Sometimes It Is Easy to Let Go

I worked a race Saturday (Coach Mike's Run for the Kids 5K), so I didn't do any personal banana counting. (I did run the course afterwards, and after the uphill grade of Mitchell Drive, I understood those stressed looks on finishers' faces at the end.)

Throughout my run of the course, I was brainstorming what to blog about this weekend. There wouldn't be any pictures of me to post (not that those are likely to bring on new followers!). I wasn't with Wayne Kevin as he competed in the Stone Creek Kids' Triathlon in Valdosta, GA, so I wouldn't be able to count on pictures of that.

Well, Jeff Bowman took care of the picture end, and my brain took care of the "topic" end. So here are the pictures (photo credits to Jeff Bowman):

And here is the takeaway:

Back when Tenley did competitive gymnastics, one of the other moms had to miss half of the meets because her son played football on the same days. I could not imagine how she could bear missing her daughter's meets. This was around the same time that I was talking to Tenley's former third grade teacher about helping her with anxiety about moving schools, and I said, "we will work on the anxiety." She rightly pointed out that resolving the anxiety was not really a "we" thing. The issues Tenley was facing would be most readily resolved with her in the driver's seat. It was time for me to release my grip -- although I could provide parental support in abundance, I couldn't fix this problem for her.

Yesterday, however, I had virtually no qualms about not being in Valdosta with Wayne. I certainly can't help him swim, bike, or run faster. I knew he would have fun being with his friend Alex, going to Wild Adventures afterwards (possibly the prime draw of the day), and being outside participating in the triathlon. If he had a bike accident? That's what first aid is for. If that nagging big toe nail that is partially ripped off made it hard or impossible to run? Wayne would have to decide how badly he wanted to finish the race. I also know from plenty of observation that he's a different boy when he's with a "dad" coach than when he's with mom.

So when I left to run the Schneider 5K course, knowing that he would probably call while I was out, I felt very relaxed about the outcome of his morning. I did have a "missed call" message when I returned. When I reached Wayne he was a) happy to be on his way to Wild Adventures, b) reasonably happy with his triathlon morning, and c) telling me he loved me. Nothing about nagging hanging toenails.

Wayne was number 32 yesterday (I guess he will be for most of the week because it's written in sharpie on both arms and legs!!).

Just like the numbers that won't wash off easily, this new phase in our parent/child evolution won't easily fade for me either.

I'll "run" into you next week, readers!

I Broke 40! (But I Didn't)

The first good news is that I found the PERFECT picture for my "Last Banana Club" blogs, thanks to the Fallen Heroes Race at Tom Brown Park here in Tallahassee today. You'll see it heading up my "Last Banana Club" blogs.

So, I decided to run the "Fallen Heroes" 5K today. This race supports Operation One Voice, which supports the families of wounded and fallen Special Operations Officers. Here is their website: http://www.operationonevoice.org/

I was hoping this would be the race where I would break 40, a milestone on the road to eventually breaking 30. I think I technically did, since it took about 30 seconds to reach the "start" line from the back of the pack and the race was actually 3.27 miles. Fred Deckert guesses I could count it a "39:11" 5K but since the official time is 41:20 that's the one I have to go with.

A couple observations:

1) When you do a race organized by law enforcement and military types, a lot of things get done right. For example, we all received a detailed "pre race" email last night with parking instructions, the timing plan (including color guard at 7:40), and status of tshirt quantities, etc. The email did warn us that the course was going to be longer than 3.1 miles -- it was helpful to have a heads up.
2) This course was marked every quarter mile. What a godsend for pacing. Two thumbs up to whoever took the time to do that!
3) The color guard pre-race was a very appropriate touch. When the singer started singing the Star Spangled Banner, I was so far back I couldn't tell if it was a solo or if she was trying to lead us all in the song. One of my fellow runners belted it out along with her. I still don't know if it was supposed to be a solo or a sing-a-long but I admire the pride my fellow runner showed in proudly singing our nation's song.
4) It is no fun to be one of the "older and/or heavier" people that fellow runners use to motivate their young child to go faster (i.e., surely you can beat that lady). And, true confession, this is a tactic I admit to having used with Wayne Kevin in the past. He's on his own now; it's not nice form to trash talk your fellow back-of-the-packers and I am hopefully past that as a parent.

All in all, it was a lovely day out at Tom Brown (especially the downhill, shady parts). Since my afternoon was spent at Camp Gordon Johnston, where our troops trained in the 40's, my day seems to have been spent contemplating the luxury of running for fun rather than evading enemies.

One more thing before I close out this blog. I realize it is running a little long (pun intended!), but the organizers of today's race shared the following with us in explaining what it is they do:

"The request [for assistance with rental car expenses] was for the family of a female Air Force Special Operations Airman; you'd think as a parent, that your daughter is in the AFSOC, ok, but she's not going to be out with a high-speed shooting teams, instead she'll be in a support role. She's deployed overseas, and after a while she comes down with an illness. The illness moves into her circulatory system (blood), the doctors can't identify illness or how to control it. (kind of sounds like an episode of House). The illness continues to spread and she's medically evacuated home, but doctors are still unable to stop the spread. So a decision is made to amputate your daughters legs (both legs). Decision made, surgery done....... and now no improvement, the disease / illness reappears and continues to spread... finally after some time your daughter loses her battle and life.

