Seattle Kids Marathon 2007

Well they did it! Ashley and Caitlin took part in their first marathon. They completed the first 25 miles over the last couple of months and then the official run yesterday was 1.2 miles. They were so excited and Caitlin started the day by coming upstairs from bed chanting, “Today is the mawaton, today is the mawaton”. The rules of the Seattle Kids Marathon required each child be accompanied by an adult. So James and I were able to participate too. The girls chose their parent in advance. I was on Caitlin’s “team” and James was on Ashley’s.

There was a great buzz at the North Stand of the stadium at the Seattle Center and with a good few of their friends taking part the girls had a ball. Mr Pule, the P.E. teacher at Ashley's school, organized our participation, and all the students gathered before the marathon to collect their bibs and move as a group to the start line.

One of my favorite memories from the marathon itself was a conversation I had with Caitlin. A few minutes into the first half of the course she told me she was tired. I urged her along, telling her how great she was doing and that she was strong and healthy and she’d be able to do it. She kept going but would slow down every now and then. I told her that was a good idea, to keep walking and wait until her energy came back and then she’d be able to run again. I also told her that when I took part in the marathon last year I did the same. She only seemed to slow for a minute or so (sometimes not even that long) and then she’d start running again.

As we were turning up 2nd Avenue towards Mercer (about two thirds of the way) Caitlin looked up the road ahead of her and started the following little conversation with a very weary tone of voice:

Caitlin: Is this the road that you runned?
Me: It is.
Caitlin: And did you get tired too?
Me: I did.
Caitlin: And you still do it?
Me: I did.

Then Caitlin looked down at the road in front of her feet, took a deep breath, scrunched up her face and started running again. And she did not stop until she arrived at the stadium and crossed the finish line. She didn’t even stop to say hi to James and Ash when we passed them on Mercer, which was the final stretch before the stadium entrance. She had been holding my hand the entire time up until our conversation and while we ran up 2nd Ave. When we turned onto Mercer and she saw the downhill and the people ahead turning into the stadium, she let go of my hand and ran the rest of the way by herself. I was so proud of her as we ran side by side into the stadium and up to the finish line, with me cheering her on all the way. She really was magnificent. (Even now my eyes are welling up as I remember it.)

And I have to say, when she scrunched up her little face there on 2nd Avenue, and seemed to decide that she could do it, that’s when I realized that I am a role model and that what I do as a mother has an impact on my girls. May it always be this positive.

Link to our photos of the Seattle Kids Marathon:

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8YatGzZi0aR8&emid=sharview&linkid=link4

Course map: