I found out I was pregnant the weekend I was supposed to run the Chicago Marathon. My husband, Lee, and I had been running many half marathons prior and just finished a hot Texas summers worth of training. We knew we wanted a baby and had just recently decided it was time. We thought it would take forever considering how much I had put my body through to prepare for the marathon. Much to our surprise, one month and 4 pregnancy tests later, we were expecting. I remember stumbling in the living room saying, “you know what’s funny?” Lee and I were dumbfounded that this happened so quickly and while I was running 15+ miles weekly for the past month.
Since we didn’t think it would happen that quickly, I had already signed up for 2 more half marathons and a few smaller races. After completing the Disney half marathon at about 21 weeks pregnant, I called it quits. I literally had to pee every mile. While in the hospital with new baby boy Jack Hargrave, we thought it was only fitting we should add the additional middle name of Miles for all the miles I ran with him in my belly.
Approaching Jack’s first birthday, I was talking to Lee about making a special birthday tradition. Without very much thought going past 5, we decided to run a mile for every year Jack turns. Last year was a nice easy mile. This year will be 2 and I’m sure you get the gist. My goal with it was to be able to remind myself just how special he is and how important it is to keep in shape to keep up with him. Now Jack may end up hating running and when we say hey, let’s bust out your 20 miles when you’re 20, he may look at us with less than amused eyes. But it’s a special thing for Lee and I to celebrate as he was and is our little running miracle.
Before you think we are fitness freaks, please know we are taking him to the zoo for his birthday like a “normal” kid. But he will join us for our tradition as he loves going for rides in our B.O.B running stroller.
Do you have any unique and special birthday traditions for your family?
Such a sweet story, Isis! Thanks for sharing! I definitely want to to know how this goes in about 15 years. HAHA. We have some friends that do a run on their anniversary. They just celebrated 10 years with a 10 mile run.