The Cheer Squad
This story started months ago. My daughter had several friends from church running a half marathon in Maine in May. She decided she wanted to try it, despite never running in her life!
My sister, who ran a couple of half marathons in her 20s, decided she wanted to do it with my daughter.
My daughter-in-law, who is a strength and conditioning coach and has run several half marathons herself, wrote them a training plan as well as consulted on nutrition during workouts and race day.
But then the most amazing thing happened a few months ago—my daughter invited me to come cheer them on! Of course, I knew my daughter-in-law wanted to be there, too, so thanks to Jeff’s massive bank of airline miles, we formed the cheer squad and booked the trip!
Elizabeth (my daughter) picked us up at the Boston airport and we headed off to a small town in Maine.
Race day—Saturday morning, was cool but not cold. And after about two minute of spitting rain at the start, the day cleared and was absolutely gorgeous! Bailei (my daughter-in-law) and I traveled to different points along the route to cheer them on. Then we boarded a shuttle to the finish line.
At first, we weren’t sure we’d get there before they did, but the traffic cleared and we were in place when they rounded the final bend.
They did it! I am so proud of them both, but especially my girl who trained through a Massachusetts winter and her dog’s surgery, as well as her normally crazy work schedule. Her perseverance knows no bounds!
It was also fun to have lunch on the beach with some of her friends that afternoon.
That night, the reward was, of course, lobster rolls for dinner! Bailei helped them stretch out that evening and then if was off again on Sunday morning, back to the airport in Boston and then home.
We all finished the weekend exhausted but happy. Elizabeth and Dawn (my sister) were proud of their accomplishment. And hearing them tell us how much it meant to them to have their cheer squad show up along the way and at the end made all the early morning travel worthwhile. What great memories we take away from our time togther!
Are you a runner? Have you done a long race? Where? Or have you cheered on family members who have?
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I am NOT a runner, which makes me all the more impressed with these gals’ accomplishment! And how cool that you could be there to cheer them on! Yay!
Yes! I don’t ever want to run myself, but it was so fun to be there for them!
I am not a runner. And I learned that while training for and running a half-marathon. LOL I crossed the finish line and haven’t run again since. HA! I ran in Philadelphia for the Rock-n-Roll half-marathon. Prior to that, I ran in the SEI Rush Hour Run (a 3K) just so I could have some experience running with a large group. The best part is that it takes place right on our campus so I didn’t have to go anywhere for that one. I just walked outside after work and joined the rest at the starting line. I was proud of myself for sticking with it and finishing the goal I set for myself. But I definitely never experienced that runner’s high I’ve heard about. LOL A friend of mine met me after the half and we went for a large stack of chocolate chip pancakes. Pancakes never tasted so good!
I love that you tried—and finished! Good for you! I know my sister will do this again. Not sure about my daughter. Honestly, my daughter said the training part was hardest because it took so much time and she already works a lot. But we’ll see. She always surprises me!
I am definitely NOT a runner, but I loved this post! Congrats to your daughter (who resembles you) and your sister. I think it’s wonderful that you were able to be there to support them. Having a cheering squad present makes an accomplishment so much sweeter. 🙂
It does! They both appreciated having a personal cheer squad!
I used to run and completed two half marathons plus many 10k runs. Lately health and creaky knees have forced me to walk, not run. My dream was a marathon one day but likely not to happen now. However, my daughter ran the Marine Corps Marathon in D.C. several years ago and cheering her on was not only fun but critical. It was a brutally cold, overcast day at the start of the race and when we met her at mile ten she was shivering and cold but determined to finish. I handed off her jacket and a power bar and a mile and half later at our next meeting point she had revived. The sun was out, her friend ran that last half with her and she finished strong – which was an UPHILL run to the finish line. So proud of her.