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RUN YOUR AGE
13.1 years and miles
A 13.1 mile run is a challenge for any runner. Emily completed this half-marathon distance at a comfortable pace and experienced the thrill of meeting her goal. |
My daughter, Emily, and I were registered to run in a local half marathon in early December, but a conflict in her orchestra schedule (she plays the trumpet) forced us to defer our registrations to next year.
Emily who turned 13 in October, is a strong runner who has exceptional endurance for someone her age, and she was immensely proud of the fact that she was going to be running a half marathon. The decision to reschedule to 2007 was hard for her until we realized that she would be exactly 13.1 years old Thanksgiving weekend. That's when we came up with the idea to just go ahead and run 13.1 miles on that day.
I mapped out a local course with my GPS, and, early "race day" morning, we headed out just the two of us. The weather and conditions were nearly perfect, and she and I both ran very comfortably finishing in just over 2-hours and 10-minutes. A good, safe pace, I think, for someone that young. My wife, son, and in-laws surprised us at the "finish line," took photos, and handed us each a sports drink when we were done. Emily was thrilled, not only with her accomplishment but also with starting a new trend: "running your age!"
The only problem is I turn 42 next week.
P.S. Shortly after we got home, Emily embarked on regular kid stuff: reading, listening to her iPod, not cleaning up her room, etc. She also took every opportunity to mock me as I hobbled around the house. At one point, she started jumping up and down in front of me saying, "Look at me Dad. I'm jumping up and down, and I ran a half marathon today. What's wrong with you? You look like you're in pain!"
Carol Goodrow: carolgoodrow@verizon.net