Healthy Kids Running Series: Race #2 Recap

Posted by hellyontherun in Family, Running and tagged with Healthy Kids Running Series, Mom Life, Mom on the Go, Running, Toddlers March 30, 2015

Progress!!!

Before I recap, I have to show you this pic from race #1–(race pics are free!! a def plus to this race)

That face. ❤

So last time, if you recall, my daughter was all about it, talking and announcing how she was going to run fast like mommy only to get stage fright when it was go time. (recap here)

Afterward, she said she wanted a do over and I talked to her about how there was only one chance, that she’d have to wait for next Sunday to go again. I took the opportunity to show her pics from that day’s race and explain how the kids in the pictures were running by themselves, without their mommies. She seemed to understand how a race was meant to be run alone. I asked her, “Do you think you can run by yourself?” and she was very certain that she could.

Throughout the week she would say to my husband and I, “I run by myself!” and we’d say, “Yeah, you can do it!”

We practiced too. I’d stand on one end of the hallway and my husband at the other. We’d ask, “Do you think you can run by yourself to daddy?”

“Yeah!!”

On Sunday, we picked out the running outfit. It was all about the purple and she was very adamant about wanting big bow. She also wanted to wear shorts like mommy so she wore the same pink shorts as last time.

We arrived at the race right before the start time. The 3 p.m. start was a hot one so we didn’t want to get there early and stand around in 93 degree weather.

My husband and I walked our daughter to the finish line to show her where she was running to. We practiced running through the line and she loved it. Then it was time to gather around the start. Daddy kissed her good luck and told her he’d be waiting.

The 2-3 year old boys went first and I pointed out again how they were running without their mommies. She nodded, “I run by myself!”

Then it was her turn. The race director said the instructions to the runners and at Go! the runners took off. My daughter started running but then looked back to see where I was and yelled, “Mommy, run!” so I started running behind her. She kept turning back to make sure I was there but yup, she was doing it. Running all by herself. 😀

flying.

my little runner

This race was most definitely a success. Considering last time she wouldn’t even think about standing let alone running, to now going the entire way and crossing the finish line–we are very happy with how the race went 😀

And I can tell she likes it too; she laughed and had a huge smile the entire way–that alone makes me the happiest mom in the world. ❤

My daughter takes a break from racing next weekend so you’ll have to anxiously wait two weeks for her next race update 🙂 She turns three on Thursday and is having her big bash on Saturday!

–Do you train for all races or just particular races?

–Besides following a training plan, how else do you prepare for a race?

–Do you smile while you run? : )

Healthy Kids Running Series: Race #1 Recap

Posted by hellyontherun in Family, Running and tagged with Family, Healthy Kids Running Series, Mom Life, Mom on the Go, Running, Toddlers March 24, 2015

Sorry I’ve been MIA–It seems I needed a week off from my week off. Two weeks ago was my Spring Break and I enjoyed it so much I needed a recovery week lol!

Anyway, I’m alive 😀

Before I recount any running I’ve been doing, I first want to tell you about someone else who has been running.

MY DAUGHTER ❤

Yep, I signed her up for a local Healthy Kids Running Series that consist of 5 races in the span of 6 weeks (we get Easter weekend off). It’s a 50 yard dasher that’s organized by age groups so my daughter is in the 2-3 year olds (seriously though, how cute is that?). The race is also separated by gender.

I wasn’t sure what approach to take: to hype the race and get her excited or downplay it like it was no big deal. I decided on the former as I didn’t want her to feel pressured or like this was a huge deal and get her nervous.

On Saturday night, I asked her if she wanted to run the next day and she squealed with delight! So of course we went straight to the closet to choose an outfit.

Pink everything ❤

I didn’t mentioned anything about an actual race though. Just kinda kept it low key.

I ran on Sunday morning with my husband (I want to tell you all about this soon!) and when I came home, my daughter asked me her usual, “Mommy all done run?” and I said, “Yep, now it’s your turn!”

Her eyes opened wide as she remembered and she squealed, “YES!!! I run like mommy!!”

My heart soared.

I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect from her as she always gets excited about mommy running but she was seriously spazzing about her doing the running. I wanted to share and join in on the excitement but was nervous about making it into too big of a deal. In retrospect, I think I should have prepared her a little more.

pumped.

We arrived at the race location just in time (3 p.m. which is my only major complaint about this series. It’s Phoenix. It’s hot. It was already 90 degrees at 3). Anyway, there were a lot more people/kids than I expected and then after a few minutes of waiting, organizers began grouping kids by age group.

My daughter’s group went first. She was still super pumped at this point as we walked towards the start line. She kept repeating, “I run fast! I run fast!” I knelt down next to her to point her in dad’s direction–who was at the finish line.

Giving her the pep talk—looking fierce. (I love this picture so much.)

