Ahh…Fall is FINALLY in the air here in Florida. And for me, that means I finally get to dig out my cold weather running gear. Alright, maybe not cold weather, but at least colder weather! And it also means crisp clear mornings that most runners live to run. Did I mention I'm a bit of a run-aholic too? Okay, it is probably not so much due to the actual rolling my butt out of bed at the crack of dawn to exercise as it is the endorphins and how my bum eventually looks in my jeans!
But this year I have a new running partner, and she is kicking said bum! It is not a new neighbor, or even a new puppy, but someone right under my own roof: my 13 year old daughter! Eldest yard monkey has played soccer for the past 5 years, but it has only been thisyear, as the competition and size of the field increased, that endurance training became a necessity. And up until this weekend, when cooler weather moved in, we have had no problem matching pace. But this weekend-holy cow! Either she is drastically improving (which I am sure is partially the case) or the cold weather is like an adrenalin shot to her young veins! Either way, my old bones have got to get moving or I am quickly going to be outpaced and in the market for another running buddy!
Now I am by no means a professional runner, but I do two marathons under my belt so I am not a complete novice either. And after years of running, I must admit-she has definitely been my bes
t motivation and inspiration. 5:20am three days a week, my energetic little running buddy is at my bedside asking me if I am ready to run! Talk about accountability! If I slack off on a run, there she is, across the dinner table, with her knowing eyes. And I am literally not just hurting myself if I miss a run. Since I certainly will not allow her to run alone, especially at 5:30 in the morning, she too is missing out on her critical training sessions. So I guess it's time to pick up my game and position myself as a true fitness role model. Maybe I'll even sign up with her for her first 10 k….So Carpe Viem ladies, see you out there!
