Apple picking and hayrides, visiting the Metropolitan Museum, or snagging a picture with a princess at Disney surely bring smiles to the face of a child. Yet, one of the most wonderful ways I get to see my daughter smile, the big, goofy, toothless, ear to ear smile, is while running. Part of me always hoped that she would have an interest in running together. Yet, I never expected it to start so soon.
I Love Running with My Daughter!
Back in 2012 and 2013, I invested a lot of time and energy into running races and the training to go along with it. My little cheerleader, always supporting near the finish line, quickly picked up the terms and the “running bug” as she “ran marathons” around the house. Hesitant to start her too soon, I shied away from allowing her to race. When I asked her about running in her first race, the 2014 runDisney 100m, I was pleasantly surprised when she said yes. And, when it came to race day, little did I know that I had a fierce competitor on my hands! She wanted to leave mom in the dust.
The next year, she ran the runDisney 200m dash. While it was a slightly less magical race, she learned a lesson in perseverance that year. Hello, proud mom moment.
Since laying off the runDisney magic, Cora participated in the 2015 L.L Bean 1 Mile Family Fun Run. We love visiting grandma in Main for the Fourth of July weekend. It added a little something extra to the weekend! While running this 1-Mile race, Cora learned the importance of pacing herself and having the confidence to make it to the finish line.
Races aren’t everything. And, this year, we have started sharing more miles together in Kansas. This is really the first time that Cora has asked to accompany me on training runs. And, who can say no to that?! Sometimes, Cora runs with me in silence. Yet, most of the time, chatter and laughter fills the air. She shares tidbits about school, her friends, her desire to be a ballerina, and just about anything you can imagine in a six-year-old mind.
Often, she asks how many miles we have run because she like to try to go further and further each time. She has also learned the tough reality that sometimes, if you take time off, you just can’t go as far as you did the last time. She has realized that the more effort you put in, the more you get out… an important life lesson at any age.
Sometimes this running journey isn’t about setting personal records. It’s about slowing down to enjoy these moments, just in case they don’t last forever.
Are you convinced that you should run with your child? What has running surprisingly brought to your life?
I love Running with My Daughter!
Lisa
How adorable! I don’t have children but I have thought about coaching Girls on the Run. I did that several years ago and had a ton of fun watching the girls learn to run and all the lessons that come with it.
Wendy Hammond recently posted…CSA Ending, Adjusting to a New Season
I’ve thought about coaching with Girls on the Run too! I hope at some point my schedule will allow me to do it. I started running when I was in middle school and it was life changing for my confidence!
SO cute! It must be such a joy to run with your daughter! It’s also great that you are exposing her to the awesome sport of running while she is young!
Thank you! Yes, it is so, so fun!
Cora is absolutely adorable!! She has clearly caught the running bug and I think it’s awesome that the two of you run together. Sometimes on my training runs I see groups of youngsters running together and I really admire their grit! Running teaches you so much, I wish I had started when I was younger 🙂
Janelle @ Run With No Regrets recently posted…12 Quick and Effective Core Workouts for Runners
Thank you!! I started running in middle school and it was a huge confidence booster for me. My family never ran with me though… and oddly enough, I still wish I could convince my mom to do a couch to 5k program.
That’s great that your daughter shares your love of running and is joining you on training runs now! Running does really teach a lot of great lessons but more importantly, it sounds like she’s having fun with it 🙂
Chaitali recently posted…Race 13.1 Baltimore – training week 8
I think she does! I usually just take her out for my warm-up (1-1.5 miles). Sometimes she asks to come and sometimes she isn’t in the mood. No pressure is surely the way to go to keep it fun!
I love this! What a nice way to spend time together and share a health interest. It looks like she is having a great time 🙂
Jennifer @SimplePureWhole Wellness recently posted…Fall into Health with Home Health Testing: EverlyWell Review My Experience & Heavy Metals Results {Simple & Healthy}
Sometimes she asks to come and sometimes she isn’t in the mood. No pressure is surely the way to go to keep it fun! Hopefully, she will continue to enjoy to be active as she gets older!
Omgosh this is fabulous! How old is Cora? My daughter is 4 and just did her first 100 m dash and loved it. I also struggled to not want to push her into it too early but she had fun. Running does teach them important life lessons!!
