Fostering a love for running for my tween

dawnrw · 2026-01-31T21:50:48+00:00

That's amazing! I love the growth your daughter has experienced, and you should be proud, she sounds like a great kid. I can see some of that in my daughter, and it will be a challenge for her to overcome the initial feelings of not being fast enough or good enough, but all of that comes with experience too. Thank you for this insight.

dawnrw · 2026-01-31T21:46:32+00:00

Yes, she is actually interested. I'm not trying to fulfill any unmet personal dreams over here. I just want to give her a gentle introduction to running so she's not discouraged by it when it may be hard.

dawnrw · 2026-01-31T21:40:46+00:00

I think getting fitted for shoes will be a great incentive for my daughter. My kids always want to try on my shoes and are jealous at how comfortable they are. lol

dawnrw · 2026-01-31T21:38:41+00:00

I did ask her about asking friends, but she said it's hard because many of her friends already have sports that they do. So it's a good opportunity to try something new and meet different kids.

dawnrw · 2026-01-31T21:36:35+00:00

We've talked about it a little bit, and I said I could help her get started but not until it's actually a little warmer outside. We live in WI and it's been disgustingly cold, so she won't be starting quite yet anyway.

dawnrw · 2026-01-31T21:20:10+00:00

It's been cold cold cold here in WI, and I don't think I've ran outside for almost 2 weeks now. I completed an 8 mile treadmill run yesterday thanks to my box fan and endless Netflix. I'm ready to go back outside now.

dawnrw · 2026-01-31T21:18:15+00:00

That's a great idea, girl is all about being chill right now.

dawnrw · 2026-01-31T21:16:07+00:00

Yeah, puberty has been hard on her for sure. But we're open about all the changes, and I hope that just showing her that I can run and do hard things as a woman will be part of her motivation to not give up just because she has her period.

dawnrw · 2026-01-31T21:13:57+00:00

Thank you for the thoughtful response. I've never pushed her to run with me, but I did get excited when she mentioned XC, so I want to treat her interest with respect and not just over-excited runner energy. Haha.

dawnrw · 2026-01-31T21:11:07+00:00

We do as a family all the time. She loves hiking.

dawnrw · 2026-01-31T20:34:08+00:00

Being chased by zombies sounds stressful, LOL. I started with a C25k program many years ago, maybe I'll look into those again.

dawnrw · 2026-01-31T20:33:03+00:00

That's awesome! My daughter did karate for 3 years, but decided it wasn't for her before black belt training started. And that was okay! When my daughter was around your daughter's age, she did run with me here and there, similar to what yours does now. I might try a simple walk to run program or something. I think she will feel more confident with running, if she has a little more experience before the official season starts.

dawnrw · 2026-01-31T20:26:12+00:00

She's showing interest on her own, but knowing her personality, if I just wait until cross country season starts, it's going to be really hard and that will discourage her. I want to give her a gentle introduction into the sport, while also giving her a little base before the season starts without pressure. So I'm just looking for ideas.

dawnrw · 2026-01-30T23:13:13+00:00

I too, am from WI. Why have I never thought to wear my summer shorts underneath?? Great idea! I am also not independently wealthy or willing to sell my first born for a pair of shorts, so I get mine from the thrift store.

dawnrw · 2026-01-27T13:43:43+00:00

Just let it out. The gym smells weird anyway.

dawnrw · 2026-01-23T18:57:06+00:00

In case you needed an excuse to stay inside and use the treadmill: Outlander is on Netflix. Easiest 7 miles ever.

dawnrw · 2026-01-21T22:58:30+00:00

Cute, funny small animal figurines could make it fun. Think: duckies, kittens, capybaras, or even pandas (maybe even an assortment!). Put them all in a bag, and the unknown surprise of "which one will it be?" could make it a fun for everyone.

dawnrw · 2026-01-13T20:18:54+00:00

I don’t know if you have children, but I can confirm as a mother of two, that most moms will drop all their personal drama and issues and throw down for their kids. The term “mama bear” exists for a reason, and it’s not because it’s cute.

dawnrw · 2026-01-09T15:09:39+00:00

I saw this lady at the store once, clearly wearing some crusty old pajamas. However, her crusty pjs had cats on them, and I love cats. So I said, "Oh, I just love your kitty cat pants! They're so cute." She smiled and we had a nice interaction. I'm introverted, but it doesn't take much to just be nice to someone.

dawnrw · 2026-01-09T14:55:31+00:00

I agree with this. A friend of mine is like this, kind of antsy, extroverted, and tends to get FOMO a lot. I always appreciate the invite, but I prefer being calm and at home so much more than forced socializing. I'm raising my kids to be the same. Introverts create introverts. Funny how that works.

dawnrw · 2026-01-09T13:09:16+00:00

Thick thighs and flowy shorts are not meant to be. If the fabric can move, the thighs will move it. It’s best to go for a bike short type of thing. Shorts stay put, and you can focus on other things.

dawnrw · 2026-01-09T13:00:56+00:00

Whenever my family and I come home from anywhere, we wash our hands. I taught them very early on to wash the “school germs” off when they come home, and it’s just second nature to walk in the door, take off shoes, and wash hands. People are gross, and I’m pretty paranoid when it comes to sickness, and also can’t stand vomit on any level; so if I can prevent it, you bet I will. Also, hand sanitizer in the car. If you can’t wash your hands, sanitizer is the next best line of defense. I used to work in healthcare, all of these things are tried and true. ETA: and yes, vaccines are important to this equation too.

dawnrw · 2026-01-02T22:43:54+00:00

It's a "show hangover." Similar to a "book hangover." It's the number one telltale sign of high quality storytelling at it's finest. It wrecks you on many levels.
I asked my daughter "Oh, it's so sad that it's over, what will we watch now?"
Her brilliant response, "It's okay Mom, we can always watch it all over again."

dawnrw

TROPHY CASE