Motoring mom will be waiting at finish line

On my way out the door the other day, my son Ethan asked if he could go running with me. Though it was pretty dang cool he wanted to do that, I told him he couldn't go this time.

Sorry, son, but Daddy was going too far.

Truth of the matter, I didn't want him to tell Mommy how much I walk on my runs. Then there's that whole thing about getting shown up in my neighborhood by a 5-year-old. With his speed and energy, I'm sure he could've easily outlasted me on my leisurely stroll. He does that every day at home, after all.

Pain, sweat and heat made me forget the request for the next 40 minutes, but my son was on our front lawn with a couple of water bottles upon my arrival.

What a great kid, I thought. How proud was I that he was bringing Daddy — the uber-fast and fit runner, as far as he knows — a cool, refreshing drink.

I thought wrong.

Not the part about him being a great kid, of course. Rather, I was mistaken in thinking the water was for me.

It was for Ethan and his little sister, Sydney. They were going on their own run.

I'd love to take all of the credit for their desire to put on their running shoes (or flip-flops) and hit the pavement (or the concrete driveway), but I can't.

My wife deserves a good portion, too. Heather also deserves kudos for being patient and helping me rekindle a desire to put on my running shoes and hit the pavement (sadly, further than the driveway).

For the past few months, she's woken up early to go running. The kids are usually awake — somewhere between watching "Curious George" and eating breakfast — when she comes home in her workout attire. They know she's been out exercising. That's a great thing.

They also got to cheer her on a couple of weeks ago as she completed her first-ever 5K.

Next week, Heather will also be one of the thousands of people hitting the Salt Lake City streets in the Deseret News 10K race — much to her own surprise, truth be told. Before these past few months, she's never had any interest in running. She'd walk, do the elliptical, yoga and chase three young kids all day, but running just wasn't her thing.

Just ask her junior high school gym teacher.

It's actually kind of my fault she got involved in running. She was hoping to help get me re-energized about being healthy and fit — understandably, it had to be hard for her to watch me gain 80 pounds from last spring to this one — and we came to an agreement. She'd do the 10K if I would. Misery loves company.