Last December Jackie and I were on the phone discussing our Christmas lists. I was going through my ideas for Eric. "I know I want to get him Rock Band and Modern Warfare. I signed us up for a 5K in June and I'm going to get a digital frame for his desk if they aren't too expensive."
Silence.
"Jackie?" I said.
"Hello?" she said, timidly.
"Hello?" I answered.
"Emilie?" she asked.
"Jackie??" I said, starting to get annoyed.
"What are you doing in June?" she said.
"Are you trying to be a jerk?" I demanded.
"No!" she said. "I heard something about a 5K and I really thought I was on the phone with someone else."
I have to grudgingly admit that her shock was warranted. I am not an athlete. I do not move, if it's at all possible. I think it would have been different if I had been able to start in sports when I was young. I had knee surgery in 4th grade so I was limited by what I was able to do. I certainly could have still played sports but my knee, combined with my incredibly poor sportsmanship, got me off to a slow (non-existent) start.
Funnily enough I'm not horrible at sports. I enjoy shocking Eric by keeping up with him at HORSE. I do not win, of course, but we both agree than I'm better than I should be for someone who tries to shoot baskets with a soccer ball.
Anyway, Eric and I have been married for a LONG time. It'll be six years in August. FOREVER. It's easy to get caught up in the day-to-day stuff, especially when kids are involved, so last year we sat down and talked about different things we could enjoy together as a couple. He almost fell out of his chair when I casually mentioned that I'd always wanted to run a race. He used to run races a lot but hadn't for years. We decided it would be one of our first goals.
It took us a while but now our first 5K is in a little over two months. We've been taking turns going to the gym (Matilda still refuses to go) so we can get some running in. I am NOT good. I can't even run 5K, let alone do it at a respectable pace. I'm still doing intervals of walking and running to get through it. Eric swears he will stay with me on June 5. We'll see.
I am not going to win - I may even come in last - but I am so excited to pin that number onto my shirt!
4 comments:
Emilie! Of course you're athlete! It's in your genes. And don't you remember coming in third in The Cannonball (cross-country ski race?)
Are you joking about the genes? I come from two very bookish lines of people.
And only a mother would remember that I came in third in a race and forget that there were only three of us competing.
This made me laugh out loud. I am very impressed that you guys are doing a race together. Has it seriously been almost 6 years that you've been married? How did that happen?
You guys are so ambitious! I admire people that willingly run... I don't know that I could. Good luck with your continued training!
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