Tuesday, March 27, 2007

No MTB race, Briar's first road ride, T-30, and a Slowwwww Run


Ok, well, I didn't make it to the mtb race Sunday. First of all, my legs were toast after the trail run. I guess it's been so long since I've made them race they forgot how to handle it. Plus, the front of my ankles and shins were complaining about the steep climbs...not injury, though, just soreness. But I was going to go on anyways, until I accidently woke Bo up while getting up and around and he begged me to stay home. How could I say no? So I decided 2nd place AG in the trail run was enough excitement for the weekend anyways. We all got up and went to church and enjoyed the beautiful day. And to make it all worth staying home, I finally got Briar out on his road bike. We rode to Green's Market, where he went in and bought a bag full of Snickers and a bottle of water...we ate a few, then stuffed the rest in his Camelbak, and headed home. Briar even climbed the hill behind Cracker Barrell!!! I could not believe it. First of all, he still can't get clipped in his pedals. I just don't know what the deal is there, but he can't figure it out. He's wearing mtb shoes, though, and they had enough tread to allow to ride without being clipped in. Without being clipped in, though, I figured there was no way he'd make it up the hill, and I told him to just get off and push if it got too hard on him.

Note: It's not like me to say something like that to him...but I have recently come to the conclusion that I have pushed the little fellow too hard in the past. I'm always pushing him to get stronger, run faster, hit the ball farther, throw the ball harder, etc. As a result, I think he sometimes gets discouraged and would just rather not run/ride/practice ball with me if he has to return home with his tongue hanging out in exhaustion. I haven't done this intentionally, but I think perhaps I might have, a time or two, crossed the fine line between instilling a good, healthy work ethic into a child and just plum pushing the child too hard. That's a little tough to admit, but I can take the flack for it...it's a fine line, butI intend to stay on the right side of it from now on.

So I tell him I'll see him at the top of hill. I get to the top and turn around, and he's still coming - he made it all the way to the top! Case in point - I backed off of him a little, and he stepped up and climbed the hill. And for the right reason, too - because he wanted to accomplish that, not because Mom wanted him to. ~sigh~ Parenting...it's hard, but I'm learning. Anyways, we rode 12 miles in about an hour and he really enjoyed it.

Monday Michele and I went to swim class and we did our T-30. After a 400 warmup, we swam for 30 minutes solid trying to get as many laps as we could. I did 30 and a quarter, which is basically 1500 yards. That was my goal, so I am pleased. One thing I'm going to have to do is to push myself a little harder in the pool. I am always afraid I can't make the distance, and I think I start out too easy. The guy counting my laps said I sped up a lot the last 500 yards. Michele did awesome as usual and got 1650 yards.

This morning I got up at 5:30 and set out for 1 hour run, in which I only got 6.01 miles. My legs are still sore, but I think the run worked some of it out. Hopefully a lunchtime bike ride will get the rest out.

We've got T-ball practice this afternoon, and the week just continues to get busier. Opening day is Saturday, and have GOT to squeeze in some shopping this weekend, as I have nothing left to wear for spring/summer that doesn't look pathetic. Gotta quit buying so many triathlon/training clothes and get something I can wear in my other life.

9 comments:

Joe said...

I'm my son's soccer coach. Initially I tried to push him to practice harder at take it a bit more seriously but he didn't like that. So, I backed off a bit and tried to make practices a lot more fun. That seemed to work as he started to really enjoy going to practice and seeing his little friends. Magically, he started to improve a lot towards the end of the season. That might not work for every kid but it worked for mine. Interestingly, our team really started to kick butt on the other teams after changing our practice philosophy! I think we won our last game of the season by a score of 8-0.

TRI Vortex said...

I still think its great that your family does active things together. My wife and I are thinking about having kids (in about 4-5 yrs, hey we're only 26) and I'd love to do that stuff with them. I just need to lose more weight to keep up. But it looks like you don't have much trouble in that department.

Brooke said...

I find it hard to draw that line between pushing my kids and PUSHING my kids. I'm glad to hear I'm not alone.

Unknown said...

OK...I officially forgive you for missing the MTB race. Sounds like you and your kiddo had a fantastic day. Come ride in the dirt with me sometime. I'm not that far away in GA.

Unknown said...

One more thing. One, just one, drop of lube in the middle of each SPD might get him clipping in until it becomes more natural.

Kate said...

Sounds like he did great on his road bike. I don't know where the line is, but it sounds like Briar takes after you regardless of whether you're pushing or not!

Lance Notstrong said...

Wear your tri suit to the ball game, that would get the other moms talking LOL!!!

Sounds like you are doing great with your son. I try and put fun above everything else and it seems to work well :-)

RunBubbaRun said...

Sometimes it is hard to draw the line between pushing to much and not enough. Always a dilema for me.

Sounds like you had a great time..

ps. great job on the trail race...

Laurie said...

Hey Lana...Just getting caught up on your blog. I am jealous of the trail biking and running. I run the trails once a week, but I have yet to race on them. I would love to though. And I am scared to death of biking on them. GO GIRL!! I wish I had the nerve. Maybe one day....