Losing a child is not easy and I can't really imagine how one copes, but losing a daughter to an illness not directly related to combat seems especially difficult.

The next time I have what I think is a bad day, I hope to recall what some of our families are really living through."

So, a shortage of bananas at the end of a race is now in clear perspective for me.

I'll "run into" you soon, readers!

Ten Thousand Drops of Sweat!

Last Sunday night, I was sitting in my hotel room at the outset of my family's week at the Marco Island Marriott. Marco Island, on the extreme southwestern corner of Florida, is the largest of the "Ten Thousand Islands." There are actually a few hundred islands; someone has counted.

The good news is I did keep my promise to myself to maintain an exercise plan. I ran three times and went to the nicely equipped workout room twice to ride the exercise bike. Here are a few observations:

1) 8:30 a.m. is not early enough to "escape the heat" on Marco Island in July!
2) The chocolate croissants at the Cafe San Marco taste amazing as a post-run snack.
3) Most of the planning around an hour long run during this vacation involved hydration -- stashing water bottles in trees; stopping mid-run at 7-11 for Gatorade, and wondering just how toxic the "non potable irrigation water" was!
4) Venturing anywhere inland is directly correlated with being hotter due to the lack of beachside breezes.
5) The city fathers (and mothers I guess) of Marco Island who put a water fountain (complete with a doggie-height spout) halfway through one of my runs are GENIUSES!!

Will the runs I took on this trip get me any closer to running faster 5K's? I think I at least held my ground. I do know that, just like a regular workday here in Tallahassee, most days that start off with a run end up being better days in general!

Yep, I sweated at least 10,000 drops on these runs. That's okay; I had plenty of options for hydration as the day wore on and the beautiful sunsets filled the sky.

There's another island to run in the future: Roosevelt Island when Tenley and I are in New York in October! (I got this idea from a post at http://runemployed.wordpress.com/2009/07/14/running-roosevelt-island/)

I'll "run" into you next week, readers!

Racing to Marco Island

There will be no races for me this week, and a brief blog post.

As our family (plus my niece Elizabeth) settles in for a week at Marco Island (thanks to Wayne's participation in the Environmental Permitting Summer School), my trip out of the Last Banana Club involves keeping up with my exercise program from a new venue, the Marco Island Marriott Resort. That's why sweat is still running down my back after a foray to the fitness center at 9:45 p.m.

I ventured back to intervals last Tuesday. After six months of working toward my goal of "faster 5K's," my time has not budged much. I even got the "early bird" start at Thursday night track so people didn't have to be around till 10 p.m. while I finished the 5K.

But as I told someone recently, my mood is a whole lot better. Now it's time to pair that happy elevated mood with some marked improvement in race times.

This week will not be a step backwards for me. I have a beautiful beachfront at my disposal, and a determination to get up early and run before the heat descends; after all, I can nap poolside later.

Each of the three children on this trip with us asked "Are we there yet?" at some point on the long drive today. This runner isn't "there yet" for the goal of breaking 30 minutes (or 40) for the 5K. But I have a plan, the support of my friends, family, and Gulf Winds supporters, and determination. This is one trip is that going to be "running" through my spirit for miles to come.

Gettin' Greeks (and Me) In the Streets 5K

Rather than a "LBC" (Last Banana Club) report, this post would more appropriately be called "LWC" (Last Water Club). When I completed today's "Gettin' Greeks in the Streets" 5K, I hopefully put my cup under the cooler's spout and got ....... nada. There was a container of Sunny Delight on the table, though, so it did the trick.

It was a relief to arrive at the FSU Union Green and discover:
1) there was a race going on! (my friend Rob famously arrived at another campus race in February 2009 only to discover that the race had been cancelled due to drizzle)
2) I was not the only non-college student there. I still think at 44 I elevated the average age by my presence alone, but some GWTC stalwarts (Gary Droze, Margrete Deckert, Jamie Joanos, Fran McLean, Fred Deckert with his trusty camera) were there too.

The pre-race instructions had been a little odd. Pre-registration had closed on 7/1/09, and the instructions said that race day registration would be from 8-9 with the race starting at 9:30. By the time registration closed at 9, the organizers decided that it was futile to wait until 9:30 and announced "starting in 5 minutes." Gary somehow managed to talk them into 10 minutes, and I ran to the parking garage to put on my running shoes. When the organizer was about to yell "go!" a couple of us were trying to point out that some people were still arriving but the .... um ..... Greeks were already in the Streets.

This was not the day to break 40 minutes. Gotta keep working toward that goal (intervals here I come).

Even though I did not make progress toward my time-related goal, no day is a complete loss when you have the opportunity to circumnavigate the campus that holds your happy college memories; share time with running friends; and burn some calories.

My original title of this post was: I didn't have a great time but I had a great time. I wish there had been a better turnout and that the Boys and Girls Clubs of Tallahassee (the designated charity) had netted more proceeds, but no day is a complete loss that starts with a run with friends!

