Running with the Dawgs

This is Eben.  He is THE brown dog at Brown Dog Farm.

My in-laws live about 15 minutes outside Madison, Georgia, just south of heaven and then take a right onto Brown Dog Farm.  It truly is a getaway from the kind of busyness and crazy that is our normal routine in Greenville.  Just 25 minutes away is the University of Georgia, Len and my alma mater (and maybe the greatest campus ever).  We met at UGA, dated there, and married there.  So, while we love going back to relive the memories of our youth, we also like the simple fact that the grandparents will keep the kids for us to have a dinner and movie date.  With all the new restaurants downtown Athens has to offer, we keep it pretty simple most often.  Pizza where we had a first date or Last Resort Grill.  I don’t like not knowing what I’m getting at dinner.  I like knowing I already like what’s on a menu I’m already familiar with.  I digress from the point.

Every Memorial Day weekend we head out to the farm to spend time with family, to swim, and to eat lots of good home cooked food.  The weekend culminates on Memorial Day with the 5k Running with the Dawgs race in Athens.  A couple of years ago, we all ran as a family.  Len ran and was in it to win it, so it was up to me to keep up with our two children.  Our youngest (5 at the time) doesn’t do any sport unless he thinks he can win.  And our daughter (7 at the time) was just along for the “fun” of a 3.1 mile jaunt through town.  Only that first time “run” for her, turned into the l-o-n-g-e-s-t  3.1 mile walk and coaxing back to the finish line of my life.  She complained the whole time.  Whined.  Then complained more.  It.was.painful.

So, this year when she wanted to run again, I wanted to run the other way.  Screaming.  However, two years older now and several seasons of soccer under her belt, I thought maybe she had some more endurance I should give her credit for.  Our son was, like his dad, in it to win it.

This was B.  Right on the start line.  Front and center.  Next to the guy who was built to win it.  And as you can see, B was sizing up his competition.

And this one, surprised the heck out of me.  Jogging most of the 3.1 miles.  Walking very little.  And not complaining one bit.

She started slowing down at 2.5 miles.  Then it occurred to me she could beat her time from her first race, if we kept going and stayed on pace.   I knew this would peek her interest and possibly keep her going so, I said, “You could beat your first 5k time if we finish strong. Let’s keep going and I’ll tell you when to start your sprint to the finish.”  Well, she starting sprinting right then and there.  You can’t say my kids don’t have drive.  I finally got her to slow down and wait until the end for the sprinting portion of our race.   Once we passed the 3-mile marker, the finish was just through the other side of the parking garage of the Classic Center.  She started her sprint about half-way into the parking garage, a bit early but I cheered her on. Albeit trying to catch my breath to keep up with her sprint.  I don’t do sprints.  Or run much (at all) for that matter.  But, I have never been more proud of her accomplishment.  She beat her time by almost 5 minutes, running it in 43 minutes.  And, I didn’t die running or from sweating.  Who knew.  B finished in 31:46.   He sprinted out of the gate and according to Len, tried to keep up with the top 10 pack for the first half mile.  Bless his heart.  He just doesn’t want to pace himself.  Unless of course, it’s the winner’s pace.

Now that we’ve been home for a week, school has ended and summer has officially begun.  Today.  And like Kelley, I’m a summer lover/hater…  Our next week is full of more swim team and getting the kids ready for camp.  For which, I’ve had 6+ months to get them in to see the doctor for their camp well-checks, but waited until last week to actually do it.  Story of my life.  This is B in waiting room with the toddler toys:

Makes me sad how grown up he is!  Standing 3 1/4 inches taller than his 9-year-old sister, and most of his peers, he is a giant.  However, this toddler toy that he used to play with as a toddler made him seem even older.  If only Apple created the iPhone circa 2005, I’d have a picture to insert here for reference.  But, alas, no iPhone and I did not ever carry my ginormous camera bag around with me.  I did however give up carrying everything but the kitchen sink around with child number 2.  Just a diaper and wipe.  Maybe.  Which is why our new Mint everything tote is so cute and perfect for new moms.  Those already moms.  Grads.  The pool.  Or my giant 17″ screen laptop that I work on:

And if you have stayed with me for this long, I applaud you.  I can talk like a run-on sentence sometimes.  Which is why Kelley does all the blogging and I do not.  Maybe if I get it together, I can write about my camp adventures at home without the children for a week.  More than likely, I’ll have so many projects I’ll want to do, I’ll get overwhelmed and not do any of them.  We’ll see.  And then I’ll let you know in the least long-winded blog post possible.

xoxo,

Heather