day.12.lafamilia

My father refuses to call me. Not because he is a bad dad, but I'm a terrible daughter who is always some how busy when he calls, so he waits for us to call him.

But this doesn't mean he never contacts me. What feels like almost once a week, I receive an email either about the space station flying over, shakira, or some type of logistical question. And sprinkled among these fine letters will be the occasional personal novel when pops will tell some life lesson story.

Today was one of those days.

My blog had motivated my father to tell me about his running past and how he used to run in army boots because that's what he was used to doing. He told me stories about running on Emory's track, doing the Peachtree Road Race (and the day when Diane, one of his own daughters, passed him even though she started a whole time group behind him), and the days when 5k races only cost $5. Oh the good ol' days. :)

Needless to say, I love these emails. More motivation to keep up the running. It's amazing how many family memories we have from running races (and we are still making them!), and I feel SO lucky to have grown up in a family that promotes exercise and running. Lesson learned - exercising and running are ways to bond with family and will continue to be in my family as almost all family vacations are planned around races. I also got a text from my mom tonight saying she was fitting in 40 minutes of exercise even though it was 10:30pm! She decided when she won the 5k to run for 40 minutes every day to match my goal. Nothing like the support and encouragement from mom and dad. Love you, both!

 Miami Half Marathon 2010 with la familia! Nothing like taking Gu shots on South Beach, right Diane?

Day.12.5k.total.time: 30:17 with a 9:47 min/mile average! Plus - the first mile was completed in 8:50! Oh and I forgot to talk about in this post the fact that Erica and I set a PR at the track today! I have never done this well!!!!!! I did the math, finally, and I need to average a 9:41 pace at least to make 3.1 miles in 30 minutes. My goal next time is to set a more steady pace. Erica and I had to sprint a few times to get this average!