I had 4 goals while running the Boilermaker: 1. Do not die; 2. Run the whole way (no walking!); 3. Don't come in last; 4. Get to the finish line in under 2 hours. I am happy to say that I accomplished my goals. Number 4 is a bit tricky and could be disputed...it took 13 minutes after the clock started ticking for me to get to the "Start" line...once I passed the pads under the start banner, my GPS chip was activated...from there, I finished in under 2 hours...add the 13 minutes and I was slightly over 2...but that's OK, after all I didn't die.
You would think that after all the hard work, all of the training, the long Saturday mornings dedicated to getting ready for this one day, it would be the story of the week...well, it's not. Yes I was flying high, yes I was proud (of both me and Hubby, he finished in 1 1/2 hours...show off!) but the story of the week comes from a little sentence that I heard in the grocery store today...my daughter said, "you made my day". Yep, that one sentence meant more to me than any physical accomplishment. It meant more thank any work related win. It was the biggest pat on my back that I could hope for.
Anyone that has a teenager knows the trials that come from everyday life. A bad hair day can wreak havoc on the entire family. (OK, that's not just teens, I've had my days, Hubby could tell you), but it's undeniable that sometimes it takes the world to make a teen happy. Today, despite a minor embarrassing moment in the antiperspirant isle (I really can't get in to it), I managed to make my daughter's day! She told me so! And the best part about it was I was just being myself; happy, silly and carefree. I sang a little, talked to the other shoppers like I knew them and thoroughly enjoyed spending time with my daughter.
We laughed about how she was at least 6 inches taller than me and decided that either she grew another inch or I was shrinking. (It's probably a combination of both.) We giggled when the celery fell on the ground. I told an older lady that she was pissing me off (under my breath), then when she apologized for being in our way and was really sweet about it, I told her I liked her. Mackenzie got the cake mix, I got the milk. I guessed how much we would spend at the register and was 6 cents under! We both were sweating about not having enough cash to pay for the groceries! I chatted it up with the cashiers! I hope I wasn't too embarrassing...by then, I was at least 1/2 hour in to making my daughter's day so I really didn't care!
I love that as much as I can make my daughter miserable, I can make her laugh. I love that she can tell me how much she loves me and how much I am embarrassing her. I love that she doesn't hate me (and actually appreciates me) for being me. What a bond, what a special connection I have with my girl. I am so happy to be carrying on the tradition my mom passed on to me!
So as I reflect on the past 7 days of my life, besides being able to share my mother's birthday with my mom, dad, sister and her family (and by the way, that day my mom made my day!), the most memorable part of my week was not running 9.3 miles in one of the most popular 15K's in the nation (and not dying), but hearing my daughter say to me, "you made my day"....That made my day.
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