Little Reedy River Runner

Back in January Claire brought home some information for the Reedy River Run, an annual Greenville downtown run that has a great turn out year after year. Area schools are encouraged to participate in the 1 mile run, the 5k or 10k and have participants sign up on behalf of the school. The middle and elementary schools with the highest number of participants scores $1000 for their PTA from the race. Elementary kids were encouraged to participate in the mile run, and Claire couldn't wait to sign up ... so we signed her up, and the training program began. Jason wanted to do the training, so he started taking her on Sunday's and Wednesday's and jog a mile loop in our neighborhood to get her prepared. The first 2 training runs went well, she ran/walked the first, and ran the 2nd run in it's entirety. Things were looking good! When Jason's knee started hurting from a Crossfit injury, I decided to take over the training runs, which ended up like this:

Feb. 15th - Awesome! Ran the whole thing. No watch, but it was likely just under a 10:00 per mile pace. She tells me, "Mom, we are NOT walking!"
Feb. 19th - Rain Out
Feb. 22nd - Rain Out
Feb. 26th - Not long after a big lunch, and Claire complains of tired legs, sloshing stomach and stops to walk several times. I see the drama factor coming into play. 10:41 time
Feb. 29th - Strong start leads to lots of chitter chatter during the run. I warn Claire not to talk while running but it's too late... a side cramp hits, and it is a whine fest for the next 7 minutes. 11:20 time. Ugh.

March 2nd, Race day:
We get up to Friday's day of school to pouring rain. The forecast isn't looking good, and I talk to Claire about the possibility of running in the rain, or having the event cancelled all together due to lightning. She's cool with running in the rain.

5pm: Pick her up from after school and get her changed and head downtown. 5 minutes before we get into downtown, the sky opens up and it is pouring like crazy. Ugh.

5:20pm: Traffic is nuts, but at least the rain has lightened. Claire and I jump out at a stop light to find packet pick up and the start line. We discuss all the million ways that it will be impossible for her to get lost on the course. Follow the bikes, the police officers, the orange cones, and the hundreds of kids that will surely be in front of her.

5:40pm: We find the start line, get Claire's number and shirt and watch the start of the 1/4 mile kiddie run. Claire's feeling like a big kid since she is doing the MILE, not the kiddie run.

5:50pm: Claire and 450 kids line up at the start. I am REALLY nervous about her getting trampled by the huge boys that are all around her. They look like this is pretty serious business.

6:00pm: And they're off! Jason, Chloe and I run a block away to catch the back side of the rectangle route. I say a silent prayer that she doesn't have a dramatic meltdown and sit down on the course somewhere and pout.

6:04pm: The speedy 10-12 year old boys are coming at us, full speed. This point is about 3/4 way into the race, and their faces show it. I am proud of these kids that I don't even know, and their sheer determination. Kids stream by - a few girls, and even fewer Claire-size kids.

6:06ish: I see her! She's flying down the road right against the shoulder where I am standing! Big kids are all around her, and she looks so... young. I am SO SO SO proud of her for giving it all she had. I snap a picture, and we sprint back down the side street to the finish line.

Beat those boys! Atta girl!

6:09: She's in the finisher's shoot!


I turn and snap a picture as she crosses the finish line. Nine oh.. WHAT? Her clock time is 9:08????

We collect Claire and her new shiny medal in the madness of kids and parents and she is overcome with emotion. Tears flow, she says she hurts ... yet so excited at her accomplishment. She gets a "runner's only" bottle of water and cinnamon bread and we head over to the emcee table where we wait around for the awards ceremony. Finally they start announcing, and give away awards to the top three boy and girl finishers and the top Elementary School and Middle School participants. Finally, they start the age group awards with the 5-6 year old girls. 3rd place ran an 8:58 chip time, which was only 5 seconds faster than Claire's chip time of 9:03. She was a little bummed about missing a trophy award for the age group place, but still pumped over her 4th place finish.

The celebration went on at Pizza Inn, Claire's favorite place (ugh), and she told her friends all about her race today at the birthday party we had. But the best part was when she said "I can't wait to do it again next year!"