Walkers and Runners

A mother-dream of having a runner come true! Soren joined the WJHS cross country team. He started the summer with early morning team practices three days a week, and is now up to five practices a week and a short independent run on Saturdays. 

He said today he can really feel how much faster and stronger he has become. 

Today’s practice started and ended at blue hole at the greenway along mckissick creek. I walk along the same stretch twice a week from 6-7am with my friend Robyn. It was so great to see cute 7th graders out there hustling by! Soren came up behind us on the trail and gave me a little jump scare hug. The best. 

Walking with Robyn has been great for me because it forces an early wake up twice a week when I could easily justify a sleep in. I’m on night shift with teens and young adult children into the wee hours every night. I love this time with them and also I am tired. But summer ends soon and so I will soak up these precious hours of their company. The 5:45 alarm is just awful and I hate it every single time. But I go because have an accountability partner. 

And what has happened in the past few weeks that because I’m already dressed and sweaty from walking, I run 1-2 miles on my own when I get home. Today, I ran two miles on the greenway and they were fast (well, fast for me. 8:56/mile). It was HARD. And it felt so good. 

I love walking with Robyn. We have an hour of deep conversation. She is always always studying and reading and writing and pondering and she shares her thoughts about her deep dives with me. I never regret working out once I’m finished and even though I hate getting up early, I’m truly grateful every time that she felt inspired to invite me out the door and move. I need both the physical push and the social interaction with adults. 

I came home to Sloane wanting to run. She and Bear decided to do a run on primrose lane and set out rocks to track their laps up to Grammies mailbox and back. 

I walked and cheered them along with Esme and in the end after a few little rests in the driveway, they both did two miles! Sloane’s and Bear’s intense personalities butt heads a LOT so it was a treat to see them doing something fun together unprovoked. 

Soren made waffles for everyone. His appetite is currently hobbit-like and he prefers a 2nd breakfast, 2nd lunch, and 2nd dinner. Runners call this, “getting the Rungries”.  He says, “I gotta feed the machine, Ma” 😂 

The miracle that this machine is growing up to be so active and healthy and strong is never lost to me. My sick heart baby is a thriving teen who never runs weary.