I've been running for two years now. My obsession started when a friend asked me to sign up for a 5k with her. Ever the competitive person, I signed up and almost immediately regretted the decision. Running was something I had never tried, and I am not a natural athlete.
My husband started running, and we ran that first race together, finishing seconds apart and supporting each other the whole way. Now we're way more competitive. He keeps me moving, gets me out the door when I don't want to go, and honestly makes me a faster runner. I do my best to keep up with him complaint-free in daily runs, just to show him I can, and he blazes past me in races, to prove he's faster.
One day, for no real reason, I forced my mom to run. She was nervous and doubted she could do it. When she discovered all she could endure, she took to running and has never looked back. Over the last year she's gotten better and better. And when my mom does something, she does it with our favorite family value: competitiveness.
She always wants that medal and blazes past others in the last stretch of every race. She always finishes smiling, pumped, and ready to do another race.
When my 72 year old grandfather learned his daughter was going to run her first race, he decided to join up. He started practicing, aiming to beat her, and now he runs all the time. He can run a full 5k and often beats people more than half his age. He gets some hugs along the course. He always wins a medal. He makes no excuses.
My family is addicted to competition and any chance at a medal or bragging rights. They make me a better athlete. When I get a text that Mom and Papa had a great 3 mile run, I feel lazy if I don't at least match it.
Also, if you've ever wanted to get in the local paper, grandpas are experts at this.
Exhibit A: Mom and Papa
Exhibit B: Papa and me
I'm so proud of my family every single day. In less than two weeks, Mom, Papa, and I will compete in our first race all together. Three generations of awesome competitive spirit. A little competition never hurt anyone, right? Right? (That picture from the paper coming soon...)
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