Running with the Family!

It has been proven that people who exercise in groups or with a buddy are more likely to be successful than those that go it alone. The main idea is that the desire and will to start moving and keep moving is easier as a shared experience. Several members of my family either run or are trying to run, that would be me, and so as a family we participate in several fun runs each year. Sharing these experiences help keep me motivated and moving forward with my running even if it is a slow process.

On Saturday the runners in the family gathered for our Second Annual Zoo Fun Run. This particular run raises funds for the local Parks and Recreation Department and the Zoo. They have a kid’s fun run, a 5K and a 10K race. We were all entered in different events but we were there together. All four of my grandchildren ran in the Kid’s Fun Run. My little daughter-in-law (as I call her because she is cute and petite) and I ran the 5K while my daughter and her husband ran the 10K.

As with all races the Kid’s Fun Run was first. All of the children are gathered together and chase after some costumed character with another costumed character taking up the rear. The characters role is to either lead the way so that the children don’t get lost or bring up the rear so that no child gets left behind. Now this is no easy task because they have to run fairly fast to stay ahead of the children but not so fast that you leave them behind all while being dressed  in some ridiculous costume. The run starts with the boys separating and heading out fast, while the girls ran slower but hand in hand the whole way. They are all delighted to get to the end and receive their prizes which this year was a soft sided lunch box filled with surprises. Then it was off to the after run snack table to get Smucker’s Uncrustable sandwiches, granola bars and water. All of the children were then left in the care of Grandma Debby to play games and wait for the raffle to begin while the rest of us headed off to run.

Next up was the 5K. We lined up, the whistle blew and we were off and running. Luckily the first mile was pretty much downhill but with this race being an out and back that meant we would be running up that same hill the last mile. I gave that a lot of thought as we were running. I had memories of last year when I had tried to run the 10K to find out that the first two miles were uphill, with some small hills in the middle and the last mile being that same hill I was now on. Boy was I glad we had opted for the 5K this year! We ran and ran and walked a little. Soon we had looped back around and we were staring at that long uphill last mile. With a big sigh we started up the hill. I have to say that we ran most of the way even if we were running about the same pace as we could walk. When we arrived at the bottom of the last hill my daughter-in-law looked at me and with gusto said “I am running up this hill, I know I can make it because my old driveway was steeper!” and off she went. I went at it slower and waved her to run as fast as she could because we were almost to the end. The finish line was just a few hundred yards beyond that hill and across a parking lot. She ran and I followed both of us happy to cross that magic line.  After locating a bottle of water and a snack from one of the booths it was off to find Grandma Debby and the children.

The 10K started about 20 minutes after the 5K. I was glad that my daughter and her husband were running it and not me. Last year the weather had been cool but this year it was hot. All I could envision was that long uphill first few miles with no shade. But they are young and run regularly so I knew they would be fine. I waited at the finish line so that I could take a picture and watched the clock as it ticked closer to their projected finish time. They came in two minutes later than they had projected which isn’t bad for the first run of the season.

It was a fun day of exercising combined with spending time with family. Everyone was tired and sweaty but smiling. What would it take to get your family exercising together? Being active together as a family could be as simple as playing a game of tag or going on family walks. The idea is to get everybody in the family moving together. Not only will everyone be learning to live a healthy active lifestyle you will be creating wonderful family memories. Invest in your family’s health and well being by making family exercise time one of your positively healthy choices everyday!



If you would like more information about this family fun event and live in or around the Sacramento area please visit www.folsomrunwithnature.com.