Letters to Lakeland

Lakeland, today I signed up for a 25K - the River Bank Run. I ran it 6 years ago, and this year, I'm running it again with Tata Marah and Grandma D.
I've been running on the treadmill and you've been so good. I just sit you down next to the treadmill and you watch me, and squeal with delight.

This race I run is for me, it's for you and it's for daddy. You see, something like a race is a confidence booster, and I want to be able to teach you all about being confident and loving yourself and having strength and endurance. I want to set a good example for you. I want exercise and being outdoors to be a big part of your life. I hope that this spring when I go for long runs, you'll be able to come with me.

But for now, you are content to watch me on the treadmill and I imagine that you are saying "good job, mommy!" and "you can do it!" and that makes everything feel so good.