Sunday, December 7, 2008

Getting physical (in a good way)

My husband began running in 2006. Since then he's completed three marathons and six half-marathons. I think it's great, even more so because my oldest, now twelve, began following his lead last year, running 3 km, 5 km, and recently a 10 km run.

This past Saturday, my youngest, now ten and recently diagnosed with Tourette's Syndrome, ran his first 5 km run, the Santa Shuffle, which raises money for the Salvation Army. I watched with my sister, who was visiting, and our dog Sully. (No, I don't run. At least not yet, though I've been spending time on my treadmill and elliptical machines 5 days/week for the last ten months).

Anyhow... my oldest finished Saturday's 5 km run in 28 mins, running across the finish like a deer, barely breaking a sweat. My youngest (paced by his dad) finished in 41 minutes, blinking and twitching so badly as he crossed the finish line I almost cried. (His Tourette's, which often occurs in bouts where he'll twitch/blink involuntarily, is worse when he's stressed). He was worried he wouldn't be able to do it, so worried he'd had trouble sleeping the night before, and yet when he ran up to me at the end, winded and red-faced, he was clearly riding a euphoric high. You could see it in his eyes.

Later, I watched all kinds of people struggling across that same finish line, some taking 60 mins, others 65 or even more. There were parents pushing kids in strollers, couples running with their dogs, groups of elderly who'd walked. Some were robust and healthy, others overweight and out of shape, but they all finished and for that they deserve a high-five.

Running has exploded over the last decade. I think it's great because you don't need talent to do it, you can run as a family, you compete against yourself, and anyone can do it. Anyone.

10 comments:

ORION said...

Good for you Marcus!!!! And Thomas!!!! (oh and Rick too...)
and I um don't run...
terminal shin splits!
So you guys going to do the Honolulu Marathon next year??????

Angie Ledbetter said...

What a great feeling of accomplishment. Good on the little one. Channeling angst into physical exercise may be a great future sport?

Heidi the Hick said...

Won't it be great if this boosts his confidence for the next one!

What a huge big deal for the whole family!

(I don't run either but I do some vigorous pug walks.)

Victoria said...

I'm a big walker. I started slow two years ago and now I'm into power walking. Don't know if I can ever RUN but I do know it makes me feel much better all round.

Yay to your little guy!

Melissa Amateis said...

I'm so glad your entire family is exercising - good for you all!

I do not like to run - however, I *do* like to walk and work-out. So as long as I'm moving, right? :-)

Adam said...

Run kid, run! Sorry to hear about his Tourettes but maybe this will help in some ways. Hope so.

Anonymous said...

I HATE exercising but the older I get the more I realize what a necessary evil it is.

Good for you guys.
Running really does seem to have exploded. Everywhere I look these days I see people out jogging.

Larramie said...

Bravo to all your very fit men!

Dawn Anon said...

Your young men = my heroes!

Gen said...

Running literally changed my life! In a time when I needed nothing more than to "run" from everything...I chose running instead. I found that the weight of the world gets a lot easier after a few kilometers. Even here in the depths of our cold Ottawa winters (like right now with 32cms of snow), I crave running the same way I do oxygen.

I ran my first (and only!) marathon in 2004 and seriously wanted to kill myself!!!!! It was agonizing and though I couldn't walk for nearly a week...I looked like I went to sleep with a hanger in my mouth from smiling so much!

I desperately hope that our children (when we have them) will run as little ones as well. If nothing else, all the people clapping and cheering along the way can do nothing but good things for their spirits!!

RUN HAPPY!