs, I would keep pushing him to reach a target like a telephone pole then walk, or get to the third tree on the left and then rest. Little runners tools to trick the mind to get past the chatting of the fears. He has become comfortable with the 6 miles and asked to do a 10K race ! ( which of course I was more than happy to sign up for, knowing my compulsion with signing for races ).
So yesterday I took both kids out for an early morning workout. Warmup, dynamic stretching, run, then strength training, recovery and static stretching, hydrate and eat. ( that was the prescription). So my young daughter all of 9 now wants to run with us boys. I of course was more than delighted to begin her padawan training.
The run was a 2 mile loop. What I found fascinating was that my son took the lead and was well ahead, maintaining good time, while I hung back with my daughter. After about 1.3 miles her whining began. Despite my encouragement, the frustrations continued, as was totally expected with a young one being made to do something hard. I gave her the space to complain but then my son met up with us during the run and took over.
He held her hand and ran with her. He spoke to her gently and gave her guiding signals like “ let us run to that next tree then you can slow down, or let us pass that pole without stopping then you can drink water, or I know it is hard but I know you can do it or we only have 0.4 mile left so that is like not even half by the time we start counting “
Those were all MY WORDS. My language that I used to use when trying to get him through his own pains. And now realizing that a 2 mile run is nothing for him, he can pass on that wisdom to his little sister. And so she completed the 2 mile run, and when she had rested she asked about doing a 5k race ! He comes over to me and says “ok dad next year I am doing a half marathon race “(13.1miles). BOOM so they do listen to our words after all.
Just as my coach taught me, I taught my son, and he passed it on to his sister. Inspiring. This is how we learn, we adapt, we grow and evolve. It is through our own challenges and experiences that we are able to help others. We are inspired by someone ahead of us, we strive to become them, and then we surpass them. That is nature. That is love in motion.
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I love you
