Greta's first race - Liberty Mile
"i get to do my very own race? do you think i'll win?!"
Greta's face lit up with excitement as soon as i told her that i had registered both of us to run the Liberty Mile in downtown Pittsburgh on August 9. she's come to cheer me on for a few races (my very first 5K when she was 20 months old, and my first 10K when she was 4), and my sweet little competitive sidekick never fails to ask me if i won, and earnestly consoles me when i tell her i didn't. every once in while, she'll run "races" back and forth on our terrace, but she's never seemed too interested in running herself.
still, i would love nothing more than for her to catch the running bug the way i have (that is to say, in a low-key fashion that allows me to chip away at my back-of-the-pack pace without devoting too much time or energy to it). i first began running when Greta was a toddler, as a way to stay in shape and also a way to carve out some "me time". there was something so freeing about literally running out of our front door, leaving Nick to handle the parenting for a half hour ... or an hour ... or so. i sealed the deal by listing "Run a 5K" on my 30 Before 30 goals list. and it was hard! i struggled to run for a full minute during the first week of the Couch to 5K program i followed, but little by little, my stamina increased.
that first 5K got me completely hooked on running. i maintain that there are few experiences in the world more likely to bolster your faith in the human race (pun intended) than a running event, be it a 1-miler or a marathon. the pre-race excitement was palpable. as i joined the mass of people behind the starting line and started up my race day playlist, tears prickled the corners of my eyes. i can't believe i'm actually here doing this. i worked so hard and the day is finally here. my heart was also full of encouragement from my amazing friend Julie, who was running with me (albeit several pace groups ahead of me). the race was an out-and-back, and i teared up again when the faster runners passed us on their way back to the finish line. i would have expected that they would just keep their heads down and focus on their own race, but almost all of them made eye contact with us and shouted "great job! keep it up!" or simply threw out a jubilant thumbs up. as i rounded the corner to the finish line, the cheers and whoops of complete strangers were overwhelming. and then i spotted Greta, sitting atop of Nick's shoulders, looking slightly confused but clapping anyway as Nick shouted, "there's Mommy! go, Mommy, go!"
now was my chance to share the whole experience with her. it took me until the ripe old age of 29 to discover this community, and i certainly didn't want it to take that long for her. she was bubbling with excited questions as we got dressed, laced up our running shoes, and filled a water bottle with Nuun. we parked downtown and made our way to Market Square to pick up our bibs. we still had half an hour before the kids' race was slated to begin, so i took her over to see the fountains in PPG Place. the weather was absolutely beautiful, a perfect Pittsburgh summer evening, 77 degrees with a soft breeze.
"Mommy, i can't believe i'm a real runner!" she said as she struck various poses (with very little encouragement needed). then, as we finally walked over to the starting line, the nerves started to set in. "i don't think i can do this. i don't really want to run. Mommy, my legs are going to be too tired." then: "when can we start running? when is it going to start? i'm tired of waiting!" then, for the twentieth time, "what if we don't win?"
again i explained to her that i actually knew already that we weren't going to win. there were some very fast people running this race, and it's very exciting to see them run. for my little perfectionist, it's hard to imagine doing something if you know you aren't going to be the best at it, which is precisely why i wanted her to experience this race. "we're not going to win, but just because we don't win, it doesn't mean that we lose. when we run a race, it's because we love running and being with other people and trying our best."
finally, the gun went off and we shuffled forward, only to be stopped before reaching the starting line so that the course wouldn't be too crowded. "we're going to be next, kiddo!" i told her.
and then, the race was on! she took off sprinting at first, and i told her to slow down so she wouldn't get too tired. after a third of a mile, she slowed to a walk. "i can't do it any more! when's the end?"
"you're doing a great job, kiddo. we can walk for a while and then when you get your energy back, we'll run some more." her competitive side kicked in when several kids ran past us, and she took off like a shot again.
crowd support has always been hugely motivating to me on my own, but nothing prepared me for how emotional it would be for me to see those happy strangers cheering for my daughter. i could tell she felt it too -- she glanced up at me in surprised delight when i said, "they're clapping for you!"
"Mommy, i'm tired of running. i'm going to skip instead!" she said, as we rounded the corner for the home stretch. then we could see the finish line, and i urged her to run to the very end. i slowed to walk so i could memorize every moment of her crossing the finish line and blinked back the tears.
"Greta, you did it!" i gave her a huge hug, and then guided her over to the refreshment table where she deliberated over which flavor of honey stinger to choose, and got a towel.
still glowing with success, we found a spot along the course to spectate the master's runners and then the elite women, both of whom were absolutely awe-inspiring to watch. Greta said, "you mean they're running without stopping?!" while we were watching, we struck up a conversation with the woman next to us who said she moved to Pittsburgh just last year and is loving getting to know the city through running. as the amber evening sunlight glinted off the buildings, i thought the city was looking particularly beautiful.
finally, we headed back over to the fountains at PPG Place, where Greta played for a little bit, and then she wanted to walk down to the iconic fountain at Point State Park. i realized how rare it is that we spend time just the two of us alone. you could tell her little heart was just soaking it all up.
as we drove home, i asked her what her favourite part of the race was. she said, "seeing the super fast women!" (mine too, kiddo!) and then i asked what she liked most about running the race herself, and she said, "running together with you."
oh, sweet pea. that was absolutely the best part. and we may not have won the race, but you are the greatest prize of all.
