My beautiful, funny, kind, shy, part child / woman, 14 year old daughter has been going with me to the gym. She’s been nagging me for months to sign up and because I can’t run at the mo, it’s good for us both. I love watching her doing her thing and trying her best.… We aren’t naturals at all this exercise malarky.
She’s also a part time Kevin - a la Harry Enfield. Try to imagine that image on a rowing machine, killing time (at her dastardly mother’s suggestion) until I’ve dared to finished my 'workout', instead of leaving when she decides she’s had enough.… Having already moped about in the corner for 10 mins, staring at me sulkily. I am, of course, a complete and utter embarrassment, but that’s a given which I totally accept without insult or injury.
So last week she muttered moodily, as I rudely interrupted her life on the Playstation to bring her food - ‘Can I do that Couch to 5k thing you do?’ Blimey. Didn’t see that coming. ‘What, actually out with me in public?’ *eye roll* ‘Yes.’ ……’Well, I only do early’. *eye roll and lip flinch* ‘Fine.’ Saturday it is then. Lucky me. I can test out my dodgy ar$e cheek and see if it’s got any better. 4 weeks not running and it feels like I could now give it a go.
As the day approaches I imagine us out together, laughing and bonding; me encouraging and supporting her first steps into running. I can literally feel the wild flowers growing in the field we will run through together…
And so off we go, Laura at the ready. Turns out a Kevin’s brisk walk is more a kin to something from The Walking Dead than anything Laura might approve of, and of course, a constant 6 steps behind me. In the gorgeous morning sunshine, we reached the local rec, when a hand came out and flapped me off in a different direction ‘I’m not doing this with you’ scowl firmly in place, earphones in, suddenly grinding to a halt ‘I hate this music!!”. Fortunately, I knew all of this was coming. ’Don’t stop now darling…. just poke up with it for today’ I shout, going my separate way around the 2 fields.
I’ve been coming here in the early mornings since September and it’s always been so lovely and peaceful. Except now 2 p*ssheads had taken up residence in the kiddie play park and looked like they'd been there all night, still swigging beer, a dead barbecue strewn across the grass. By the time I jogged passed they were trying to strangle each other. Quick sprint over to daughter ‘Don’t go over there!!! And it’s a brisk walk, lovely… good luck!’. This brings on an eye roll, lip flinch and flick of the V, quickly followed by standard disclaimer for everything ‘I’m only joking!’— I am a victim of my own creation.
So I set off on my own, soaking up the stillness and the sunshine, briefly as happy as Larry to be back out again running. Unfortunately, though I had to stop at 2.5k as my hip had turned to concrete. Although I was pleased to feel that my lungs could have still got me to 5k, even if my legs couldn’t. We didn’t get to run through flowers but I did get a high 5 at the end 
She’s a very good girl really, just sensitive and so affected by the struggles of adolescence.
Conversation on our ‘brisk’ walk home: ‘So I’ll be able to run for 30 mins at the end?’ Yes. ‘Can YOU do that?’ I can run for over an hour when I’m not injured. ‘What without stopping??’ Yes. *first ever fleeting look of respect* ‘Wow…. So, could I too then?’ Yes, eventually, and you’ll do a better job of it than me, being younger, lighter, stronger, healthier. ‘Well, yeah, that goes without saying. By the way, when you run you kick your legs out.’
So, as I run like my own mother, it’s probably a good job I’m back on the IC for now. Very frustrating though, I really crave a good long run. That small taster has only fuelled the longing….. Back to the gym for a while longer then I guess, which is fine, but...... it’s just not running.
A running date with Laura!
Lovely day for a lovely Parkrun! ☀️ ❄️🐕🏃♀️🏃
“Out there, don’t care!” Running! 🏃🏾♀️😁
Trying to be positive. Sorry but I need to off load with a long post 
