Running With Riley

Oh, this was SUCH a different set of circumstances than Running With Emma...

Riley begged to run with me. Riley pleaded to run with me. "Please, Mommy, please? I promise to run, I promise not to complain, please let me go with you!"

I knew that she'd run the half mile in PE class, and so I thought that she'd at least be able to run that, and we'd walk some of what I'd planned to be a mile.

You know what they say about the best laid plans and all that...

We walked to the beginning and I told her - and Emma, who was with us - the route.

Four steps in, it started.

I want to stop. I'm tired.

No, we aren't stopping yet. Just keep jogging.

A dog - which, to be fair to her, was enormous - jumped up and rested his head on the top of the fence. BARK! BARK! BARKBARKBARKBARK!!!!

Ack! I want to go home!!!

No. Keep running. It'll be-

BARKBARKBARK!!!

Another, smaller dog, joined the first. And then as we went down the first block, an entire chorus of dogs joined it. I SWEAR to you that there was not one SINGLE dog the when I ran with Emma. And as each dog made its appearance, it caused a fresh scream, a jump, and soon, the tears were flowing.

My side huuuurrrttss. My legs hurrrrtttt. I have to stop. ACK! Another dog!

Come on. At least make it three more blocks. It's fine, you can do it-

ACK! A fwog just jumped in front of me!  Ack! Ack! AAAAAAACCCCKKKKK!

I slowed. We walked a bit while she wiped her face, and then Emma piped in. "It's ok, Riley, when I first started running, I couldn't do it either, but if you keep trying, you'll-"

Shut UP, Emma! You are always bossing me around and telling me what to do! ACK! ACK! WAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!

Ok, everyone, let's run.

We ran another block and she grabbed my arm, sobbing. Ok, so we'll walk to the end. It's only 2 blocks away - and then she sat down and flatly refused to go further. Ok, no problem, she and Emma sat and I ran to the end and back. I was DETERMINED that I would get at least a small amount of running in. When I got back to them, she was still sobbing.

And then the wailing began.

I'm hungry! My belly hurts! I'm cold! I hate running, why did you make me come?

Seriously. I made an executive decision that we'd walk the rest of the way, and wondered if I could sling her on my back and carry her, when she spotted a car coming our way.

ACK! The lights are in my face! Make them stop, make them stop, MAKE THEM STOPPPP!!!!

Yeah. It went like that. Downhill all the way back to the gym.

Next time, I'm SO running by myself. My nerves can't handle running with "companions".

 

Comments

[Kirsten]

Great for getting out there and *trying*. Mine have no desire to run. And I refuse to go through what you just went through. :)

[kyooty]

Run away... I'll bet it was tempting to keep running?

[Marinka]

The good thing is that if you ever take me running with you, it'll be a very similar experience.

[Jenn]

I run alone. I don't do partners. It's my quiet time and a chance to get out of my head because if I don't it's a bad bad day all around for everyone!

xoxoxo run alone!

[Amie]

Yikes! I think you should get some type of extra credit for that.

[A Simple Twist of Faith]

I am with Jenn about running alone, I wish I could do it more!

[NikkiMoon]

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! I was just thinking the other day how I wish one of my 6 lovely children would show an interest in running with me. Thanks for the reality check. Running is one of the very few things I get to do alone. Even my bathroom breaks seems to be a good time for them to want to talk to me. I need to treasure my running time.

Sorry it wasn't a pleasant run.Hugs!

[Kati]

I never liked running with the kids even when they were little and in the jogging stroller. Neither of them could keep it together for even half an hour - so very frustrating. I would have to stop to retrieve a toy that went over the side, crackers that got trapped under a tushie, unseen forces that were making the child miserable, etc. My husband always encouraged me to just keep running through the screaming, but I just could not see the point of doing it. Running is supposed to be a stress outlet; it misses the whole point if I come back more tense than when I left.

[Sandra]

girl you have way more patience than i do! with the first, i don't want to run a block into it, i would've turned around and taken her back home.. LOL

too sweet that your other daughter tried to encourage her.

i think it's best that you run by yourself from here on out. ;-)

[HolyMama!]

you are a rockstar mommy that you even TRIED that. i run alone. i do not aspire to involve my children in any way, even if it will benefit them. you GO!