Confidence and Kids

Categories: Confidence, Confidence in Kids, Home Front, Running

Being a parent, I think a lot about confidence and kids. I was especially wary when Thing 1 entered middle school back in September. Those were some awkward years…for me anyway.

Thing 1 had minimal trepidation. Her biggest concern was that the gym teacher she got was tough and they had to run a mile every week and repeat it if it wasn’t fast enough. You can imagine, this got my attention. I can count on one finger the number of kids’ races Thing 1 has done. I never forced her and she just wasn’t interested. Fine. I had no idea how this mile thing was going to play out.

Thing 1 surprised herself and discovered that, while it was hard, she didn’t suck at running. She wasn’t alone. The entire class improved week by week. She started to set goals of how she’d beat her previous time and would come home beaming when she reported her time.

It didn’t end there. The rest of gym class is boot camp style. Workouts are tough. But instead of whine, the kids rose to the occasion. Over the course of the of the school year, they got stronger, fitter, faster. MORE CONFIDENT.

I think what I love most about running for kids especially, is that it’s measured against the clock vs judges that can be less objective. Results are black and white. Losing isn’t fun but it’s a life lesson all the same.

Certainly there are other aspects of school where kids can excel. But kids at this age have so much physical potential that is often shrouded by insecurities, peer pressure and questionable judgement. The confidence built on the track carries over into academics. I am grateful to this teacher for demanding more and helping them work up to it.

Fast forward to spring: Thing 1 joined the track team. She’s a hurdler of all things. Mama is proud.

Were you confident in school? What helps you build confidence?

by: Marcia | Friday, April 12th, 2013 | 28 comments so far

About That #Bestrun and a Winner

Categories: Best Run, Giveaways, Running

Amanda aka Miss Zippy asked about best runs. You know, the ones you wish you could seal up in a bottle.

I was blessed with a totally unexpected one just last week. I wish I could say the scenery was spectacular or the weather conditions were perfect like they were over the weekend on the American Tobacco Trial in North Carolina:

But my best run came in a dullish neighborhood I frequent quite often on a typical blustery, raw day. The prescribed workout was a hellish one I really needed to get my head around:

2(3x1200m)

Really? The bile rose just thinking about how much this would hurt. But I put on my big girl pants and got after it. “Just try one interval,” I told myself, and managed one, then another. The first pair was done. Before I knew it, I was halfway. By some miracle I fell into a groove and got faster. Credit last weekend’s 5k where I actually pushed for a change.

For me, my best runs are the ones where I accomplish something I didn’t think possible. No way did I imagine I had even 3 decent 1200m repeats in me that day, let alone 6. It reminds me precisely why one should never give up or say never. Because you never really know until you try.

Tell me about your best run.

Simply Snackin Jerky Giveaway Winner! Congrats to Kim at Healthy Strides! Please contact me with your shipping address and I’ll get you hooked up with your prize. Thanks to all who entered. Thanks to Simply Snackin for sponsoring!