I sat here for the better part of a day ruminating on what kind of post I should write for Father’s Day. Gifts for Runner Dads? I have a pretty good idea of what a runner dad would want but certainly there are people more qualified than I (dads) to write about that.
I could write about my own dad and the role he played in my running life. He did inspire me to not follow in his footsteps and to instead run AWAY from heart disease, obesity and Type II diabetes.
Instead I’m going to tell you about the dad who inspired me to start running long distance in the first place. While I often credit Sarah and Dimity of Another Mother Runner fame…back in the day they had a column in Runners World called Marathon Moms, do you remember it?
My first IRL encounter with SBS was at Zooma Great Lakes in 2012
Jill and I got invited to Dimity’s house (oh yes we did!) after running the Georgetown to Idaho Springs Half in CO back in 2010. I may be standing on a step or 3…
Between that and Kristen Armstrong’s Mile Markers column, I dared to entertain the prospect of a half marathon…or maybe more.
The Caveman was rocking race shirts long before I was.
Oh right, this post is about DADS. What you may not know, is that before I ever set the goal of crossing a marathon finish line, my very own Caveman had been doing it for years…well a couple years anyway.
Thing 1, age 3, and me. pregnant with Thing 2, spectating the Maui Half Marathon
While I was wrangling baby/toddler Thing 1, it was the Caveman who ran a couple of half marathons every year. I’d often pack up the baby, stake out with a picnic blanket somewhere along the racecourse and we’d spectate. For the Caveman’s 40th birthday, I surprised him with a scavenger hunt with clues that took him all over the neighborhood. The final “prize” being an entry to the Maui Half Marathon. That’s one way to score a trip to Hawaii, right? Haha!
I didn’t actually start running distances beyond 5k/10k until 2006.
Me at one of my first distance races before Thing 2 turned 1 in 2006. Um…Father Time could I please have that body back?
The point of this run down memory lane is to tell you that, even though he no longer runs, the Caveman is the most supportive person I know when it comes to my running. He doesn’t bat an eye when I plan crazy race junkets or book European flights. And he’s right there hauling my bike across the state to triathlons at 3am. Maybe because he gets my special kind of crazy. And he knows it makes me happy. When momma’s happy, everybody’s happy!
Happy Father’s Day to the Runner Dads, the Sherpa Dads and all the Dads in between! Who inspired you to start running? Who is part of your support team?
Upcoming TOTR Linkup topics:
June 19 – Summer Plans
June 26 – Rate Your Month
July 3- 4th of July Race/Running Plans
July 10- Free Topic!
July 17- Running On Vacation
Loading InLinkz ...
Thats pretty cool that he used to run races. Do you think he would ever consider doing one now with you? I got my parents to do a 5k a few years ago. I think my dad would like to run more and try to do a longer race but has a hard time finding the time to run consistently.
I also remember reading the Marathon Moms and Kristen Armstrong columns in Runners World. Wonder if they are still writing. That’s a website that I almost never visit anymore. Your supportive hubby sounds wonderful. Happy Fathers Day to him!
It’s pretty great that your husband is so supportive of your endeavors! Happy Fathers’ Day to him! I love these flashback photos.
I would say that my friends actually inspired me to run, but my parents definitely inspired an active lifestyle. I didn’t get it when I was a kid, but obviously along the way I did. And watching them deteriorate has inspired me to keep active.
Mr. Judy may not be a Dad, and I’m not sure he really gets it, but most of the time he does support it and for that I am grateful.
What a fun trip down memory lane and letting us know that your cave man use to be the runner of the house! Funny how time change, right! It’s great that he is so supportive! Does he have any desire to run a marathon with you?
Happy Father’s Day Caveman! I love the flashback photos…makes me want to start printing more pictures to have albums again 🙂
My parents definitely got me into running. My dad’s always run, and then my mom trained for half marathons and her one marathon (she’s one and done!). I can pick their brains and talk about races, and they understand it all.
That’s great that your Dad waa such an inspiration to you. I hope I am to my kids. My husband agrees to any destination race I want to go to and is there at the finish line to carry all my stuff. Happy Father’s day to all the great dads out there!
What a great tribute! I’m lucky in that my hubby is pretty supportive of my running stuff. Sometimes, he even joins me LOL I wonder if my guy would like to run Maui? That would be a great gift for HIM on Father’s Day 😉
Awwwwe, I love this post so much – it makes my heart smile! I love those old photos of Thing 1, and I love that Caveman has been your rock through running and understands your obsession.
And hell ya – DIMITY!! I couldn’t remember what year that was, sheesh, that was some time ago. (I don’t think either of them even know who I am anymore – and I wrote in their first book for them. Whatevs).
Laughed at the body from eons ago comment. SO wish I could just have the one from 3 years ago….even 2 would suffice. NOT this one I’m in now. ugh.
Happy Father’s Day, Caveman!
Oh, I don’t think I knew Caveman was a marathoner. My husband doesn’t like to run but he doesn’t mind sherpa-ing. And once he’s there he’ll stand out in the freezing cold with a cowbell to cheer on all the runners. He’s a pretty good guy. 😉
Such great flashback photos! It’s so great to have a supportive husband – I’m lucky enough to have one too 🙂
Happy Father’s Day Caveman!
I didn’t know Caveman was a runner! Great walk down memory lane!