Family Runs
September 17th, 2009
It’s no secret that Marathon Girl and I love running together. Some of our first and best dates were waking up at 5:00 a.m. and enjoy long runs together. Even after six years of marriage, we like the bonding experience that comes from spending 30-60 minutes running side by side.
As our family’s grown, however, running as a couple has been more and more difficult. After the birth of our first child, we bought a running stroller and were still able to run together several times a week. But after second and third child arrived—and we bought a double-wide running stroller to compliment our single one—running together become something we’d do every week or 10 days together.
Then number four came in January and having the chance to run together came to a screeching halt. There were too many kids and not enough running stroller seats to make running as a family feasible.
It was hard not having time running together. It was time that Marathon Girl and I needed—even if it was only once a week.
Then two months ago our oldest learned to ride his bike without training wheels. While we were watching him zip up and down the sidewalk the idea came to Marathon Girl that maybe he could keep up with us as we ran. So the next day she took him on a test run/ride with found out that not only could he bike our four mile course without any difficulty, but he could ride faster than she could run.
So we started we started weekly family runs. We put the younger three in the running strollers and the oldest on his bike. It’s worked out so well that it’s something our three oldest kids really look forward to. (Number four is too young to express an opinion. He usually falls asleep a few minutes into it. I guess that means he likes it.) I get home from work and all three kids run into the garage and excitedly tell me that we’re all going for a family run then climb in the running strollers or get on their bike in anticipation.
I’m glad the kids like it and hope it’s something we can continue for years to come. It’s turned into nice family time and give Marathon Girl and me a chance to reconnect in a way that brought us together in the first place.
Entry Filed under: Marathon Girl, exercise, family, running
5 Comments Add your own
1. Chelsea | September 19th, 2009 at 3:57 pm
I LOVE this! You need to post a picture.
I remember a woman I used to see doing this in California. I would see her out running every morning and over the years I watched her run with a jogging stroller and then a double stroller and then a stroller and a kid on a bike and then several bikes and then an extra runner, then two runners.
I was home visiting this summer and I saw the same lady out running again, but this time there were no strollers, no bikes and no extra runners. Just her. And she was still at it. So great!
2. Alice | September 19th, 2009 at 4:14 pm
It makes me happy to think of the six of you going on a family run/bike ride together. I wish I could see it.
Hey Abel, would you mind reading my most recent entry? For some reason I think you would like it.
3. ChicaogJo | September 20th, 2009 at 11:28 am
Gotta hold off on another kid till Stephen can ride a bike
4. Abel Keogh | September 20th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
@Chelsea — I’ll see if I can get a neighbor to take a pic. And that’s cool about the lady in California. She sounds a lot like MG.
@ Alice — I’m on my way over there right now.
@ChicagoJo — No kidding! We’re complely out of room.
5. Running Forward: » &hellip | June 28th, 2010 at 6:02 am
[...] that the weather’s finally warmed up, Marathon Girl and I have taking the kids on weekly family runs again. In the back of my mind I worry that the kids will tire of them but every week they still [...]
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