The Gift that Gave so Much
As I watched my eight-year-old prepare to run a three mile race in the crisp November air, surrounded by hundreds of other eight-, nine-, and ten-year-old girls and their adult “buddy runners” and coaches, I marveled at her excitement and courage. Here she was, about to attempt something many adults had never done—that I had never done—and she was beaming and jumping around like she was at a dance party. The energy of these Girls on the Run was infectious, and it was obvious their ten-week training in both running and self-esteem had served them well.
I signed my daughter up for Girls on the Run http://www.girlsontherun.org/ because I had read that pre- and post-testing actually showed increases in self-esteem due to its twice weekly program. I thought anything that could help inoculate us before the looming adolescent years was well worth it. I had no idea how it would change my life and the lives of my daughters.
My daughter crossed the finish line that morning with a final sprint and an enormous, proud grin on her face. I was beyond astonished by what she had accomplished, especially because I was the kid who hated to run. When we had to run around the school in junior high, I would actually hide after one lap and then rejoin the group on lap four or five. I like other sports, but I just hated, hated, hated running.
When spring came and it was time to sign up for Girls on the Run again, I didn’t hit “enter” fast enough, and my daughter didn’t make the team that filled up quickly. A number of other girls in the school also wanted to be in the program and long story short, I ended up starting a second team and volunteering as the assistant coach. My lack of running skills didn’t impede my coaching gig; I helped lead the activities and discussions and left the running to the real coaches. About half-way through the ten weeks though, I realized I wouldn’t be much of a role model if I didn’t actually run the final 5k race with the girls. How could I back out of something these young girls were working so hard to conquer?
I went out one morning and ran my first twenty minute run. I have no idea how far I managed with my ragged breathing and pounding heart, but I walked at least half the time. I still hated running – almost every single minute of it. But when I finished, I found myself constantly thinking about when I could fit in my next run. By the time the race came, just a few weeks later, I was still hating running, but the unstoppable energy of hundreds of elementary school girls carried me through that first race.
Six years later, I am proud to call myself a runner. Running has become a treasured part of my life and one of the biggest gifts I give myself. I’ve run ten Girls on the Run 5ks with my oldest and my middle daughter. I’ve also done a couple ten mile races and a half marathon on my own. Running surprised me like almost nothing else in my life so far (and everyone who ever knew me when I was younger – including my husband!). Running with my daughters, getting to witness every step of their perseverance and tenacity first hand, has given me some of my most joyous and proud moments as a parent. My oldest now runs on the cross country team and has broken a seven-minute mile. She can run circles around me, and I couldn’t be happier about it.
Girls on the Run makes it easy for me to support them; every time I sign up one of my daughters (and my third is ready and waiting to join as soon as she’s old enough), they allow me to give extra to let girls who need extra financial help with fees or running shoes participate. I can use my match at work and know I’m giving the same transformative experience me and my daughters have had to girls who wouldn’t otherwise experience it. The confidence and strength you get from doing something you never dreamed you can do is incomparable. It’s been said before, but it has truly been one of those gifts where we have received so much more than we have given.
Review from #MyGivingStory