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Cora is six now. I didn’t want to push her either and I think for her, we talked through when the time was right.
What lovely photos of you and your daughter. It must be great to be able to be a role model to her in that way. I do hope she continues to have fun running with you.
My friend’s daughter is the same. She has really caught the bug, especially when she realised she could get quicker!
Nicola @ Running Happy recently posted…How I went from couch to coach
I’m not sure Cora has realized that she can go faster and faster…. yet. So far she just likes to go a bit further with each run. I’m in trouble when she realizes she can leave me in the dust!
How special that you have these memories with your daughter!
After watching the NYC marathon last year with my son, he told me he wants to run that race with me. I’m not a marathoner so I don’t know if we will actually do this. But the idea of us taking on this goal together certainly appeals.
That would be such a special race and distance to tackle together. And, plus having a running buddy makes 26.2 a little bit easier!
What an awesome feeling to find something to bond with your daughter, especially something that can carry into adulthood!
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Yes! I ran with my son in the stroller until he was too big , and now he loves running WITH me. We started him in a track class, and he’s learning some new techniques! I also love running with my kiddo! Thanks for sharing!
I freaking love her! <3
Mar @ Mar on the Run recently posted…Race Recap: Monster Mash Half Marathon
ME TOO! <3
Oh what a cutie!!
My dad used to let us kids come on his runs, rarely to run with he was too fast and competitive, but he’d let us ride on the bike on his slowing training days. That and watching him finish marathons was likely the reason almost all of us kids picked up running at one point or another. Not only that, but almost all of us are still involved in running. The great memories you have with your parents and the great conversations that can only happen when one on one with them like that, moments for you and your daughter to cherish for sure!
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I didn’t realize your dad gave you the running bug! I just love the uncensored chatter. It’s hard to find another way that even compares to how chatty she is while running. All those endorphins I suppose!
Awwwww. this is so precious! Neither of my daughters have an interest in running. Our son stuck it out and ran one season of cross country, but it was a “once and done” thing for him. I didn’t run when they were little, so I often wonder if that would have changed things (?). Now that I’m doing long races (half marathons, marathons, and ultras), they seem to have even less interest. I keep saying I need to use Mickey Mouse as a trump card and have the family do a Disney race (they LOVE anything remotely connected to Disney World) 😉
Mickey might do the trick for you! It’s an easy way for us to incorporate a run into a family weekend to visit with grandparents (my family lives in FL). Who knows, they may surprise you one day!
This is so adorable!!! It looks like you trained her right to step into running gradually. I sometimes wish I ran in my childhood (hello obesity!). But as they say, better late than never! You could probably open a private instagram account ‘corarunsforcupcakes’ and document all her running journey and when she is 18, give her the username and password 🙂
Madhuri recently posted…Tête-à-tête with a weighing scale
Madhuri, that idea is simply genius!!! I think I might have to do it!
Awww, I love this! How neat and awesome to be able to share this love of running with your daughter! Talk about adding in extra magic to the mix! She looks like she’s going to be quite the speedster too. 🙂
Shannon @GirlsGotSole recently posted…The Weekly Pursuit #21
I hope she doesn’t leave mama in the dust just yet! She is pretty competitive though. Hopefully she can channel that in a positive way!
What a little inspiration and cutie Cora is inspiring me to push past my own limits. I also think it’s awesome to set a healthy habit such as running at such a young age. My oldest daughter runs with me in the summer to prep for field hockey and likes to do Hill Sprints with me. We’re not running races but we.do stay active together
That’s fantastic! I started running because I played field hockey too!! When the field hockey days ended, I still had running. They really do complement each other nicely though!
Love this! I love your matching skirts in the first picture, too cute! I too was hesitant to sign up our daughter to race and was even met with negative reactions because she was ‘too young’ but she loved every minute! Now she’s bummed if we can’t sign her up for a Disney kids race. She takes after her dad and leaves me in the dust most of the time but I love running with her.
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The love of running is such a wonderful gift to pass on to children. Enjoy sharing this special activity together.
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Those pictures are beautiful! I LOVE that running has inspired your family.