Pushing Through the Heat

Once again, I am a very proud mom.  The other day my daughter's school had another fun run.  They usually have one at the end of the year but this is the first time they've held it at the school year start.  This being the case, I wasn't really aware of it going on.  I knew they were having some kind of "reading run" but figured it had to do with books.  Honestly, I'm still not sure what the purpose of the fun run was.  Anyway, since I didn't really know much about it I didn't give my daughter her usual pep talk and encouragement nor did I dress her in appropriate clothing (other than her running shoes) or give her my handheld amphipod water bottle full of Gatorade.  She did happen, on her own, to wear her new "I love running, I hate running" t-shirt so I guess that would qualify as appropriate clothing but the jeans she had on ... not so much. 

I took her to school and then went to the trail for my own run.  My daughter's school is between my home and the trail so as I drove home I happened to catch all the 5th grade students outside running laps around the playground.  "Hmmm, that looks just like the big fund run they do", I thought.  It was sunny outside and quite warm.  I had been slightly uncomfortable on my own run.  "Uh oh!" was my next thought as I knew my daughter reacted to the heat the same way I do - not pleasantly.  I wish I would have known she'd be running that much because I would have had her wear shorts and made sure she was properly hydrated before leaving for school.  As was ... I prepared myself for a downcast and whiny kid who overheated and complaining about how poorly she performed. 

True to my expectations, I got a call from the school nurse shortly after I arrived home.  "I have your daughter here in the health room.  It seems she got a little overheated at the fun run.  Her little face is very warm and she's feeling a little light headed.  I've given her some water and had her rest.  She's feeling a little better but I thought I'd have her talk to you before I send her back to class." 

I soon hear a small and weak voice on the phone.  "Mom, I got dehydrated.  It was so hot.  I think I pushed myself too hard."  (Yes, I knew I was listening to words I have uttered after my own hot runs - she learned from the master.) 

"Well sweetie," I said.  "It's a hot day today.  I'm sorry.  I didn't know you'd be running so much.  If I had I'd have sent you with Gatorade and made sure you drank more this morning before school.  How many laps did you get?"  I asked this fully expecting to hear her utter 12 (her total the first year she ran) in full disappointment but this was not the answer she gave. 

"I got 26 laps but mom, I got 29 last time!" 

"Ariel, that is awesome!  You only ran 3 less laps than last time and last time the weather was cool and you had Gatorade to drink!  That's super!  Hot weather will always slow you down.  Don't be disappointed.  I'm not.  I'm proud of you!  But yes, you probably did push yourself a little too hard.  You have to slow down in heat."  I then encouraged her to finish drinking the water the nurse gave her and that I thought she would be fine to finish out the day at school, which she did.  When I picked her up at the end of the day she was all smiles and beaming.  She had the 2nd highest amount of laps out of her classroom and the 1st highest out of the girls in her classroom. 

I am seeing a change in my daughter.  Two years ago she hated running.  She was teased for being slow.  She believed the teasing and she gave up easily.  Then she ran her first IronGirl 5K.  She felt the thrill of finishing something difficult, something beyond what she thought she could accomplish.  She learned that slow is sometimes what gets you across the finish line.  Sprint too fast and you risk burning out.  Perhaps she could do this.  She did her 2nd fund run and her learned perserverance pushed her forward.  She finished at the top of her class.  She still wasn't sure she enjoyed running but she did enjoy the finished feeling.  Then she ran her 2nd IronGirl 5K, made a huge PR and I saw her confidence soar.  I could see the wheels turning in her head ... maybe this running thing isn't so bad after all?  I am so proud.  Not just because she pushed through this latest fun run despite obstacles in her path but because she is learning how to push away the negative image she had of herself.  She's learning that she can keep going when the going gets difficult.  She's learning that she has a strength deep within that she can tap into.  And yes, this mom who has learned to love running, for all the same reasons, is proud that her daughter appears to be following in her footsteps.  Way to go, Ariel!