Proud Dad

Ahhh kids, can't kill 'em, can't leave them in the garage to form a new civilisation and leave you alone. However, when they start showing interest in a hobby you can (sort of) help them with it makes that interest massively more rewarding.

My oldest sproglet does have an occasional passable interest in running as I've said before as she likes medals and participation medals are still medals. However, she is also starting to want to do better, which has opened up the opportunity of late for me to push her a little further.

A couple of weeks ago she ran the furthest she's ever been, over 2 miles and she was fine. Probably could have gone a little faster even. So I thought it was time to see if she'd be up for one of her own milestones.. her first 5k (distance, not a race, I'm not going to torture her in public).

So on a cold Saturday afternoon, Brynbach parkrun already behind me, Gracie and I were stood behind Merthyr leisure center, her clad in a brand new (almost bribery) bright pink running jacket, geared up with my old Garmin Forerunner 15 watch, unprepared for the distance ahead (as I hadn't told her)!

My hat... my head was cold...

We set off using roughly the proposed Merthyr Parkrun route, we started off well, no complaints for... 300 yards. But all manageable, correct a bit of posture, balance her pace a bit, fine.  Then we complete the first section and I drop the 5k bombshell... minor tantrum, but after some reassurances she could do it... we're away. After that, a couple of brief walks, a bit more reassurance, she was golden!

The increase in determination when she could see the finish (bench) was borderline heartwarming (any warming was welcome at the time) and the despair when I stopped a further 20 yards passed (rounding distance) as she thought we were going on further was... I felt bad.

Proud of my girl today. I'm very confident she can now do herself proud in the junior races coming up!