Robin's Race

I’m excited to push my girls today in the 5K Baby Stroller race.  It’s cool to once again to be competing with just other strollers.  My goal is to take home another chocolate turkey if possible.  I’ve shed the basket under the stroller and my water bottle holder to cut down on the extra weight and wind drag.  At the starting line we find a spot near the front next to a husband-wife team we met at this race last year.  They are each pushing their kids.  I see another girl in front and she looks like a good runner.  I tell my start line buddies that I hope the race starts on time this year.  Last year we started 15 min late and that lead to some real meltdowns on the course - kids can sit still for only so long.  A guy runs up to the start with two toddlers in a single stroller.  Wow!  The kids seem comfy and don’t seem to mind the close quarters.  The race is delayed only a few minutes before the announcer signals the start.. 

“Ready, set, go!”.  We’re off!  I get off the line without a problem.  I push hard but try to hold back.  There’s one girl ahead of me.  As long as I keep her near I shouldn’t have to pick it up for now.  Oh dear, I hear a little one crying behind me…poor guy.  With a race full of kids there’s bound to be a meltdown.  I tell Anna “good job”!  We make the first turn and we pass the other mom.  I see a pile of leaves and I purposely drive through them and say “Wee, isn’t this fun Anna?”  She says, “wee!” and I know she’s doing good.  We zig-zag a bit and head toward an underpass.  We find some other piles of leaves to drive through and Anna enjoys it.  There is a real race ahead for first.  A tattooed daddy that Troy met last year is trying to win it after many attempts.  Last year his little one melted down the last mile and he had to walk it in.

Mile 1: 7:06.  I’m happy since my goal was 7:20 average like at the San Francisco Triathlon.

Anna keeps looking back to see the other strollers.  I’m tempted to ask her to give me a report but I remind myself that isn’t important.  Instead I tell her she’s doing great and she’s a good girl. 

We are through the underpass and heading towards the North Davis Greenbelt.  I’ve run there many times as a coach and college student.  It brings back memories!  Anna is getting cold and pulls down her shade.  I think this might create some drag but, again, I remind myself what's important.  I tell Anna to get ready to pull it back when we see the photographer taking pictures.

Here comes one of the few hills in Davis, a bike overpass(=  It will be short and sweet, but I have to keep control of the stroller as I come down the other side.

Mile 2: 7:28.  We are up and over with no incident.  As we come down there’s a photographer.  "Pull the shade back, Anna".  I smile, “Cheese!”  That's going to be a fun picture to see!

We continue on the path and see the hang out for my old cross country team…more memories(=  Like that of Justin Morejohn, one of my old athletes, who's here today, racing the main 5K race, and expecting his first child!  Boy, I'm feeling old! 

We head towards the edge of the park.  I remind myself that I almost cut the course here on accident last year....don’t do that again!  I see it’s marked more clearly and I’m relieved that I got it right this time.  As we make the short out and back I can see my coming competition.  No girls, but I do see another double-stroller coming up on us. 

Now it’s a straight shot down B St. to the finish.  I tell Anna to look for Daddy.  I hear the other double coming up behind us.  I'm on a slanted part of the road and want to move to the center, but I don't want to cut off the other guy so I stay where I am.  I can see the finish line now, and Troy.  “There’s Daddy!”

Mile 3: 7:03. The other double comes alongside and starts to pass.  I tell him good job and try to stay with him.  He has a great kick and takes off.  I push with all I have and cross the finish line.  Yeah, we did it!  “Great job Anna!  You were a good girl!”  I can see that Ariel is asleep and probably missed the whole thing.  What a fun race!  Now it’s time to change someone’s diaper(=

Anna's Race

It's my kid's race. I've been waiting all month for this. I got my FCA Endurance shirt and my super fast running shoes. I take off my jacket and Daddy puts my number on. It's 274 and Mommy says it's the same as her birthday. That sounds special.

The other kids are running the mile so I know they're going to say "Go!" for me pretty soon. I've been stretching just like mommy and Daddy always do. It helps me run pretty fast.

Mommy is going somewhere to take pictures. I tell Daddy, "You run with me. You hold Anna's hand". He says he'll be behind me, but he'll catch me pretty soon.

Everybody is counting, but it's not forward like it's supposed to be. I feel like it's almost time to go. I hear, "3. 2. 1. Go!"

Everybody is running. This is really fun. I see Daddy behind me. Some really fast kids go by but I hardly notice. I'm just glad to be running. And there's Mommy! And Daddy's nearby, too. This is great!

My long sleeves keep getting in the way. It's hard to run straight when I try to fix them. Hey, this is the turn-around that Daddy showed me. This run is getting long. I really like the people that cheer for me. Someone took a picture. I want to see that.

Now we're back at the start. Last time I thought this was the end. But Daddy showed me we keep going. I can do it. I can do it. I tell Daddy, "I'm tired" and start to slow down. But he says we're almost there, just look for the Jumpy House. There it is! Yay. And a big High-5 for mommy! There's the finish. I'm so happy. I don't need Daddy anymore. This is fun! A ribbon for Anna. Whew! Ok, now on to the Jumpy House. "Here, Daddy, hold my ribbon, I'm going jumping!

Here's a fun video of my day: