Elle's First Run

Elle, like her mother, loves to run; and what better way for her to have her first competitive run, than to have her chase an ice cream truck and be rewarded with ice cream at the finish line. That is precisely what Elle got to experience tonight during her half-mile dash in the Main Street Mile event. Elle got her own shirt; her own number; and she got all of the excitement and enthusiasm that comes with a running event. And seeing as how she is only four, I got to sign up and run with her for her very first race.

Elle has watched and cheered me on for many of my runs; and she has asked almost constantly to run with me. Since running with me is an impossibility, I scoured the internet for the perfect kid-run for her. I was thoroughly excited when I stumbled upon this event. It could not have been more perfect for Elle--the length, the ice cream, the shirts, the numbers; it all fit perfectly. When I asked Elle if she would be interested in participating, she was excited. It was exactly what she has been asking me for.

So, tonight, we ran together in Elle's first competitive run, and we had so much fun. We held hands at the beginning, and soon she felt tired (a half-mile is a long ways for a four-year-old). I asked her if she would like me to give her a piggyback, and she of course assented. I ran most of the race with her on my back—not very easy; I was completely out of breath—and then she ran the last leg to the finish line. She did so well, and had so much fun. And at the end she received a blue ribbon and her hard-earned ice cream bar.

I am so glad that we could run in this race together. Spending time with Elle, doing the things we both love, is the best.