It's an Affair - A Family Affair

My Love - Bren

Luke

Luke at the pool

Luke on a trail run

Don’t even know where to begin…so let’s do this chronological. First, as it has been documented, I was going to pace my buddy Dmitry for the Cactus Rose 100 miler. What I did not realize that the race was Halloween night. When I had told my kids that I would be gone during Halloween because of a race, let me say that it was not well received by both kids and wife. My kids will one day be grown, so I consider my time with them precious. That left me with having to tell Dmitry about the change in plans, which really killed me. When I tell someone something, I want them to take to the bank. Frankly, I was in turmoil. After discussing my dilemma with some fellow trail runners, Laurie Underwood said that she would pace him. She is as tough as the come and a stronger runner than I anyway…and she has a 100 miler under her belt. Dmitry was most gracious then told me he would give me hell all 62 miles of Bandera this coming January. I would expect nothing less.

In this same conversation about being gone Halloween, my wife asked, “when is the Cub Scout fall campout.?” I looked at her and realized that it is the same weekend as the Rockledge Rumble 50K in November. In 5 minutes the best laid plans had gone seriously awry. Bren, then asked about the Palo Duro 50 mile Trail run…when was that…why don’t I run that…? Well because, I was going to pace Dmitry and didn’t think the legs could handle both with them being so close together. Bren then reminded me that the Palo Duro Weekend was the week the kids get out of school…let’s make it a family event. I looked at her and said, “Why don’t you power walk the 20K.” She grinned…”we’ll see…think I can do if I can get my ankle to quit bothering me.” Bren is in great shape. She will spin 2 to 3 times a week and do strength and flex training a couple of days a week. She has a problem with her ankle that will eventually need surgery, but Sunday night took off for training with “time on her feet walk.” If her ankle allows, I will be more proud of her endeavor than my own! So there you have it…50 mile redemption race for me 20K baptismal race for Bren….and the kids will be in tow….

That brings me to this weekend. After church, I told Luke to tune into channel 5 on the tube. There was a triathlon and Missy had shown her mad skilz by placing 6th in her age group. Luke would not leave the couch….half way through the airing, he turns to me and ask, “Do they have this for kids?” “Yep,” I replied. “I want to do one of these!” Luke said…and off we went to look one up…October 10 there was a Kid’s Tri in the area…50 yard swim, 2.5 miles on the bike, and 05. mile run. Luke then admitted that the swim part was his weakest and runs of to tell mom, “He as got to start getting to the pool.” There is a fall swim lesson for his level to refine his stroke so we will sign him up for that. This evening we got our first Brick training. 2.5 miles on the bike and ½ mile run to start a baseline. He has already started thinking about his pool transition and whether he wants to “waste time” putting on socks. Gotta love it!!! I have to say I was a little disappointed when he told me he didn’t want to play football this fall. I didn’t want to push him into something he really didn’t want to do. But with this tri thing, it has caught me off guard. It’s his idea and he has approached it with a vengeance.

Busy fall…good times….I am blessed….the truth that someday, you will go for your last run. But not today—today you got to run.… as quoted by .Matt Crownover after is Western States 100 mile finish!