I Want to Be a Runner

With classes starting next week, I asked my incoming 1st-grader, Anton, if he wanted to sign up for football after school.  I expected an enthusiastic “yes” from him.  After all, it wasn’t too long ago when—after enumerating the number of sports he could get into: golf, swimming, football, or running—he adamantly said “My sport is football.  Nothing else.”  

Anton dabbled in a couple of 2k races, but “retired” after the PIA run for no other reason but “It’s so tiring.” From that time on, every time I invited him to join a race with me, he would shake his head and I swear I could almost see sweat dripping from his forehead.

– Little Bull Runner during the Pinay In Action run last March ’08.  He is obviously exhausted. –

So, there I was waiting for my little boy to tell me he wanted to take football when he surprised me with “I don’t like football anymore.”  The mommy in me was worried so I began to blurt out “But, sports is important for you.  It’s not about studying all the time..”  Then, he interrupts me and says “I am going to be a runner!”  I reminded him about the last race and how I thought he didn’t want to run anymore, but he says “I’m going to start running again.  I’m going to run a marathon!”

Oh, I was ecstatic!   Sure, a marathon and a 2km race is one and the same for Anton, but that doesn’t matter… as long as he runs!  Little Bull Runner is back in the game.