Like Father Like Daughter

Ever since she has seen me running my daughter has commented “someday I’d like to run a marathon with you.” Not that I would ever wish that on my kids but I though that it was neat that she thought that my running was a good thing.

I’ve wanted to hold off on getting her started on running in that I wanted her to grow first and not have any complications with Osgood-Schlatters syndrome that is common with children who run to often at such an early age. My daughter has always been highly active her entire childhood so far exercising at times up to 5 to 9 hours a week so I knew that even if I kept her away from running as a hobby that eventually she would get started at it at a more appropriate age.

A couple of weeks ago Jill decided that she would go out and get Aimee a new set of shoes in that the last set of athletic shoes that she had were too small and that it was time to get another good pair. Jill had recently signed up for the Mother/Daughter Phoenix Irongirl 5K. Both her and Aimee headed down to the local Sports Authority and just picked out a set that they liked. As soon as I saw what they had picked I thought to myself that maybe it was time to have her formally evaluated for her gait and efficiency. To do that would only make sense in getting her the right set of shoes.

Not too far from where we live is a specialty running store, by runners and for runners. When you get there they evaluate the type of shoe that you need based on your impact and they bring out about a half dozen set of shoes and have you start running in them. After careful consideration Aimee had narrowed the field down to three pairs and agonized between two of them. Eventually she went with the Brooks over the Asics. Quietly I smiled inside knowing that they were the same brand that I have run with for the last couple of years.

Later that evening she was eager to run. I had her set up a running list with the spare iPod Shuffle I was given from work as gift. As my wife prepared dinner, we both laced up and headed toward the door. I had plan to clock the run using the iPhone 4 and the NikeGPS app. Since this was her first run I wanted to take it easy on her and just give her the field of the road. As soon as we left the house she popped the earbuds in and started running down the street. To see her run was an amazing experience. She has a beautiful energetic stride and runs with a determined focus. For the first half-mile I had her run in front of me. And I let her go at her own pace. Roughly she was able to run about an 8:50 pace. I had her walk for a couple of yards after the first half-mile and then we turned and headed home. She easily loped home but was beginning to develop a side cramp and wanted to start walking again just a few blocks from the house. I convinced her to run home at a slower pace without stopping, then to sprint to the finish.

There are many things that just her and I have done and do together on a regular basis. This was the first time that I felt like I was sort of alone out there even though we were together, that in some way she was out there on her own and that somehow I was losing her. A couple of days later I helped her get stated on the starting line of the Phoenix Irongirl 5K. I was not allowed to run with her (no men are allowed in the race) or for that matter I was not even allowed in the starting chute. I just tried to stay with her as close as I could, then watched her go as the starting gun fired. It was then that I realized that she’s growing up, getting farther out in front and that someday before I know it, she’ll be gone.