If you live on the east coast, no doubt you spent some time outside this weekend. With temps over 90, it was hard not to.
Yesterday I did the Race for Adam 5K in Allentown, PA. The race is a fundraiser to find a cure for Niemann-Pick Disease, a progressive, degenerative and fatal condition that afflicts children. It's organized by a local family whose son, Adam, has the disease. Tons of people came out to support the family. It was very moving.
As for the race, at 27:30, it wasn't my fastest 5K ever. In fact, it was a full two minutes slower than last year same time at the Lehigh Valley 5K. I was disappointed, but not surprised. Since I've been training for a half, it makes sense that I might go a little slower at a 5K right now. Plus the surface was gravel, which naturally slows you down a little. Still I walked away feeling a bit sorry for myself, wishing I were a faster runner.
The highlight of the day was meeting blogger Bob D. I recognized him as soon as I saw him and it was a treat to meet a blogger in person. I love that his blog is called Sub 30 5K... and he ran this 5K in 24:xx! Um, hello!? Time to change your blog name! Sub 20 maybe? He's running the Lehigh Valley 5K next weekend and I'm fairly sure he'll kill it.
Post-race happy bloggers. :)Today, however, was the highlight of the weekend. Willa and I headed up to Jim Thorpe, PA, to visit my friend Liz and ride a rail trail at the Lehigh Gorge State Park. Willa loves her bike, but doesn't get much quality time on it because there aren't that many places near our house for her to ride comfortably. (She's not so into hills and traffic.) And last time she rode her bike on our driveway she crashed and tore up the skin on her knee pretty bad.
And, truth be told, I do not get enough quality time with Willa. I work insane hours and train a lot on the weekends. She often comes to the pool with me, but how much quality time do we get as I barrel through locomotive sets while she cruises through her own workout? Getting some rides in with her, even if they're not at training intensity, is far more important than improving my mph on race day. And so the day was planned.
Of course, Willa wrecked about ten minutes in. Her knees were bleeding and caked with dirt, but she gutted it out and got back on after just a quick rinse with a water bottle. We kept riding for a while and then pulled off to the side and she soaked her legs in the river, where the freezing water helped numb her boo-boos.
Oblivious to the frigid waters.
Liz and Willa on the trail.
9 of you had something to say:
i had a slower than hoped for 5k today too...and was also feeling sorry for myself about it. i hope i have days like yours with my daughter!!
That is sweet. And what a trooper you have there!
Good luck at the LV, maybe we'll cross paths again, although I think it's going to be a BIG crowd.
Just keep your eye on the prize - its a long season! You'll have plenty of chances to set PR's. Sounds like a fun day with Willa - need those to set it all right again.
I knew this was going to be a gret post when I saw the title! How cool that your daughter swims and bikes with you! It looked like a pretty perfect day to me too!
that's a very sweet post, Leah--so glad Willa loves getting out there as much as you do...
That, my friend, is the prize or PR. What a wonderful day with your daughter!
always good to get a little perspective....great to have a day with your kid--I can identify :)
on another note....JIM THORPE?!! HOLY COW!!!! I think I had not one, but two of the most bizarre weekends of my life in that little town. I'll never forget that place!
Karen of SCAG
Kids are great. I love the best days ever! Sounds like a fun 5k. Willa is adoreable.
This was a very touching post-Willa sounds like an awesome kid. You guys seem to have an amazing relationship despite your long work and training hours.
Funny about that blogger changing his blog name.
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