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RACHEL'S MILESTONE
At 2 years
Kudos to Rachel's parents for letting her participate, at a very young age, in an event. Rachel had fun with some running, some walking, and some riding (in her daddy's arms) - all much healthier for her than a trip in a stroller. -cng |
DADI am a quintessential weekend warrior, having run over 120 races but rarely bringing home any hardware. None of those races, including my two marathons, compares emotionally to running with my daughter in her very first race. The following was my attempt to capture this historic event for our little family.
RACHEL
Here she is, bib #350, a 30-inch, 30-pound, two-year-old runner from Virginia: Rachel the Runner (the little girl formerly known as Rachel the Toddler). The excitement and innocence of a budding runner radiates from her face - or perhaps her bow was too tight!
RACE ETIQUETTE
Rachel knows it's always important to stretch out before the race.
She's busy getting her game face on as she prepares at the starting line. She is definitely NOT intimidated as one of three two-year olds in the line-up of 148 runners (if only age group awards were given out in one-year increments).
And she's off!
RACE REPORT
Okay, so she had a few walking breaks, a few pebbles needed to be picked up and she needed to be held whenever the motorcycle cops roared by (pretty typical really for an elite athlete - you see it all the time in the Olympics).
"Look out little boy and your 'drag-you-along' dad! Eat my dust," Rachel was heard to say as she jogged along.
The finish of any long race, especially your first, can be a bit emotional. There was a bit of a meltdown as daddy went out of her field-of-view to take the photo-finish.
Please note that a little boy (also two years old), passed Rachel just feet from the yellow finish line to avoid being beaten by a girl.
Rachel, showing the poise of a seasoned professional runner, did not submit a formal protest to race officials, even though the boy's grandmother clearly carried him twice as often as Rachel's daddy carried her. The video of this historic finish will be viewed often by our family.
FINISH LINE
Notice the signs of an elite runner: proper hydration (two bottles of water), the medal (a.k.a. "necklace"), the overbearing/pressuring dad and the complimentary limo (pushed by a supportive mommy) to ensure she's rested for her next marquee event.
Little brother was asleep in back of the limo, reportedly resting up for his first race...6 months from now after he learns to walk.
QUOTES
"I am a runner! I have run a mile. I have run five thousand two hundred eighty feet."
"I have endured the heat, the stress, the pain and the rigors of stiff competition."
"I may be small, but I am powerful and I will return to the starting line, more determined than ever to improve upon my 21:19 personal record. Until then I will savor my medal, my number, my memories, my "running" shoes and my thrill of accomplishment."
The medal and number now hang prominently in Rachel's pink room; still dripping with sweat.
Entry Fee: $5
T-shirt: $10
Finishing 148th out of 148, but still finishing her first race: Priceless
While this won't be the last race Rachel runs, it was still her first. Who knows, this may be the first of many stories sent over the years to follow one girl's running "career"from start to finish.
Carol Goodrow: carolgoodrow@verizon.net