For Me, Running Isn't Just About Getting from Point A to Point B - It's About Sharing the Experience with My Daughter
As a teenager, I was notorious for being a "don't put me down for cardio" kind of girl. At school, volunteering to be the goalkeeper was my way of avoiding any form of physical activity that might require too much movement. Sports day, however, was an entirely different story. If I couldn't fake a sicknote, I'd reluctantly sign up for long jump - at least that meant I wouldn't have to face the crowded track where everyone would be watching.
But it wasn't just the prospect of being in the spotlight that made me hesitant about running. It was also the idea that exercise had to be a chore, something that only served as a means to an end. The diet culture of the 90s touted thinness as the ultimate goal, with exercise being seen as a necessary evil to achieve it. In reality, I'd never experienced the benefits of exercise beyond the feeling of exhaustion.
Fast-forward to my adult years, and while running still wasn't my favorite thing to do, my attitude had begun to shift. However, the fear of not being good enough lingered, and I often found myself comparing my performance to that of others - a habit that didn't exactly make me feel like I was enjoying the experience.
That all changed when I agreed to go for a run with my five-year-old daughter. At 38 years old, I still hadn't developed a taste for running, but my daughter's enthusiasm was infectious. As we chatted about running before our outing, she expressed excitement at the prospect of trying it out, and her genuine enthusiasm made me realize that maybe this whole running thing wasn't as daunting as I'd thought.
Our first attempt at junior parkrun - 2km runs for kids aged four to 14 - was a revelation. While other parents were jostling with their own offspring, my daughter ran alongside me without complaint or hesitation. She didn't try to ditch us early or stop mid-way; she simply enjoyed the experience of running and exploring her surroundings.
That moment of clarity sparked something within me. As we stopped for a snack afterwards, my daughter proudly declared that she'd loved the run - and, much to my surprise, I did too. We weren't there to compete with others or focus on our finish times; we were simply enjoying the moment together.
When it was time for me to go out running alone later that day, my usual inner monologue began to take over: "Why don't you stop? You're terrible at this!" But instead of indulging in those negative thoughts, I recalled how I'd spoken to my daughter just hours before. I told myself, "You're doing great; just keep going."
To my surprise, it worked. By adopting a more childlike approach to running - one that emphasized the joy of movement and exploration rather than performance or competition - I was able to shake off the mindset that had held me back for so long.
Since then, junior parkrun has become an integral part of our weekly routine. Instead of focusing on my own progress or comparing myself to others, I've come to relish the moments we share together on the track. It's not just about running; it's about experiencing life - and that's something I can genuinely appreciate.
As a teenager, I was notorious for being a "don't put me down for cardio" kind of girl. At school, volunteering to be the goalkeeper was my way of avoiding any form of physical activity that might require too much movement. Sports day, however, was an entirely different story. If I couldn't fake a sicknote, I'd reluctantly sign up for long jump - at least that meant I wouldn't have to face the crowded track where everyone would be watching.
But it wasn't just the prospect of being in the spotlight that made me hesitant about running. It was also the idea that exercise had to be a chore, something that only served as a means to an end. The diet culture of the 90s touted thinness as the ultimate goal, with exercise being seen as a necessary evil to achieve it. In reality, I'd never experienced the benefits of exercise beyond the feeling of exhaustion.
Fast-forward to my adult years, and while running still wasn't my favorite thing to do, my attitude had begun to shift. However, the fear of not being good enough lingered, and I often found myself comparing my performance to that of others - a habit that didn't exactly make me feel like I was enjoying the experience.
That all changed when I agreed to go for a run with my five-year-old daughter. At 38 years old, I still hadn't developed a taste for running, but my daughter's enthusiasm was infectious. As we chatted about running before our outing, she expressed excitement at the prospect of trying it out, and her genuine enthusiasm made me realize that maybe this whole running thing wasn't as daunting as I'd thought.
Our first attempt at junior parkrun - 2km runs for kids aged four to 14 - was a revelation. While other parents were jostling with their own offspring, my daughter ran alongside me without complaint or hesitation. She didn't try to ditch us early or stop mid-way; she simply enjoyed the experience of running and exploring her surroundings.
That moment of clarity sparked something within me. As we stopped for a snack afterwards, my daughter proudly declared that she'd loved the run - and, much to my surprise, I did too. We weren't there to compete with others or focus on our finish times; we were simply enjoying the moment together.
When it was time for me to go out running alone later that day, my usual inner monologue began to take over: "Why don't you stop? You're terrible at this!" But instead of indulging in those negative thoughts, I recalled how I'd spoken to my daughter just hours before. I told myself, "You're doing great; just keep going."
To my surprise, it worked. By adopting a more childlike approach to running - one that emphasized the joy of movement and exploration rather than performance or competition - I was able to shake off the mindset that had held me back for so long.
Since then, junior parkrun has become an integral part of our weekly routine. Instead of focusing on my own progress or comparing myself to others, I've come to relish the moments we share together on the track. It's not just about running; it's about experiencing life - and that's something I can genuinely appreciate.
... and honestly who needs to be fast or efficient when you can share the experience and make memories with your daughter? I think its great that she's been able to bring a new perspective to running for her mom and it makes me want to try it again with my own family 
me and my partner actually started going for runs together a few months ago and it's been a game changer we still don't take ourselves too seriously and just enjoy the fresh air and each other's company 
me and my bestie have been doing this thing where we go for a jog together every weekend and it's literally changed my life!!! 
junior parkrun is the best thing ever, it's so adorable watching kids run around and having a blast! 
I'm definitely gonna start taking my own kid to join me on our jogs soon, can't wait to experience that same joy with them!!! 
I was like that girl who hated sports in school 
but now I see how exercise should be enjoyed, not just seen as a chore. When my daughter asked me to go for a run with her, she made me realize running isn't so bad 
and that's when it clicked - it's about sharing the experience with loved ones 
and making memories 
She's got a point tho, running used to be all about the pressure & competition 4 me too, but now its about enjoying the experience w/ ur little one, makes it so much more relatable 
). We could all learn from their carefree attitude towards life 
. watching my daughter light up when she tries something new is honestly the best motivation 
. It's like that one blog post I read about how running isn't just about being fit, its about enjoying life in between sips of water 
. My only wish is more people would join junior parkrun and make it less intimidating for newbies 
! Sharing the experience with your daughter is literally the best way to shift perspective... she's so infectious, right? 
. No more comparing myself to others or beating myself up over not being "good enough". Let's focus on making exercise a positive experience for everyone! 
. We're forced to participate, but we're only really doing it for the grades 
. But what if we took a more childlike approach and focused on enjoying the journey rather than just the destination? 
.
. We're only really happy when we've reached our step count targets or lost a certain amount of weight 
. But what if we shifted our focus to just enjoying the experience of being healthy and active? 
It's time for us to rethink our priorities and make exercise and education about more than just competition and achievement.