It makes it all better

by Cheryl, posted on February 6th, 2011 in Uncategorized

She is at the front door, in her plaid pleated skirt and sweater, waiting for me.

“Mommy! Did you win?”

“No, Mommy didn’t win. But I finished.”

And then she claps.

A standing ovation, from my little girl waiting for me at the front door.

This is what it’s about. It is.

This is what lessens the sting of a bad race day.

She doesn’t care about PRs. She doesn’t care about how I questioned my mental toughness in the last few miles, pondered if I should even bother running distance, wondered what’s wrong with me.

All Sage knows is her Mommy got up before the sun – as she does a few times every week – and ran in a race and got a very cute medal.

Even though she didn’t win.

When she is older she will remember THAT.

She will not care about my finish time.

She will not care that I cried when I crossed the finish line, not because I was happy but because I was frustrated and angry.

She will remember that Mommy ran.

That Mommy is strong.

No matter what that mommy thinks.

Tags: I did not PR, i love my baby girl, if this is the worst thing that happens i'm doing pretty freaking well, surf city half marathon 2011

Comments

53 Responses to “It makes it all better”

Sherri Says:
February 6th, 2011 at 6:45 pm

This is perfect! Because in the end, showing our kids that you really can accomplish things that seem difficult or out of reach is the best gift we can give them.

So proud, and so happy for the encouragement you got from that sweet little girl!
Sherri recently posted..Knock Knock!

[Reply]
Cheryl Reply:
February 7th, 2011 at 2:23 am
Thanks, babe! xo

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Crystal Says:
February 6th, 2011 at 6:46 pm

Yay for you!!! It’s not if you win or lose..it’s how you run the race. But I gotta tell you…….I really, really, really, really LOVE to win. I get crabby when I don’t!!!!
Crystal recently posted..My Kids Are Frickin Funny

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Cheryl Reply:
February 7th, 2011 at 2:23 am
The good news is, when you’re running distance, you know you’re NOT going to win. So that takes that whole thing right out of it.

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Nichole Says:
February 6th, 2011 at 7:00 pm

So proud of you!
I know that it wasn’t all that you’d hoped for, but you did it.
Congratulations…on what is still a major accomplishment.
Much love.
Nichole recently posted..Small Moments Spotlight — Week 3

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Cheryl Reply:
February 7th, 2011 at 2:24 am
Thanks, lovely friend. So much. xo

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Leighann Says:
February 6th, 2011 at 8:07 pm

Congratulations! What an amazing accomplishment! You’re so perfectly right when you say “She will remember that Mommy ran.
That Mommy is strong.No matter what that mommy thinks.”
So so true!

[Reply]
Cheryl Reply:
February 7th, 2011 at 2:24 am
Thank you! She’d better remember it, right?

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Rachel M Says:
February 6th, 2011 at 8:27 pm

Congrats Cheryl! You ran. You finished. And each time you do you set an example for your daughter. Kudos!

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Cheryl Reply:
February 7th, 2011 at 2:25 am
Girlfriend! We MUST meet! This is ridiculous!! And thanks.. xo

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myevil3yearold Says:
February 6th, 2011 at 8:46 pm

Yeah for you. I have always wanted to run. One day I thought to myself why not? So, two weeks ago I started. I couldn’t run at all at first. But, it got easier every day. You are strong and a good mommy.
myevil3yearold recently posted..Hubby Has Done it Now!

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Cheryl Reply:
February 7th, 2011 at 2:25 am
Good for you!!! Soon you will be addicted, so watch ou!

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angela Says:
February 6th, 2011 at 8:55 pm

I’m sorry you didn’t run the race you wanted, but you are so right about the rest of it. I am so slow, but one of the reasons I run is so that Abbey always knows that I do something positive and strong for my body.
angela recently posted..Three Brides

[Reply]
Cheryl Reply:
February 7th, 2011 at 2:26 am
Yes, we try to set a good example for our kids by encouraging them to be active – and by being active ourselves. I hope it works!

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Renee Says:
February 6th, 2011 at 9:15 pm

You ran. You finished. And best of all? You have the best cheerleader ever.
Congratulations on your accomplishments.
Finishing the race and raising a beautiful daughter.
Renee recently posted..Ages of Discovery

[Reply]
Cheryl Reply:
February 7th, 2011 at 2:26 am
Thank you, my friend. Thank you. xo

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Jen Says:
February 6th, 2011 at 9:35 pm

YAY!!

