This year, Thing 2 did her first official Wharf to Wharf (she ran about 1.5 miles of it last year) and Thing 1 completed his 3rd!
Thing 1 and his best buddy started out in Corral 1 while Thing 2 and I started back in Corral 4 — we made plans to meet up at the end of the race at the Family Reunion area on the beach.
Heading out, spirits were high and the weather was absolutely perfect! And, once again, the kids just put on shoes and ran 6 miles, just like that. No training. No prep. And they did great.
Running is always a challenge — even for me! I was not surprised that Thing 2 started flagging at around mile 4. I would have been more surprised if we’d finished the run without a single concern. But around Mile 4, poor thing was beat. This course is hillier than She.is.Beautiful and she was feeling it. She told me, through a smile, that she was “done” and was ready to “give up.” I reminded her that, when she crossed that finish line, she should remember what she is feeling because she will have done (finished) exactly what she believed she couldn’t do.
At around Mile 4.5, we caught with Thing 1!! I was delighted to see him! Poor guy was miserable. He had run/walked the course alone as he’d gotten separated from his buddy pretty much immediately. It is hard to stay motivated without support, so I was proud of him for carrying on — he was a trooper and he finished! I hope he will try again next year, but unfortunately, this year’s event was not a positive experience for him!
Thing 2 finished with a huge smile on her face — another challenge knocked down. Thing 1 finished with a scowl. My heart is bursting with love for both of them, and I’m so happy that both crossed the finish line. Every time I cross that line — especially when I’ve felt I can’t possibly finish — I feel a sense of success; I remember that I can do things that I thought I couldn’t…I hope they will feel and remember the same….