February Spotlight – Meet Miss. FauxRunner

February Spotlight – Meet Miss. FauxRunner

Last week was Miss. FauxRunner’s 11th birthday and as all parents do, I reflected back on the girl she had become and all the changes in her this past year. Since one of the biggest leaps she had was as an athlete, I wanted to be proud mom and showcase her. She was tickled when I “interviewed” her and hoped that someday someone famous would interview her!! 

Miss. Fauxrunner

2 years ago, Miss. FauxRunner was not a happy runner. She flat out didn’t like it and thought that daddy was mean to take her running with him whenever she wanted to spend sometime with him on weekdays (he was doing his 1000 miles in a year  back then). 

Miss FauxRunner Vibha

That was her unenthusiastic previous self, not just in running, but in any sport that we had tried her in since she was four years old. My first memory of her in a sport is her running AWAY from the soccer ball.

Miss

That year of the winter Olympics and she was fascinated by ice-skating like any other kid, we enrolled her in ice-skating lessons. Only for her to sit in a corner of the ice and refuse to even stand up unless completely assisted. 

Miss FauxRunner Ice Skating

About three years ago, she join the swim team with her then best friend. She used to look like a fish out of water while the coach have instructions and would always get left behind. That was the end of the swim team for her. And then there was the gymnastics, let’s not even go there.  In fact, the only sport that she has stuck to, probably because I would not let her quit, was taekwondo that I insist for self-defense.

All of a sudden, and we don’t know what exactly brought about that transformation, she started running. I suspect it might’ve been the prospect of watching TV shows on the treadmill. Last year was a momentous one for her as an athlete – she would join me for my last 1-2 miles during my long runs training for the London Marathon, which then evolved into her own debut into triathlons and 5k. 

Miss. FauxRunner’s races from her 10th year included – 

What made you start running and doing triathlons?

I wanted to run with you. And you did a triathlon. 

What are you proud of this past year?

I ran my 5k all alone (Heart and Soles 5K) and I had a good time at 28:49. I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to pace properly without daddy, but I handled it well.

In the second triathlon I did (Atlanta Kids Triathlon), in the run, I would pass other kids. When I passed them, they started running but they could not keep up with me. 

Miss. FauxRunner

I was so nervous with transition in both my triathlons. There were so many people and so many things happening around me and I had to figure out what to do and where to go and you were not allowed. I was fiddling a bit in my first triathlon, but I knew what to do in the second one.

What are some of the most important things you’ve learnt?

Not to freak out because if things go wrong freaking out will make it worse. Be calm. If it’s that’s big of an emergency, ask people around for help. 

Don’t forget to prepare well just because you’ve done it before. The one race I didn’t train because we were in India (Spooktacular 5K) was so hard. And I don’t like not having a good time.

If you take a break, running after the break is hard. Even a week off is hard. Not only is running hard, but it also hard to actually start running. 

What advice can you give to others?

Train hard. Never give up even if you are tired. It will be over soon. 

For kids like me who just like to read all day – make some time for fresh air in your life. 

What is your favorite post-run treat?

Frappucino from Starbucks!

What are your goals for next year?

I want to run a mile in 7 minutes and 30 seconds.

I am going to run the Peachtree (Peachtree Road Race 10k which will be her first 10k) with you (aka me).

And I want to ride my new bike faster in my next triathlon.

Miss. FauxRunner

I am so proud of the young tween she has grown into this past year. I had to sell her on triathlons initially but she took it on herself after that first race. Now, I don’t ever have to remind her to run – she runs by herself either a mile before school or after. She runs with me and she prefers that to running with daddy (yay!). 

My only goal through all this was for her to understand the results of hard, consistent work. And to have the presence of mind to get through the chaos of transition. 

I must say that she has exceeded that and has begun setting goals for herself!

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Joining the The Running Coaches’ Corner with Rachel, Suz, Lora Marie, and Debbie
and
Friday 5 2.0 with Rachel and Lacey and Meranda

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