Le professeur de trail
I know I have more reasons than not to be banished from this group (or at least shunned) and I am adding yet another.
I ran a mud run. This is not a metaphor for my gnarly trail run that had lots of mud. I seriously paid money to run in an event with man-made obstacles and man-made mud. But I had a good reason. Just read and you will see.
I could see he had some nervous energy. I could see it in his eyes. He didn't eat as much for breakfast as he usually does. Finished up, got our gear ready, said our goodbyes to the others and we were out.
This was his first ever paid-for official running event. It was called the MudMash. 5k worth of trails and obstacles and of course....mud. I saw this event listed on the local YMCA's race schedule and started looking at the details back in the spring. When I saw it, I laughed but was also concerned about where they might try and hold this event. I would like to think I know most of the trails in the Harrisburg area and have to admit I was initially concerned that they somehow got permission to ruin some of those trails. But I learned that the event would be run on someone's private property. So I could not possibly have a say so in this. Then it hit me! Why not run this with my 10 yr old son. What a great idea. I know he loves the show American Ninja Warrior and as a typical boy loves to jump over things, swing across things, and just plain destroy things. What better way to get him into running? I could have just invited him out to run some trails with me but he is the type of kid that needed incentive. "Obstacles", "food afterwards" , and a "free t-shirt" I told him. He was in!
We needed to train though. So beginning of the summer I would ask him to go run around the hood with me. We had it mapped out to 1.1 miles. That's a good start. The first run we paused at his friends house in the middle. Ok, that's fine. The next run, same thing. This was not going as planned. Fast forward to the end of the summer and we had maybe 5 of these runs in. We got one last one in two days before this event. I suggested 1.5 miles and he agreed. Surprisingly, he did well. Ok, we're as ready as we're going to be. Except one thing - this event is run on real trails and I have yet to take him running on any. What kind of a dad am I? He's going to die!
We arrive at the event, park alongside 250 other crazy people. We checked in, got our shirts and "goodie bag". I was having a very hard time not being critical. People looked to take this thing seriously. Groups of people dressed in like t-shirts, names on the back, dads grunting loudly to get their kids pumped up, calf compression sleeves, etc. It is only 3 miles, right?
We left out in three waves - the "faster" people in wave one. Note - they did not time this event, there were no bibs, no results. My son and I left out in the third wave but up towards the front. We were off. A jaunt uphill on surprisingly nice trail (rocky, secluded, and winding through the woods) led us along. My son wanted to run so we ran, passing the dozen or so people at the beginning of our wave. Then we came to a turn and a nice downhill section. This downhill was decently steep but very runnable. They had the thickest guide rope I have ever seen to help people down (or up). There was a volunteer that kept yelling "slow down". I actually looked behind me to see who she was talking to. I really wanted to blast her and say "hey this is a trail runners dream!" But I held me tongue.
By this time, we started passing the slower folks of wave two - they started 4-5 minutes in front of us. I think my son relished in that. He was running well. But by this point, no obstacles yet. We finally came to an obstacle, a wooden horse thingy we had to climb over into a mud pit. Again, my mind began to criticize but I minimized it as much as possible to share a great time with my son. We got a little muddy, mostly shoe stuff.
We ran on. We came to a mud pit where we were asked to crawl under the "barbed wire" - I mean caution tape. Ok - a little more muddy. Having fun, and kept running.
My favorite day of the week is RUNday
Tim
To teach you kids, lead by example. Sounds like a fun day and one he will remember.
(your last 2 links aren't working)
“Paralysis-to-50k” training plan is underway!
Thumbs up
To teach you kids, lead by example. Sounds like a fun day and one he will remember. (your last 2 links aren't working)
Looks like the second half got cut off....oops. Let me see if I remember what I wrote.
Sounds like Mr. Jamie and Boy Jamie had a great time, and that's what it's all about. Enjoy the time with your children because they will grow up faster than you think possible!
I went to the Motley Crue/Alice Cooper concert with my son because he really, really wanted to go. Sometimes we need to sacrifice our musical taste to spend time with our children! At least you got to run with your son !
...continued from above. (not sure why it did not come through)
We came to a crawling obstacle, a bit more muddy but still not too bad.
After a bit more running, we heard quite a commotion ahead. After coming to a clearing, we understood why. A large slide was built and we were asked to slide our way into a rather large mud pit that we then had to crawl out of. We were submersed fairly high and the crawling scraped up my knees.
We were covered at this point and our shoes were full our small rocks and lots of mud, so lots of walking. We finally came back to the hill that we had run down originally and my son recognized not only that we had done the hill in the opposite direction but he had a great sense of how much distance we had left to finish. He was eager to finish. We ran the entire way to the end and he was flying. I continually told him to slow down as I know all too well the first trail running face plant is usually a tough one. But he continued on and smoked me at the end.
I could not be more proud of him! He has a knack for the trails.
I am fairly certain he will not want to do this particular run again thankfully but my 8 yr old son said he wants to run it with me next year!
I am hoping to get my 10 yr old to do a 5k race with me at some point. I think he could do well. But I won't force him.
It's all about getting them active and having fun. FWIW I'd do a mud run too if my son wanted to do one. Of course we'd do a Spartan run or something like that.
You are getting a pass only because you did this with your son!!
In dog beers, I've only had one.
Great!
My one son does run with me from time but he is so active I am not sure I would do a mud run for him. He tries to kill me when I ski with him as it is ....
Sue
Nice story and sounds fun...you were on a trail so its' not so bad.
05/13/23 Traverse City Trail Festival 25K
08/19/23 Marquette 50 dns 🙄
I forgive you. I am even proud of you.
+1. Actually sounds like a fun time with the kiddo, bet you'll have two of them to keep track of next year.
tbd.
Faster Than Your Couch!
That sounds awesome, and you did right to hold back and not criticize or tell him too much. Our youngsters just have to find out on their own, and their likings may be different from ours.
Great that your son had so much fun. Maybe he can lead along his brother in a year or two?
Looks like you had a lot of fun. I hope cleaning the shoes did not take forever!
Run for fun.
That sounds awesome, and you did right to hold back and not criticize or tell him too much. Our youngsters just have to find out on their own, and their likings may be different from ours. Great that your son had so much fun. Maybe he can lead along his brother in a year or two? Looks like you had a lot of fun. I hope cleaning the shoes did not take forever!
+1 to letting them find out on their own.
Re: the shoes - actually we threw both pairs out! My sons shoes were his old pair that we saved specifically for this because there was no way we were using his nice new shoes. I used my old Cascadias which were retired (600 or so miles on them) but I was using for other stuff. They were trashed and smelled pretty bad from the mud. Thankfully I did not wear one of my pairs in rotation.
Queen - these trails were actually very nice running trails. I would actually like to find out whose land it is and befriend them just so I could use the trails!
Letting him off the hook because he was with his child is equal to allowing him a pass because he robbed a bank with his kid along for the ride-- "Hey, we do it for the kids..." It is still wrong. Just kidding, I am glad you had fun. That is all that matters. Although, I could go on a tirade about Spartan Races, Tough Mudders, etc. if you want me too.
LB2