Princess Run 2011

I started running last summer. Abigail began to ask if she could run with me. I would tell her things like, "maybe next time" or "sometime I'll take you running." I ran my second 5k in November and Scott brought the girls to cheer me on. When I finished, Abigail said, "I really want to run with you, Mommy. I want to run a race with you." Later the next week, I came in from a run and Abigail asked me for a piece of paper. She walked over to our Blue Sticky Dream Wall where I had some running goals posted and she began to write something. When she was finished, she asked me for tape and proceeded to post a new dream on our wall.

My posted goal was to run a 5k in under 30 minutes. Wanting to run a race with me, Abs wrote, "Run a 5k in 30 with mom." 

"Now can I run with you, Mommy? It's my new dream!" She was serious! 

Since she posted a goal, we decided we needed to give her some "next steps." We bought her some running shoes and I began taking her to run. She was so excited! The first time out she took off as fast as she could go. After about a minute and a half, she was ready to walk. I let her guide our pace. We ran when she wanted to run and walked when she wanted. Before too long she was asking for water, but she didn't want to go in. We went out a few more times and I started to clock our time and distance as a guide. She would go at least a mile running and walking each time out.  Then I received an email about The Princess Run. This was a 1-mile fun run for girls 12 and under where they were encouraged to dress up, wear tutu's and have fun running at Stars & Stripes Park at Lake Hefner. PERFECT!

We registered Abigail and went to Funky Monkey to pick up her first ever race packet.

What fun! We picked up the packet on Friday so she had to wait until Sunday afternoon for the actual race. After church on Sunday, Nana took us all for a pre-race lunch at the Lake.

It was a cold Spring day, so we headed over to the park to get bundled up. Her tiara was replaced with a princess stocking cap, but she was still able to wear her tutu. Underneath her jacket, she wore her "Team Hope" shirt as she ran in honor of her little friend Laynie Hope that is running and running in heaven today.

Abigail had a some very special people there to cheer her on. Of course, Daddy, Mommy, Ashby & Nana were there.  Our dear friend, Julie (Abigail's first babysitter who is now like family) was in town visiting. Julie and her parents came to watch Abs, too. Having all these loved ones there made her day even more special.

Abigail & her cheering section

Abigail and I took our places at the starting line...made of purple and pink balloons of course! We did some stretching with the group and she gave one last wave to her cheering section.

Ready, set, GO! She ran and ran. We took a little walk break just before the half way point where Daddy and Ashby were waiting for her. 

We made the turn and headed back to the finish line. She did great! At the finish line she was greeted with a medal, cupcake and chocolate milk. Perfect for a princess!

What a great day! Abigail had a dream. We took some next steps to prepare and the day came where she was able to make that dream come true. 

"I did it!"

Encourage your kids to dream. Encourage to dream BIG dreams, big GOD GIVEN dreams. I can't wait to see what Abigail will do, how God will use her as she continues to express her dreams and go after them. Her little sister, too!