Fun Run

I signed up several weeks ago to help my sorority with the AOII Run for the Roses 5k. Miles and I had to be there at 6:15am, so I set my alarm for 5:20.  Unfortunately, I set it for PM instead of AM. I woke up to Stephanie calling me at 6:48. OH MY. How frustrating that sleeping until 6am is usually late for me and somehow today I was still sound asleep well past when I was supposed to be somewhere.  I jumped out of bed, quickly got ready, and pulled up to the 5k around 7:15am.

While I was helping with registration, Miles started saying that he wanted to run.  He was dressed in jeans and a long sleeve shirt b/c in my frenzy to get ready, I didn't realize it wasn't cold outside.  Another major fail of the morning.  I didn't take him very seriously b/c a spur of the moment activity like this isn't really Miles' thing.  He typically needs time to mentally prepare.  I'm learning though, that not preparing him might actually be better for him.  Giving him time to think just stresses him out.  So anyway....I kind of blew him off, telling him that we would sign up for the next one and we would practice at home. 

He was pretty insistent....and  soon we found ourselves at the starting line of the one mile fun run with one other little girl.  What a perfect scenario for Miles.  His outfit killed my soul b/c I believe you should never, ever exercise in pants or shorts that have a zipper.  Jeans are the worst in my book.  I really wanted to seize the moment with him, so I overlooked it.

The high school cross country team ran with the kids.  It was a little unnerving sending my 5 year down the street...alone...running a mile....in jeans.  I wasn't sure how he would do or if he could even do it.  

We could see his little shirt running in the distance and it appeared that he was still running at the half mile mark, where they turned around and started back.  

He slowed to a walk with 100 yards to go and the two boys that ran with him encouraged him to keep running. 

He picked it back up and crossed the finish line strong. 

I told him to put his hands up like he was victorious, but it came across more like a hold up...

Stephanie hooked him up at the hospitality tent...

He finished his mile in 11:47.  His medal didn't arrive in time so they are going to get it to us next week.  He is so excited about it.

I am so proud of him.  He tends to miss out on things b/c he's scared of the unknown. He's afraid he won't be able to do something or that someone will make fun of him.  I asked him if he would like to do another run. He said, "that was a long way."  He sure has been proud of himself all day though.  I think accomplishments like this are key for him to gain some confidence.  On the way home, I was telling him how proud I was and that he ran a long way for a little boy.  He said, "little folk can do things that big folk can do."  Apparently that came from a book at school. Extremely proud of our little runner today.