TOGETHER...for the Summer

by Carissa

You may have noticed from our tag line, we Sole Sisters love running through life...together.  During the school year it was easy for Jodi and I, and sometimes Tanya, to drop our school-aged children off and meet for a Monday morning run.  When school wrapped up that routine was no longer an option.  I missed my weekly run with the girls immediately.

From Left to Right: Jodi, Becky, Kari and I along with some of our kids.
If all of our kids were in the picture there would be twice as many! :)

Just as the void of weekly running fellowship sunk in, I received an email from Becky, another running mama I know from school.  She said, "I would love to invite you to join me for Summer Run & Play with you and your kids at the track.  Growing up my dad took my siblings and I to the track with our bikes, trikes, scooters, and sand shovels so he could get his exercise for the day.  My sisters and I have done this for years and it works really well.  I thought it would be a great way for us (moms) to get some exercise and fellowship while our kids play together.  The kids can stroll, bike, run, or play in the sandbox.  Moms can run, walk, or sprint depending on your level of fitness.  I will come with a few workout choices for you to choose from.  I hope you will join us weekly for Summer Run & Fun!"

The first week we brainstormed about getting the kids to exercise also.  We decided to bribe the kids with one gummy bear for every lap they run.  For the kids who like charts, numbers and a little competition like my oldest son Lukas, Becky created a big poster.  Each time the kids finished a lap, they added a tally to the chart and grabbed a gummy bear.

Our board from week 2.  Each week this board fills up more.

Shortly after the track dates started my friend Kari suggested weekly hikes.  She developed a plan for days, times, and locations.  The first time we met the kids were all so excited that the adults had to speed walk to keep up with them.  What I thought would be a leisurely walk turned out to be power walking coupled with carrying my 30+ pound toddler uphill.

A group pic from our first summer hike

I love that this can be so easily replicated whether it’s with your kids’ classmates, your Bible study, book club, play group...the list goes on.  If your kids are in school they’re probably starting to miss some of those buddies they haven’t seen in a while.  Having a weekly opportunity to see friends will be exciting for them.  Also, they may find that tracking their laps is fun and the atmosphere motivating.  An extreme example of this is my seven-year-old son: the first week he ran three miles, the second week he ran five miles, and the third week he ran seven miles!

If you live in the Portland area and would like to join us, email solesistersrunning@gmail.com for more information.  

Tell us Sole Sisters: What are you doing to run through life together this summer?