Greta's face lit up with excitement as soon as i told her that i had registered both of us to run the Liberty Mile in downtown Pittsburgh on August 9. she's come to cheer me on for a few races (my very first 5K when she was 20 months old, and my first 10K when she was 4), and my sweet little competitive sidekick never fails to ask me if i won, and earnestly consoles me when i tell her i didn't. every once in while, she'll run "races" back and forth on our terrace, but she's never seemed too interested in running herself.
still, i would love nothing more than for her to catch the running bug the way i have (that is to say, in a low-key fashion that allows me to chip away at my back-of-the-pack pace without devoting too much time or energy to it). i first began running when Greta was a toddler, as a way to stay in shape and also a way to carve out some "me time". there was something so freeing about literally running out of our front door, leaving Nick to handle the parenting for a half hour ... or an hour ... or so. i sealed the deal by listing "Run a 5K" on my 30 Before 30 goals list. and it was hard! i struggled to run for a full minute during the first week of the Couch to 5K program i followed, but little by little, my stamina increased.
that first 5K got me completely hooked on running. i maintain that there are few experiences in the world more likely to bolster your faith in the human race (pun intended) than a running event, be it a 1-miler or a marathon. the pre-race excitement was palpable. as i joined the mass of people behind the starting line and started up my race day playlist, tears prickled the corners of my eyes. i can't believe i'm actually here doing this. i worked so hard and the day is finally here. my heart was also full of encouragement from my amazing friend Julie, who was running with me (albeit several pace groups ahead of me). the race was an out-and-back, and i teared up again when the faster runners passed us on their way back to the finish line. i would have expected that they would just keep their heads down and focus on their own race, but almost all of them made eye contact with us and shouted "great job! keep it up!" or simply threw out a jubilant thumbs up. as i rounded the corner to the finish line, the cheers and whoops of complete strangers were overwhelming. and then i spotted Greta, sitting atop of Nick's shoulders, looking slightly confused but clapping anyway as Nick shouted, "there's Mommy! go, Mommy, go!"
now was my chance to share the whole experience with her. it took me until the ripe old age of 29 to discover this community, and i certainly didn't want it to take that long for her. she was bubbling with excited questions as we got dressed, laced up our running shoes, and filled a water bottle with Nuun. we parked downtown and made our way to Market Square to pick up our bibs. we still had half an hour before the kids' race was slated to begin, so i took her over to see the fountains in PPG Place. the weather was absolutely beautiful, a perfect Pittsburgh summer evening, 77 degrees with a soft breeze.
"Mommy, i can't believe i'm a real runner!" she said as she struck various poses (with very little encouragement needed). then, as we finally walked over to the starting line, the nerves started to set in. "i don't think i can do this. i don't really want to run. Mommy, my legs are going to be too tired." then: "when can we start running? when is it going to start? i'm tired of waiting!" then, for the twentieth time, "what if we don't win?"
again i explained to her that i actually knew already that we weren't going to win. there were some very fast people running this race, and it's very exciting to see them run. for my little perfectionist, it's hard to imagine doing something if you know you aren't going to be the best at it, which is precisely why i wanted her to experience this race. "we're not going to win, but just because we don't win, it doesn't mean that we lose. when we run a race, it's because we love running and being with other people and trying our best."
finally, the gun went off and we shuffled forward, only to be stopped before reaching the starting line so that the course wouldn't be too crowded. "we're going to be next, kiddo!" i told her.
and then, the race was on! she took off sprinting at first, and i told her to slow down so she wouldn't get too tired. after a third of a mile, she slowed to a walk. "i can't do it any more! when's the end?"
"you're doing a great job, kiddo. we can walk for a while and then when you get your energy back, we'll run some more." her competitive side kicked in when several kids ran past us, and she took off like a shot again.
crowd support has always been hugely motivating to me on my own, but nothing prepared me for how emotional it would be for me to see those happy strangers cheering for my daughter. i could tell she felt it too -- she glanced up at me in surprised delight when i said, "they're clapping for you!"
"Mommy, i'm tired of running. i'm going to skip instead!" she said, as we rounded the corner for the home stretch. then we could see the finish line, and i urged her to run to the very end. i slowed to walk so i could memorize every moment of her crossing the finish line and blinked back the tears.
 |
| her actual chip time was 13:36 |
"Greta, you did it!" i gave her a huge hug, and then guided her over to the refreshment table where she deliberated over which flavor of honey stinger to choose, and got a towel.
still glowing with success, we found a spot along the course to spectate the master's runners and then the elite women, both of whom were absolutely awe-inspiring to watch. Greta said, "you mean they're running without stopping?!" while we were watching, we struck up a conversation with the woman next to us who said she moved to Pittsburgh just last year and is loving getting to know the city through running. as the amber evening sunlight glinted off the buildings, i thought the city was looking particularly beautiful.
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| i teared up again watching her watch them! |
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| this night made me love Pittsburgh even more! |
as we drove home, i asked her what her favourite part of the race was. she said, "seeing the super fast women!" (mine too, kiddo!) and then i asked what she liked most about running the race herself, and she said, "running together with you."
oh, sweet pea. that was absolutely the best part. and we may not have won the race, but you are the greatest prize of all.
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