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Cheryl Reply:
February 7th, 2011 at 2:26 am
Y to the AY!

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Dominique @Dominique's Desk Says:
February 6th, 2011 at 10:03 pm

Congrats on completing the race. It certainly was a great achievement.
Dominique @Dominique’s Desk recently posted..Hoppity Hop Around the Park

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Cheryl Reply:
February 7th, 2011 at 2:27 am
Thanks. I’m glad it’s over for sure!

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Jessica Says:
February 6th, 2011 at 10:11 pm

Very cool. Could there be anything better than being an inspiration to your daughter?
Jessica recently posted..We Still Could

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Cheryl Reply:
February 7th, 2011 at 2:27 am
I really don’t think there is.

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Victoria KP Says:
February 6th, 2011 at 10:30 pm

That’s fantastic you have such a wonderful little cheerleader. I’m a novice runner at best. I didn’t start until well into my 30′s. My goal for most races is to finish without throwing up. My boys usually say, “Too bad you didn’t win.” For me, finishing IS winning .
Victoria KP recently posted..Recess- A Red Dress Club Meme

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Cheryl Reply:
February 7th, 2011 at 2:28 am
If you run? You’re a runner. And you’re right: finishing IS winning.

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Annabelle Says:
February 6th, 2011 at 10:33 pm

Heck yeah…well done you!
Annabelle recently posted..AWKwarda cautionary tale

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Cheryl Reply:
February 7th, 2011 at 2:28 am
Thanks, babe!!!

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Melissa E. Says:
February 6th, 2011 at 10:36 pm

You ran! Without anyone chasing you! That is an accomplishment in and of itself.

I suppose the question is, did you run in your mommy pants?

Congrats on finishing the race.
Melissa E. recently posted..Crabbiness Abounds

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Cheryl Reply:
February 7th, 2011 at 2:28 am
I think I ran in my whiny pants.

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Sara Says:
February 6th, 2011 at 11:05 pm

You kick ass. That is all.

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Cheryl Reply:
February 7th, 2011 at 2:29 am
Thank you. Even though I didn’t.

I still thank you for thinking it.

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Katie Says:
February 6th, 2011 at 11:27 pm

You are such a wonderful role model for your daughter. You are a strong, brilliant, healthy woman! And what a wonderful thing to come home to clapping and smiles from a little girl who is so proud of you.

Congrats to you, friend.
Katie recently posted..Secret Mommyhood Confession Saturday

[Reply]
Cheryl Reply:
February 7th, 2011 at 2:29 am
Thanks, lovely one. It really was awesome to have her cheering me. Eldest didn’t glance at me. Youngest was excited about the bag I carried because it had a “bus” and a “guck-guck” on it.

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Cheryl D. Says:
February 6th, 2011 at 11:47 pm

You’re a winner in my book too for running! That’s great!
Cheryl D. recently posted..A Bloggy Award

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Cheryl Reply:
February 7th, 2011 at 2:30 am
Thanks, Cheryl! xo

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Theresa Sonoda Says:
February 7th, 2011 at 1:48 am

Perseverance, persistence, drive, compassion, patience, initiative, motivation, and working toward a goal. These are the things you are giving your daughter, all tied up in a pretty attractive Mommy ribbon. Yea, you should be proud! She will grow up with those wonderful traits, attaining her own personal bests and finishing her own “races”. You taught her that. Yea, you should be very proud!
Terri
And your picture Rocks!

[Reply]
Cheryl Reply:
February 7th, 2011 at 2:30 am
I am going to have to ban you from posting on my blog. Because you make me cry with your kind words every time!!!

Thank you. Thank you so very much. xo

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Jen Says:
February 7th, 2011 at 10:41 am

Awesome.
Jen recently posted..Moral of the Story- Always Lock the Door

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blueviolet Says:
February 7th, 2011 at 11:01 am

Mommy is fabulous, and she knows it!
blueviolet recently posted..Time to De-Horrendify the Walls

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Lori @ In Pursuit of Martha Points Says:
February 7th, 2011 at 11:49 am

I’m a little confused why you’re wearing a jiffy-pop bag??

But I’m still SO damned proud. I know you want to be tougher, but us mere mortals are in awe.

Awe.

