I Run for Life

Lately, the Binghams have taken up running.

WHAT?!!

I know it sounds like a horrible lie, but when I can drag myself to the gym (do not judge me on this week's attendance) I have been running. Amy is running as well, and doing quite well. And we both really like it. I think the goal is to eventually run a 5K, which is longer than it sounds. We'll see. Amy even made a running mix for the iPod because Amy was sick of getting shanghaied by Rufus Wainwright and songs from the Buffy the Vampire Slayer musical episode while she was working out. It is quite good. If you ever need a workout mix, talk to her. A little Kelly Clarkson, a little Aerosmith, and when you really need a push, some Melissa Ethridge. She runs for you mother, your sister, your wife. And so will you when you hear her sing about out-running cancer.

Jonah likes running too. Today he was such a lunatic little boy that I finally told him to go outside and run laps around the yard. And he did. And when I saw him slowing down I would yell out the window, "Keep going!" And he would.

Amy's good friend Amanda told us about an event hosted in the area by the high school track teams. Amanda's husband Tony is a track coach, so he should know. Every Tuesday afternoon there is a free cross country run for kids. They break the kids into age groups, assign each group some "rabbits" (high school track kids to lead the race) and off they go. The distance they run is reasonable for a pre-K kid, but it is not short. This is not your grandma's fun run. The first time the boys went, they were raring to go.

Jonah did some pre-race stretches:
Who teaches him this stuff? Not me. We didn't say, "Jonah! Make sure you warm up!" He just does it.

At the starting pistol (and yes, they do use a real pistol. And yes it makes me incredibly nervous, even though I know it is incapable of firing anything. This is why I vote Democrat.) they were off. And after about 20 feet, Noel was done. He had that realization that all non-runners have of "Why am I doing this?" and was back to wait out the outcome of the race with Amy.

Look at those legs go!
Jonah came in 8th the first time. Not bad for a really long run where some of the kids are 1 year older than him! (Granted, he is taller than all of them, but we'll take athletic advantage where we can get it.) He'll never win until the Jones boy moves away. He is in our ward, and black, and beats all the other kids by about a mile. He is a legend. (I think they move this week! Finger's crossed!) What? I'm just saying.

One thing I love/drives me crazy about Jonah is his determination. He wants to accomplish things on his terms. And when he is working at something, there is no joy, just single-minded focus and drive. That is why he often cries when he tries to make toys into some gravitationally impossible stack and they keep falling over, and he keeps trying (and crying) no matter how many time you tell him that the laws of physics will prevent that tower he is building from ever standing up. The second race was long. It would have winded me. Tony had to carry one of his kids over the finish line on his shoulders. (Tony runs the race with his kids. Remember, he is a track coach. I just watch. Remember, I am a novice runner.) And even though Jonah looked exhausted, he was determined to finish strong.
Look at this face:
There is no joy. Just an iron will. And he finished.