A change of pace

The upcoming (4 race) Winter Distance Series just got potentially faster for me.  I was originally planning on running it w/ #11 - but she has indoor soccer games on two of the race days.  So plan B now goes into effect - I run with #12.  I'm looking forward to it - with curiosity.

I hope I can keep up.  I don't know if I can.  It's not so much a case of fitness - as I have a good base.  It is more of a case of ability.  I expect this year to be where he beats me more often than not - especially on the shorter distances (10K or less).

We will do some training together and have set a goal to at least beat his last years times.  That may or may not result in him getting any awards - which he really wants to.  Last year (when he was 11) he was beat out by three 14 year olds to come 4th overall - and was bummed about that because the year before - he actually came second - with slower times.

So, the mindset for him - at least what I have anyway - is that he / we learn that he cannot control much, if any, of how other people run - he is responsible for him.  I guess I am also.  I am also responsible for bragging on him - which I will do regardless of how he does.

In a few months the boy becomes a teenager - great googily moogly.  Not that the earlier part of his life was any less important - but this upcoming stage is needless to say - insert the appropriate word here: important, frightening, interesting, scary.

He's a good kid - does some questionable things at times - but don't we all.  Hopefully me spending more time w/ him out on the trails will be worth it.  I think it will.