Running with my daughter by smish

So this is my first effort at blogging. I started running 3 years ago after a very sedentary, chip-eating kind of life. I am thin enough though so unlike other folks aka my heroes, I didn't have to overcome that extra challenge. Thank goodness because it was hard enough but I joined a local running group and got going.

I am a bit of an over-achiever and decided to do the Ottawa Half after just 5 months of training...mistake. I now know that what I called 'training' back then is not what I would call training now! Anyway, in spite of going with 2 blown ITB's, I managed to finish the race with lots of walking and pain. It was days before I could move without pain and weeks before i could even run across the street. Never again! Since then, I have done lots of smaller races, 5 more half marathons and a full marathon last year.

I have 3 children and the only one able to attend my marathon was my middle child who is 13yr old. I didn't know she would be there and just about 150m from the end she burst out of the crowd and ran me in. What a moment! This girl has had to overcome her challenges and while they may not be as serious as some other people's, they are hers nonetheless. She is my middle child, the one with a speech problem, the most emotional, perhaps the most affected by my divorce from her Dad and the least athletic of the bunch (she gets this from me!). Her father has spent time telling her she is not good at athletics (as my father told me when I was a child). She quit soccer as a result. The thing is, the girl can run. Not run like one of those truly gifted heading for the Olympics kind of people but still better than your average gal. So the point of this whole long story is that she told me that she wants to run and she wants to do something big.

We started several weeks ago and she is already up to 10km so we registered her for the Ottawa Half Marathon 2009. I will run by her side, take the photos, give her water, carry her gels, help her with pacing and make sure she finishes. We will do it together. I will cry, more than I ever cried at any of my own races and I will know she is capable of just about anything. I have always known it but now she will know it and others will know it too.

Look for us along the route. We will let you know what we will be wearing and would love you to stop in for a chat along the way. It's going to be a great day!