MY DAUGHTER THE RUNNER

MY DAUGHTER THE RUNNER

I was doing about a 10 minute mile at the time, during my early-morning 5k jogs around the neighborhood lake four times a week or so. Our daughter Debbie was in 8th grade; she approached me during Christmas break.

“Dad, can I go running with you tomorrow? I’m going out for track in the Spring.”

That first morning I slowed down so she could keep up, but she petered out about half-way around.

The next day she surprisingly made it all the way at my regular pace.

The third day she was holding back to stay with me!

On the fourth morning about half-way through the run, she turned back to me over her shoulder.

“I’ll meet you at home, Dad. I’m going to go a little faster.”

To this day my jaw drops in amazement every time I think about it.

Debbie went on to become all-state in cross-country, and her distance relay team broke the state record, holding it for several years.

I’m a plodder. I consider it an honor to have briefly shared the road with a genuine runner.