The day I hoped would never come

I was out running with Miss K and J Bear in the double stroller last week, lost in thought while huffing up a steep incline, when suddenly it dawned on me: I can’t do this anymore.  No, wait: I actually don’t want to do this anymore.  Not because I’ve lost interest or don’t enjoy the time we spend together – on the contrary.  I love running with the kids - some of the best runs of my life were spent in their company.  But they’ve simply grown too big and the stroller too heavy for double stroller running to be a feasible, enjoyable option for us anymore.  This chapter is drawing to a close*.

I’ve been anticipating this day for a while now, and even announced its arrival prematurely on one or two occasions.  Yet somehow I've always hoped that it would never come: It’s the one running chapter I wished would never end.  What a joy to have had two running buddies who love getting out the door just as much as I do, and who squeal with delight on every, single downhill and giggle as we heave up the climbs...     

But, since arriving in New Zealand, I’ve inevitably started really looking forward to my solo weekend runs, when Will could watch the kids.  It’s become the highlight of my week, simply because it would give me the opportunity to run.  And I mean really run - not battle to navigate a 40+ kg steel structure around every single twist and turn like an ant pulling on a loaf of bread; or grunt and heave it up sidewalks and inclines, using my last ounce of energy to prevent its occupants from pulling each other’s hair out.  I’m craving running.

So thanks sweet K and Mister J for the best running chapter of my life.  I cherish each and every mile we've ever covered together - from those first, painfully slow crawls after each of your respective births, to the races and the parkruns, the poopy shirt runs and the sing-at-the-top-of-our-lungs runs.  I can't think of anyone else I'd rather have spent those miles with - you're the best running buddies I've ever had.

And, who knows, perhaps one day, when you're bigger, we'll share some miles again on foot - I absolutely cannot wait!


*Note: We'll still be doing the odd double stroller run until K and J have started and settled into school here in NZ, so don't expect the double stroller pics to completely disappear for now...!  But, as mentioned above, running with the stroller is becoming increasingly difficult from a physical point of view, so we'll slowly be phasing it out over the next while.  The single running stroller, though...  That's another story!

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A quick and hearty "hi!" to everyone visiting from the Runaway Bridal Planner blog hop - thanks so much for stopping by!  I'm really looking forward to getting to know all of you a little better over the next two weeks.  Thanks also to Kristy for hosting!