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HEARTBREAK KIDS
Marathon Monday 2006
Stay warm
Photos and story by Carol Goodrow
Boys and girls alike run Heartbreak Hill early in the morning of the Boston Marathon. But this year it was the girls who caught my camera's eye. Congrats to these girls who ran the famous hill of the most famous marathon. |
It's tradition to find a yearly race to do with family and friends. These cousins are running Heartbreak Hill on Marathon Monday -the youngest for the first time.
They'll be running in separate age-graded heats.
Perhaps they'll return to this event every year and someday when they are adults, they'll run the last heat together - maybe even with their pooch.
Friends - they know the number 1 rule of a running: HAVE FUN!
See the balloon rainbow? The arch can also be seen in the Boston Marathon tapes. So when you see the marathoners running under this, you know they have just gone by very important the start and finish of the kids' mile right in front of the Newton City Hall.
Olja won her race with ease. She'll treasure this trophy for many years. Olja was at Heartbreak Hill with her parents. It's important that you keep every trophy you win, unless of course you win too many and don't have room. If that happens, then someday give back by creating your own backyard kids' event. Give your trophies away to other little runners so they can treasure them for a long time. Maybe Olja will win so many that she can someday host a "Backyard Trophy Kids' Event" of her own.
THE BOOK SIGNING
It was the publication of my new chapter book, The Treasure of Health and Happiness which brought me to Heartbreak Hill for a signing. What an honor this was! I had a tent front and center so that I could watch the kids' races when I wasn't discussing my book with kids and their parents. Here are a couple of photos of kids with my book. I never forget a child with whom I talk about my stories.
Is "Treasure" a story just for girls? Absolutely not. At school, I teach mostly boys and they're my best audience, but this year it was girls' day for me at Heartbreak Hill.
And what is there in "Treasure" that relates to running an event like Heartbreak Hill? Certainly advice for running a fun run as a young runner. As for the rest, that's for the reader to decide. "Treasure" is story - a fantasy that has lots of twists and turns most of which I won't give away. But how to approach a mile as a young runner - well you need this info to run Heartbreak Hill even if you don't read the book.
Here's the basic advice:
1. Stay warm before the event.
2. Start out easy.
3. Pick up the pace when you are warmed-up and feeling strong.
4. Congratulate yourself with positive thoughts like, "Doing good!" and "This is fun!"
4. Sprint a little if you want.
5. If you feel like you need a walking break, TAKE ONE.
6. And be proud of yourself when you finish.
Boy photo courtesy of Judy Anderson. This race also features separate heats for boys and girls. MORE ABOUT THIS EVENT
The official name of this event is The 14th Annual Newton Heartbreak Hill Int'l Youth Race.
Check back next spring for the 15th Annual's listing on the KR Calendar. Want results for this year's kids' event? Visit Coolrunning.com.
There are heats for boys, girls, and at the end they encourage the adults to run. Never want to run the Boston Marathon, but would love to run this hill? Then this is the event for you.
THANK YOU
I would like to thank Judy Anderson and the others at this youth event for offering me a book signing for my brand new book, The Treasure of Health and Happiness publication date, April 15, 2006
carolgoodrow@verizon.net
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