Once in awhile something will come up forcing me to alter my training schedule. Family, life, and work are all important but they sure have a tendency to muck things up. I have learned to adapt pretty well and not get all worked up about it, as long as I can fit in my workout. Miss too many days and I get a little anxious, even annoyed. To avoid the majority of these unavoidable realities, I wake before the birds and run, shower and eat breakfast before anyone else wakes. This allows for me to get training in with out becoming "Jerk Dad". Everyone is happy.
This summer I stepped right up to "Jerk Dad" line and almost stepped over. My daughter had been asking to ride her bike while I ran for sometime. First I told her she had to ditch the training wheels, she did. Next I told her she would have to become more stable on her bike, then stronger so she could get up the hills I run. She did both. I was nervous about her riding on the roads so I avoided letting her go with me as long as I possibly could.
However,one night while I was tucking her in she asked "Dad are you running in the morning?"
I was caught off guard, my jaw dropped, if she could have seen my face in the dark she probably would have burst into tears. I had been avoiding this. Now she had me just where she wanted me.
"Yes, early" I responded trying to speed up the tucking in process. I braced myself for the question I knew was next.
"I am going to get up with you and ride my bike while you run." she told me very matter of fact. I didn't say anything, I couldn't.
"What time are we heading out?" I still hadn't said anything I had froze. Time seemed to crawl. Eventually, I responded that if she could get up when I did she could go. The truth is I was counting on her not getting up. "Jerk Dad" move, yes, but I hadn't said she could not go I just said she had to get up.
I slept restlessly due to being so close to the "Jerk Dad" border. When my alarm sounded I wanted to stay in bed, guilt hung over my like a golf umbrella. I pulled myself out of bed and snuck downstairs to be greeted by a 9 year old, bike helmet on her head, sneakers on her feet and a big smile on her face.
Geared up and ground rules covered we headed out the door at 0600. On the fly, I had to alter my plan from 8 miles to 3 miles not knowing how things were going to pan out. My new pacer did fantastic! She followed directions, stopped at road crossings, circled back if she got to far ahead and talked the entire time about everything from Justin Beiber, to the Red Sox and how excited she was to be out with me. I must admit I was proud. Not to mention that upon our return she said "I thought you ran longer than that Dad?' So we headed back out and did another 5 miles. Nothing got mucked up, I found a training partner and avoided being "Jerk Dad!" Whew....that was close.
