This past weekend was filled with fun adventures for our family of four. We enjoyed the Pittsburgh children’s museum again, a favorite of ours! We spent lots of time with family for a birthday picnic! Enjoyed the outdoors at the county fair where our 4-year-old completed her first race! Racing was something I wanted her to enjoy when she was ready but not push it too early. Our kids have been playing “Race” with my medals and my mom’s medals for about a year now. I’ve wanted her to participate in a kids fun run for a while, but didn’t want it to be a hundred yard dash. I knew she could do more than that because we walk all the time. After searching for a race for the little one, I came across a nice 1 mile run at the local county fair.
The Stampede race had a “Country Mile” option as they called it before a 5k. Individuals could register for the mile, 5k or both. The mile was starting an hour before the 5k, so there was no concern for finishing in time before the next race started. The race fee would get her a medal of her own and entry into the fair. She would be excited! I signed us both up for the Country Mile. The race time was not ideal with a 9am start and the 5k starting at 10, so I opted to only complete the 1 mile. It was a double loop around the dirt track.
The day of the race was upon us and I was pinning her race bib to her shirt. She was getting excited and her brother was less patient. We did a couple of practice laps around some of the vendors at the fair just to get us warmed up. The little one did some stretching with Mimi and we went to the track to wait for the start. It was an inaugural race with a ton of race options in the area, so the pool of racers was very limited. Daughter H was the youngest in the group to complete the 1 mile.
We set off around the track and about a quarter of a mile in, she was getting HOT. It was a scorcher, so I don’t blame her. But, we enticed her to keep going because the back portion of the track was shadded. She made it around the track and as we circled the hay bail to head back the other direction, she was starting to negotiate for some sweet treats. She wanted shaved ice, ice cream, cold water poured on her head, anything to keep her cool.
As we were coming around the end and she was getting ready to cross the finish line she took my hand and we went across together! They hung her medal around her neck and cheered for her since it was her first race! I poured some cool water on her head and apparently she didn’t really want that after all. A few tears later and being allowed to dump water on my head made up for that parenting mistake. She was proud of herself for finishing but wanted something to help cool her down. Unfortunately the fair vendors were still not open.
Little H’s medal is now proudly displayed in her room for her to see it daily. She has requested to get more medals to hang on her wall! I may need to make her own display rack for her to hang her accomplishments up as she earns them! I want to encourage her to be active without burning her out or pushing her further than her body is capable at this point. She is young and I want her to enjoy exercising and being outdoors.
confidentandfitmom 