(I made it a mile and a half yesterday, and i was proud. Ha!)
Lori @ In Pursuit of Martha Points recently posted..3- 2- 1…Liftoff!

[Reply]
Lady Jennie Says:
February 7th, 2011 at 2:11 pm

Wow! Go you! Someone told me a story about a woman who started running at age 40 and kept going into her sixties, running dozens of marathons, even while battling breast cancer. It gives hope for an old 41-yr fogey like myself.

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Carrie Says:
February 7th, 2011 at 2:21 pm

Congratulations on finishing! I am not a runner in any way (except in grade 3 and 4 when I was brainwashed…ahem encouraged to participate in Cross-Country) so I could not imagine doing a half-marathon.

Closest I have ever come was doing the Vancouver Sun Run in 2008 when I was about 6 months pregnant. Took me 2 hours to walk a 10K but hey, I can say I did it at least once in my life, right?
Carrie recently posted..Mama Gets Her Groove ahem Group-on

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Kirsten Says:
February 7th, 2011 at 2:47 pm

Cheryl. YOU FINISHED! A big ass race! You said it yourself – with distance, you know there is no such thing as winning. Ok, you might not have gotten the time you wanted, but you trained, you raced, and you finished. Huge.

All of us have Whiny Pants to race in.
Kirsten recently posted..Surprised by Sad

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julie Says:
February 7th, 2011 at 3:30 pm

This post is awesome. And so honest. You are an inspiration to your daughter, true. But also? An inspiration to all of us who read your words. Who understand your emotions. Who appreciate how real you are.

And? Running 13.1 miles kicks ass, lady. No matter what your time was on this race. Lastly, I like your hot pink shirt. I wore the same one at the same race yesterday.

Seriously.
julie recently posted..Today call me sloped

[Reply]
Rudri Bhatt Patel @ Being Rudri Says:
February 7th, 2011 at 10:01 pm

High Five Cheryl! I know that pain of just finishing. This runner is so proud of you friend! Love the post.

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Deb @ San Diego Momma Says:
February 8th, 2011 at 12:12 am

You are entirely a role model. You showed up. I’d have stayed in bed. I’m working on it.
Deb @ San Diego Momma recently posted..PROMPTuesday 140- Where I Am

[Reply]
Janine Says:
February 8th, 2011 at 12:39 am

so proud of you!! Tell yourself to be quiet and be proud that you are running and doing something good for yourself!!

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Melissa (Confessions of a Dr.Mom) Says:
February 8th, 2011 at 12:44 am

Congratulations Cheryl!! What an amazing accomplishment. Your daughter is so proud of you and for good reason:)

What a wonderful role model you are for her.
Melissa (Confessions of a Dr.Mom) recently posted..Ready for Take Off

[Reply]
Tonya Says:
February 9th, 2011 at 6:18 pm

You had a goal, you put in the time and trained, you ran and you completed the race. That’s all that matters, my friend!!
Tonya recently posted..Family Day

[Reply]
Cathy Webster Says:
February 12th, 2011 at 9:53 am

Good for you!!!! And lucky you for having a daughter who pays attention. I highly doubt whether my son would raise his nose from the videogame boob tube to even notice I had left the building!
Cathy Webster recently posted..Valentines in the Snow – fridayflash

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Amanda Hoving Says:
February 12th, 2011 at 9:59 am

You didn’t win, but you finished. That’s my mantra to get through most days, and it’s good enough. Your kids will remember that effort counts. Lovely post~

[Reply]
Amy @ Never-True Tales Says:
February 13th, 2011 at 12:28 am

As someone equally hard on herself, especially when it comes to distance running, I love this take on it. I want my kids to know that win or lose, I get up before to sun.
Amy @ Never-True Tales recently posted..Yield

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Karen Peterson Says:
February 13th, 2011 at 8:22 pm

This is a good reminder to focus on what really matters and to be proud of our accomplishments, even when they aren’t quite what we hoped.
Karen Peterson recently posted..Karens Blog of the Week-

[Reply]
erin margolin Says:
February 14th, 2011 at 6:49 pm

I’m so in awe of you. I love what you are doing for yourself and what you’re teaching your kids. Something that is just for you.

And I’m sorry you were sad and frustrated. I know those feelings well. But at least Sage doesn’t see that part.

So much we as parents have to try to hide. But kids are so intuitive and I wonder how much of my sadness is visible through the facades I put on….

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