After our chat, I started to say my good byes but as soon as she realized that mommy wasn’t running with her, my daughter was not having any of it. Not. At. All.

I tried telling her mommy would run next to her on the sidelines but after the boys had gone and she saw they were solo, she refused to move an inch.

The whistle blew for the girls to go and they were off. Except my daughter. Two girls stumbled over each other and fell and when my daughter saw that, it was over for real.

In tears, she threw herself in my arms and said she wasn’t going. She didn’t want to.

I consoled her and told her it was okay, that we were going to do it together this time. So we did.

We crossed the finish line hearing dad and grandparents cheering loudly and it was then that she lifted her head up and smiled.

She turned to me and said, “Mommy, I ready!”

All I could do was laugh and tell her, “You’ll do it again next time!”

Of course I would’ve liked for her to have run it by herself, but for her first time, her first race, I felt it was a success. She experienced the race atmosphere, which is definitely daunting at any age, and I know that as she acclimates, it’ll become a more familiar environment.

I was so proud of her. I was so proud that at the end she wanted to go back for a do over. Just like mommy and the Phoenix Marathon, we’ll get it next time! We sure will! 🙂

–Were you involved in any athletics when you were young? What was your first sport experience?

–Do you get pre-race jitters?

5 Things My Daughter is Teaching Me

Posted by hellyontherun in Family, Giveaway, Running and tagged with Daughter, Family, Giveaway, Learning, Lessons, Marathon Training, Running, Toddlers February 4, 2014

My daughter is almost 2 and in her short lifetime has already taught me so much and continues to do so. Sometimes, when I get stressed out from training, house chores, or simply life, she does something that reminds me that I need to take a step and relax.

Here are a few things I’m learning from her:

1. Be Fearless: Lauren is an adventurer. The lengths she goes through to accomplish something she wants is truly admirable. Currently she’s really into electricity and seeing how things turn on and off. Of course, she sees us turn light switches on and off and wants to be able to do it too. My husband and I like to think we’ve done a pretty good job of child-proofing but our Lauren is a smart one. Here’s a pic of how she managed to get to a light switch.

I have always viewed the marathon as scary and something unattainable. For some reason, it wasn’t until after having both of my kids did I start think it was something I could do. Becoming a mother makes you think/feel like you’re superwoman lol!

I want to show my daughter that mommy set aside her fear and did something pretty awesome. I’m going to tell her that her fearlessness was contagious.

2. Say No: Lauren’s favorite word besides “food” is “no”. She says it so emphatically and with zero doubt. I love it. But, in my own life, I find it difficult to say no. I often take on more than I can handle thinking that I like having a lot to do. In reality, I end up stressing myself out trying to find a way to accomplish everything on my to-do list.

Every time Lauren gives me her assertive “no”, I’m reminded that sometimes you just gotta say it and mean it and without hesitation.

3. Don’t Give Up: Lauren loves figuring how things work. Often, she gets frustrated when she doesn’t get it right on the first try. But instead of heaving it across the room in anger, she’ll let out a grunt and keep at it until she gets it. I love seeing her in action. There are so many range of emotions with her trying something new: Curiosity, Puzzlement, Intense Thinking, Frustration, Persistence, Discovery, Elation. Lauren will not give up until she does it and does it right.

There have been many a days where I just wanted to stay home and rest. Sometimes I have. But most of the time, I think of how far I’ve come in my training and how disappointed I’d be if I just threw in the towel. During RnR Arizona, around mile 10, boy did I want to stop and walk. But I didn’t and I’m so glad. I accomplished something that was difficult by not giving up.

4. It’s Okay To Show Emotion: Going along with number 3 and Lauren’s range of emotions, I’ve loved seeing her express herself. Even if it’s anger she’s showing.

I often try and be strong and not show how I truly feel about things, one of them being staying at home. It’s been a difficult adjustment and I sometimes feel guilty about not liking it so I try and hide it. I finally confessed my emotions to my husband one day and he told me that it’s perfectly okay to feel that way and there’s nothing wrong with wanting to work and be a working mom. It feels so good talking about how I feel and sometimes having a good cry session to release some built up emotions. And I love that my husband makes me feel comfortable enough to do it in front of him.

5. Have An Opinion: Maybe it’s a toddler thing but my Lauren sure is opinionated. She’ll definitely tell me how she feels about things. Sometimes I just stare at her in wonder. I think, “This is my daughter. This is really my daughter.” From deciding what to wear to where her toys should be put away, she’s got her own opinion about it. In fact, I love making everything a question so I can see how she answers.

I like to think she gets this from me as I’m pretty opinionated and always seem to have something to say about everything. I’ve learned throughout the years to keep some things to myself or know the right time/place to say things. Lauren reminds me when she blurts things out that sometimes you’ve gotta think about those things.

—What are some unique ways you’ve learned something?

—How are you still learning?

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