"At Least I Didn't Finish Last"

Tonight's "LBC" (Last Banana Club) report is not about me. Maybe the "Little Banana Club" because it is about Wayne Kevin.

Seven years ago, when Tenley was "between" dance and whatever the next pasttime would be, she was briefly involved in running. When I took her out to the Gulf Winds Summer Track series, I didn't know what to do with three year old Wayne so I ..... took him along. Tenley went on to gymnastics (and dance) (and cheerleading) but Wayne and I are still "at the track."

Children are so unique in what motivates them. I have evolved over years of parenting to come to terms with the fact that my parental idea of what a child's goal should be, what should motivate them, or what will make a child feel good about him or herself differs wildly from the child's ideas.

I don't know if Wayne will ever set any kind of records. I don't know if he'll be running next week, next month, or next year (of course I still hope!). What I do know is that in the three Red Hills Kids Triathlons he has done, and yesterday's Freedom Springs Kids Triathlon, I saw determination in his eyes. And when he said, "at least I didn't finish last," that was as satisfactory to me as a first place finish.

One of my friends whose child was participating said she was going to take video next year of all the parents whose behavior was less than sportsmanlike and show it on a big screen so they would see for themselves that when you verbally berate a child who is putting together a 100 yard swim/3 mile bike/1 mile run for not doing it fast enough, that child may shave seconds off of their time but the parent is undermining something far more enduring: a child's sense of wonder at the things their body and mind can do.

So this week, when a child in your life wants to spend their time in a way that diverges from your vision of what will make them happy, take a moment to put aside your adult expectations and see things from their perspective. You might be surprised at the things you'll "tri" together.

My Ride to the St. George Island Sizzler Race

First, a small piece of business. After ruminating about it, I am going to write regularly (i.e., after each race and maybe in between) about my progress toward the goal of getting out of the "last banana" club. The "LBC" is what I call that anemic looking collection of snacks left for those of us who routinely finish 5K's "toward the end." Other hallmarks of LBC's are: 1) you have on at least one occasion overheard the law enforcement escorts at the rear of the race radioing to their counterparts, "Yeah, I've got the last one here," 2) You have ever received a "snail" award for finishing last in a race, and 3) you are well, well acquainted with the runners/walkers who begin the race ahead of the pack due to being elderly or otherwise at a "speed" handicap. I think the most important thing about running is ........ being there. But after years of bad (if any) bananas and the dregs of the water/gatorade coolers, I want out! I have a goal of completing a 5K in under 30 minutes, a goal I set for myself at the beginning of 2009. Six months into it, I have to admit I'll need to break 40 first!

Which gets me to the St. George Island Sizzler race, held last night (June 27). Last week, when our family was vacationing at St. George, I did a practice run of the course. Choosing to do this at noon (because I had slept in) when the heat index was around 110 degrees was hardly the right choice! But the practice session did help me familiarize myself with the course. It almost helped me familiarize myself with complete strangers, who I contemplated approaching for water! It took me about an hour to do the course since I had to walk half of it in the heat, so it was pretty clear that the "real" race last night would probably not be the time I broke 40 minutes.

A different complication arose as I prepared to leave for the race, however. My son, who was scheduled to run the 1 mile, started giving signs of backing out. No one I had approached about sharing a ride over ended up being available. At around 3:00 as I was preparing to go, and trying to come to terms with my sadness about Wayne Kevin not joining me, my husband said, "gee, what if the three of us go?" I'l be clear: As long as Wayne Kevin was out of the picture, I was pretty happy about four hours in the car to myself, just me and my audiobook, but I wasn't happy about the round trip through isolated areas, and traveling late at night fighting fatigue. So I originally said, "Gee thanks nice idea," while I was assuming I was still flying solo. Then a variety of things kicked in -- we figured out we could make arrangements for my daughter to get a ride back from the mall to our house, which eliminated one complication -- and my son said to his father, "yeah, if you're going I'll go." And inwardly I started getting pretty happy about finally having an opportunity to share a little of my running world with my spouse, and just to have some family-ish time spontaneously.

On the ride over, I was able to relax and stay hydrated without worrying about driving. When we arrived at SGI, my husband stationed himself at a table at Harry A's (site of the post race party, where tables were PRIME real estate). My son ran his mile and secured his third kids Grand Prix race of the year:

I fortunately figured out the 5K was starting early and had enough time to glimpse Wayne Kevin going into Harry A's to meet his dad, then embarked on my race. The temperature was MUCH better than it had been the previous week, the company was great (I enjoyed my midrace conversation with Katy Johnston), the family hosing us down at the 2 mile mark ROCKED, and the lady who dumped cold water down my back right before the finish was a savior (where the heck was she LAST week?!). My prediction was right: it was not the week to break 30 or even 40 (my time was around 44:30).:

The official LBC status for the SGI Sizzler race was:

If the measurement was bananas, the term "bananas" would have to be replaced for this race by yummy seafood boil, oysters, and black beans. There was plenty left even for us back of the packers. If it were the traditional post race spread, I imagine it would have been a "last" or "no" bananas race.

But there was something much more edifying to me at the end of the race: family support and a ride home.

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