How Family Runs Reignited My Love Of Running

The only saving grace of having so many doctor appointments lately has been the drive. I’m addicted to the 80s channel on Sirius, so I’ve been driving around blasting tunes from my childhood and it has left me feeling very nostalgic. There’s nothing like the power of music to transport us back in time to moments that have been buried by more recent life experiences. It’s amazing how just the first few notes of a song can trigger intense emotions and cause us to feel things we haven’t felt in years. I’ve been having a blast reliving the 80s  as they were my formative years growing up.  Add that to the growing realization that next year I’ll be an empty nester and you get some big time nostalgia happening. All of these trips down memory lane have been a wild ride which have carried over into my last few runs. I’ve spent quite a few miles reflecting on my early memories of running which has naturally led me to reminisce about the running adventures I’ve been so lucky to experience with my family. 

The earliest memory my kids have of trail running is from a camping trip in Acadia National Park in Maine, when they were around four and five years old. There was a steep, rocky trail near our campsite that beckoned to us so we couldn’t resist checking it out one morning. We planned to just walk and certainly didn’t expect it to turn into a trail run, which is why when it happened it was so cool. My boys just naturally started running down the trail, letting themselves go, jumping from rock to rock, bounding over logs, and stomping through the mud. I admit my mama bear instinct set in almost immediately as thoughts of them falling infiltrated my mind, but those fears were quickly overshadowed by the squeals of laughter and pure joy on their faces. It was so natural for them to be running along a trail and turning it into the coolest playground they had ever experienced. What choice did my husband and I have but to join them?

As they grew older we would conquer longer and more difficult trails on our summer trips, often finding routes to run just for the sake of running. Even on the most challenging trails though, we always took the time to appreciate our surroundings, being together, and the sense of accomplishment from doing something hard. That’s something I will always treasure because for me, over the years running had slowly become a forced form of exercise and a way to lose weight. That’s it. But every time my family and I embarked on a new trail adventure, the joy on their faces and the sound of them hooting and hollering as they sped downhill ahead of me, taught me to appreciate all of the things I had forgotten — how freeing and fun running is — and inspired me to become more childlike in my running.

After school they often asked to go running with me, so I would bring them along for a mile or two. These memorable runs would almost always morph into some sort of science expedition thanks to the discovery of dead snakes on the side of the road, butterflies fluttering by, interesting cloud formations, and wildlife scampering through the woods. Those miles were slow and interrupted by our breaks for investigations, but I wouldn’t trade those runs for anything. They became such beautiful lessons on living in the moment and being present with the ones we love. I’ve been thinking about these moments a lot lately. 

When they decided to run cross country and track in high school I was worried some of that joy would be lost in the competitiveness, but just like they did when they were younger, both boys continued to teach me valuable lessons.

When I was a teenager I was way too competitive for my own good and that eventually stole the love of running from me. The only thing I cared about was winning. As a result I developed an unhealthy relationship with running that lasted many years. However, watching my kids at races balance their competitive spirits with their desire to have fun helped turn things around for me. Witnessing them train hard has been inspiring, but more importantly watching them become true leaders who cheer on not only their teammates but their competitors as well, is what I’m most proud of. I sucked at that. I always felt threatened by my competition so I always avoided them. But both of my kids have shown me that there is so much more to running than winning and that our competition does not have to become our enemy.

If you have never had the privilege to spectate at the finish line of a cross country race, I highly recommend it — you are guaranteed to be inspired. Kids who are completely spent after crossing the finish line can be seen stumbling over to each other for hugs and high fives. They’re cheering the rest of the pack to the finish, picking each other up and congratulating each other. Watching my kids participate brings tears to my eyes every time and it has been a tremendous gift to relive these moments from a perspective I had lost. 

All of these memories and realizations have reminded me of what an amazing sport running is. It teaches us so much about life. Running is so much bigger than a personal best or a win (although these are definitely awesome perks too). 

It’s about being present in each moment.

It’s about pushing yourself and appreciating what your body is capable of when it works hard. 

It’s about letting go and being carefree. 

It’s about appreciating your surroundings. 

It’s about encouraging and celebrating each other, even if you’re competitors. 

It’s about conversation and discovery and bonding.

It’s about lifting each other up and cheering each other on. 

Isn’t this what life is all about?

I am so grateful to my kids for opening my eyes and reminding me of these lessons. 

Is there a place in your life where you’ve lost your sense of  wonder? Is there something in your life that you used to love and appreciate, but has become routine or a burden? What can you do to rediscover that childlike joy? It’s never too late to try! ( And if you need any help, try turning on the 80’s station the next time you’re in the car…)

“ Happiness comes from accomplishments; joy comes from offering gifts. Happiness fades; we get used to the things that make us happy. Joy doesn’t fade. To live with joy is to live with wonder, gratitude and hope.” ~ Kristen Welch