Brookhaven Bolt 5K Race Recap
On Saturday, I ran the Brookhaven Bolt 5K, a local Atlanta race with just more than 1,700 runners. This was a special race for me, because I was not running for myself or my own personal times. I was running for a 5th grader named Ariel.
My inspiring friend Elizabeth (who you will meet during an upcoming Friday FITspiration profile) started a running club at her daughter’s elementary school this year, with a focus on helping 4th and 5th graders be healthy and active and develop a love for running. The children met to practice once a week after school, and the season culminated in her 130 runners running the Brookhaven Bolt 5K. When she asked me if I would pace one of her fastest runners, I jumped at the chance to help.
We arrived about an hour before the race to meet and greet all the kids. It was fun talking to them and seeing their excitement for running with their friends. And we couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day: 49 degrees F and sunny at the start in the middle of May. Thank you weather gods!
I met up with my race partner Ariel as she was warming up. We chatted a little bit about running, and I could immediately tell she was more focused and serious than some of her peers. She had a competitive spirit, and she wanted to win her age group. Her previous best time was 23:10, and she was hoping to break 23 minutes. I reminded her that the real goal was to have fun and that no matter what the race would bring, we learn something from every experience and every race.
Finally, it was go time. The gun went off and we bolted (no pun intended) out of the start corral. The first mile is very hilly. I knew my little running partner typically starts too fast, so I reminded her to stay steady. The crowds slowed us down a good bit, and I could tell the hills were tough on Ariel. I made sure not to get too far in front of her. My goal was to push her without making her feel like she couldn’t keep up.
The second mile was mostly downhill. Ariel did a great job, clocking the second mile in about 7:10.
As we neared the finish, my little buddy was getting emotional. I think it was a mix of her struggling to get to the finish and wanting to do well that overcame her with a few tears. I kept encouraging her with positive words and advice, and she crossed the finish line with me in 23:35, a time good enough to win her age group.
Mr. rUnladylike finished in 21:12.
Although it was a beautiful morning and a wonderful race, I couldn’t help leaving feeling a little torn emotionally. On the positive side, I was thrilled that it felt so easy for me to average a 7:29 pace up and down some pretty big hills and that there were many moments where I was running in place and slowing down to properly pace my partner. After feeling like being in a running rut for several weeks, that was a major confidence boost.
On the flip side, I left feeling a bit sad from the experience. It was clear to me that the young girl I paced only cared about winning. I am grateful that we got her to the finish line first, as I am not sure what would have happened if we hadn’t. At 10/11 years old, my hope would be that a child’s love for running could be more joyful. More positive. I was trying to think back to myself in 5th grade. I, too, was the fastest kid in my school at that age and could break 6 minutes in the mile. I was very competitive and my dad always pushed me to be my best. Did I only care about winning then? Did I have fun even when I didn’t? If we’re going to encourage our kids to run at a young age, what is the message we should be sending them? How do we balance talent with perspective and fun and joy? I don’t have the answer to that question, but I hope that every child I met on Saturday and had the chance to run with at the Brookhaven Bolt will not forget that running is a blessing, and more than anything, it is supposed to be fun.
Have you ever paced someone during a race? If so, how did it go? If you raced this month, share your experience!
Comments
I’ve never paced someone, but I would love to someday. What a rewarding experience!
Although Ariel was mostly concerned with winning I think it was a great way to give back and impart what you know and have learned over so many years. Kids are funny in how they view things. It’s hard for them to see the big picture, just what’s in the moment. You ran an awesome race especially after feeling like you’ve been in a rut! Great job!
this sounds like a neat experience to be able to pace such a young runner. I definitely think its harder when you’re at that ‘impressionable’ age and you stand out talent wise amongst your peers- definitely more pressure to continually win. I hope somewhere along the way she discovers a passion beyond winning to prevent burnout / beating herself up if she comes across someone faster than herself.
What a great race! I left you another comment on this and put the wrong email. Silly me!! I hope your little racing buddy felt proud of herself. It is hard with kids to see the big picture of things, they are so in the moment of what is going on right now. Hopefully she will have learned from this race and from you. I think it is awesome that you were able to impart your running knowledge that you have learned over so many years on someone at such a young age. Just remember she is young and one day everything will fall into place for her and hopefully it will be more about the fun and experience. Great run too especially since you felt like you’ve been in a rut recently.
Thanks so much Lacy and I love your insights as a mom. I know I always wanted to “win” when I was little too. I always had a super competitive spirit.
I think some people are just wired to be more competitive than others. On the one hand she could be disappointed, but on the other she could end up the next Shalane. Only time will tell and you did a great job pacing her and trying to show her the fun side.
Very true, Beth. Thanks so much!
I’ve never paced anyone, but had my husband pace me at my last half and it went better than planned!! I remember when I was younger (older than 5th grade but not much) and my club volleyball coach asked if we rather win or have fun. We all said we rather win, because winning is fun. We were working hard and liked to see the payoff, but even when we didn’t win we were still having fun. Hopefully Ariel will learn it’s okay to not always win as long as she’s learning and growing from it! I’m sure you had a positive impact on her!
