Future Races

So, now that the kids have one 5K under their belt...what else could we do?  There is a ton of variety and the Canes Classic (which we just did) kicks off racing season down here in Florida!

Options abound...but these seem kid-friendly and local....leading up to the Disney race in April.  The Turky Trot, while 5-miles, is too local NOT to try.  They can walk it, if needed.  Fortunately, there is no cost to this one (just food donation), but there is also no medal.

• Color Blast 5K Run REGISTERED10/15/16
• Lakewood Ranch Boo Run 5K 10/29/16
• Turkey Trot (5 miles) 11/24/16
• Frosty 5k 12/17/16
• Ringing Bridge Run (4 miles) 1/14/17
• Falcon 5K February-ish (date not yet announced)
• Robinson Preserve 5k 3/31/17
• Disney Dark Side 5K REGISTERED 4/21/17 (I'll be doing the 5K with them and the Half Marathon)

Now, lets master this 5K thing!  Goal?  No stopping on 10/15!

Crazy Running Kid

My husband just asked the kids if they were running tonight?  My son says..."sure, lets do this!" ....and yes, we did just run a 5K this morning.  Maybe he really does have the running bug....or he just forgot that he was moaning about me torturing him DURING the 5K????

Kids First 5k

Prior to race day, they were both capable of running 27 minutes straight...looking back, I think they did great!  I was hoping that the energy of the race will push them that final step to finish the race non-stop, but hopefully running with me will force them to slow down and not run with the pack.

So how did they do at the Canes Classic?

My daughter ended up running with her friend from school, and his dad.  They didn't pace well and was far up ahead from the beginning, and then walked quite a lot.  She finished in 50 minutes.  She apparently complained a LOT during the race, but she was 2nd in her age group (out of two 10-11 year old girls), and received a medal.  Once we got home she put it on her "bling holder" and said that this is the medal that she is THE most proud of!

My son and I ran together...kept a consistent pace.  We did take a total of 5 1-minute walking breaks and finished in 44 minutes.  Note that every 1/4 mile there was some type of complaining such as "why are you torturing me so" and "are we done yet?".  But by the end, there was a big smile on his face.  He even sprinted the last 100 meters!

It was definitely harder than they expected.  85% humidity and 80 degrees...with sun (this race started at 8am).  After they finished, I just kept telling them that every other 5K will be easier than this one.  After all, they now have a PR!

We have officially signed up for the color blast run in October, per my daughter's request.  Its October 15th, so there may be Florida summer left...its a crap shoot. The humidity typically disappears right around mid-October, so cross your fingers for us!

We are C25K graduates!

We can all run 30 minutes...nonstop...in the Florida summer....in the high 80s and low 90s..where the
dew point is over 70....where the humidity makes it feel like 100 degrees.  Just imagine how strong and capable they will be in a few months when the humidity takes a break! Their body can actually work at running faster, rather than exerting all of this wasted energy on just keeping the body cooled! Just imagine at the end of November when their speed will be about 1-2 minutes/mile faster than it is right now...yes, thats the difference that we can expect!    Just imagine that when we sweat, the sweat will actually evaporate...oh its the little things!

We have inched our way from 1 minute running intervals (with 2 minutes walking) to 30 minutes nonstop.  This is quite the accomplishment!  I am so proud of these kids!  I really assumed that this was be torturous to get them up to this level, and I swear I thought that I would have to bribe them or kick myself along the way.  But, they were agreeable!  While not always thrilled...this has definitely become a nice routine for us.  We get to do something together, which has been great.  And, I get their ear.  They can't avoid me for those uncomfortable talks.  We talk about everything...and since there is no eye contact, we avoid the uncomfortable face, especially when talking about puberty or friends issues or school problems.  Mom is not intruding on a subject, but rather we are equals when we are together pounding the pavement.

So, whats the next goal?  Of course, we need to complete the 5k tomorrow.  While I do have a "45 minute" goal in my head (after all, we have never run 3 miles straight together), I just hope that they are proud to FINISH the race!  While most will be ahead of them, I don't think they will come in last. There is ALWAYS someone who finishes in an hour :)  And while this race caters to the local running community and high school track runners, there are always a few novices out there, so the kids won't be alone.

So, there is a 1-mile race next month...but there is also a 5k color run next month (same day)...and there is a 5k in November nearby as well, that will be a smaller race like the one tomorrow.  Once race a month would be great though Florida's race season...let's see if we can keep that up!