Fit-to-Fat-to-Fit Blog: Rush 2 Brush

Goal Weight: 195

Today’s Weight: 224.4

My middle son came home this week with a challenge from his P.E. teacher: Run the Rush 2 Bush 5K and you don’t have to run in P.E. for a week. And since my children have my lazy gene, he thought that’d be a darn good idea.

So this morning, he, my oldest and I (God help everyone if my four-year-old had run the race) ran 3.1 miles in the rain.

At the start, my oldest son said, “I’ll stick with you.” The horn sound and he took off. My middle son was right behind him. I began plodding like a Clydesdale. The course was around University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMC) — a hilly part of Jackson.  It started with a loop around campus and then we ran past the VA Hospital and then to the Highway Patrol HQ. And then we ran back. I felt fine during the run and was amazed at how strong I was on the hills. Of course, I am a million miles from where I was during the Marine Corps Marathon — but I was at least back out there. My legs burned a little from yesterday’s workout. But otherwise, ran comfortably. When I got to the VA Hospital, my middle son came toward me like he was on fire. He was in the front of the pack and running like a deer. My oldest son (who has asthma and hasn’t been running much lately) was right on his heels.

You have to love recessive genes.

My middle son won his age group and a door prize. I praised my oldest for a really strong run (it was the both boys’ first 5K.)

I finished strong (at a very pokey 33 minutes) and hugged my boys who were waiting for their Clydesdale dad at the finish line.

We couldn’t have done this a month ago. I couldn’t have run 200 yards. Thanks to making a choice to get back into shape, I had a great morning with my sons.

And that is what it is all about. (Plus, most importantly, now my son doesn’t have to run in P.E. for a week)