I think it is a big struggle as a parent or a role model for a child. Teaching the balance of healthy competitiveness, realistic expectations, doing activities for pure enjoyment. The external world puts black/white pass/fail judgement on our activities, our jobs as parents and role models needs to include alternatives where you accept yourself, and find a love for activities (beyond just running) that is free from judgement.
With my 9 yr old daughter at the finish line of my first marathon, she got to see first hand that a thousand people “beat” me in the race, and yet it was still one of my life’s most amazing experiences anyway. I hope events like that build a foundation for her to live life without fear of comparison to others.
Thank you so much for sharing these thoughtful insights, Running Bear. you are so right. And there is no clear answer to any of it. I LOVE that your daughter got to see you finish your first marathon. What an amazing example you are setting for her! It sounds like you are a wonderful role model. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts and story!
My daughter (19) and I were running a 5k last sunday. Even though she rarely runs, she was only one minute behind me.
We had no watch, but I was very amazed that she finished in 27:09.
Watching our local running scene I’ve seen quite a few competitive kids rise but unfortunately burn out and abandon running when they weren’t winning trophys anymore.
Congrats to you and your daughter on your 5K. Awesome job to both of you!
Yes, I paced our older daughter to her first sub 2:00 half. We crossed the finish line holding our arms up high together. Got that idea from Meb and the other elite runner he crossed the finish line with at the NYC Marathon last year.
That sounds like it was an AMAZING day, Mike! Very cool! I’d love to see that picture 🙂
WOW what an awesome thing you did girlie – that girl is going to KICK BUTT as she gets older and more seasoned physically! Hubby is a machine too!
She does have some passion for the sport or she wouldn’t even be there. Hopefully her determination and interest in winning turn into more of a ‘doing it for the love of it thing’ but I think many kids are just competitive by nature. I know I wanted to win every game I played in any sport until I graduated university. Then I switched and it became about my love for things. I think it’s great that you helped out.
What a fun opportunity! I have been thinking about volunteering for a girls on the run 5k nearby to do something similar. I hope she had fun even though she was in it to win it.
She’s still a very little girl … it was a race so in her mind, the point was to win. I bet at practice she just has fun. I swam competively from 8 years old – 20 years old. I can promise you I cried harder when I lost at 8 years old than I did at 18 and I had a lot more fun racing at 18 … but I had a LOT more fun at practice when I was 8 than at 18. Check out your local playground on your next neighborhood jog… Everything is a competition, a game… who can climb higher, faster, better… even my 2 year wants to beat me running. Don’t be sad. Be sad if she only cares about it when she is 20, 30 or 40 years old.
Very good insights, Heather. As someone who doesn’t have kids (yet), this is great perspective for me. Thanks for taking the time to share.
This running group sounds great! It’s so important for kids to learn the importance of fitness at a young age. It sounds like it was a lot of fun for both of you, despite the tears. Kudos to you for being able to pace someone. The only thing I can pace is my cell phone, and that’s only because it’s attached to my arm when I’m running. 🙁
LOL Lex!
I love events that involve kids! Your friend’s group sounds similar to the YMCA national program Girls on the Run. GOTR helps 3-5 grade girls train for a 5k while teaching them all about Girl Power, positivity, and healthy living. It is so cool, I’m sure you would love it!
I have wanted to volunteer for GOTR for a while and would love to do so. I signed up to get more info at a post-race tent back in December but never heard anything. This is a great reminder for me to follow up. xo
Awww how wonderful! This is truly a great program, and I am sure you inspired Alice for life! I used to lead one of my friends in races as she was partially sighted, so I would run next to her with an orange jersey so she could see me, it was fun, and she was very grateful, but this takes it one step further! Amazing! And Congrats!
Thank you Tina. It is amazing what you did as well. I love that. I’m sure it made a very meaningful impact for your friend. xo
That nuanced satisfaction with doing your best comes with maturity. I hope that she felt proud of her effort, and will be encouraged to continue to run to keep a healthy lifestyle. That race is right in my neighborhood, and I know first hand how challenging the elevation changes are.
Slightly related: when I was running the mile a few weeks ago at the ATC all-comers meet, my children were cheering for me at the finish line. With one lap to go, my older daughter yelled encouragement. My younger son, however, just yelled “Go Mommy! You are so far behind!” Perspective.
Love your perspective, Katie! Thank you so much for sharing! I love how you have created a sense of excitement and love for running in your children and what a great example you set for them! xoxo
Awww! I love that you ran with her! Such a great experience for her to have a role model to run with on the course! It can be tough running with young ones, I know that when I ran that 5K with Sophia we had a bit of an emotional moment right after mile 2. Kids have no filter so all the struggle of trying your hardest is right there out in the open. I’m sure your encouragement was a huge help!