13/04/204

It’s 6:00 am on Sunday morning and my eldest boy Jak is just getting dressed, he’s packing his bag and running around the house looking for his trainers. Dad is getting out the bikes, checking the tyres and making sure that they are ready for a journey.

I’m sitting down on the sofa and as I am watching my 11 year old boy preparing his bag and making sure he has the correct paperwork that he needs I look at him and don’t see a little boy anymore, I see a young man getting ready to live a dream.

You see, Jak has spent the last few months training and preparing himself to run in a race, a race that many young children across the country will be running as well. He has a passion for running (something he must get from his Dad) he loves the adrenaline that pumps through his veins when he is running, he enjoys the pain that it gives him when he is pushing himself to reach further distances.

He isn’t the greatest of runners but its the determination that he has for the sport, it’s not about winning but it’s about the competing for him.

He’s a bit of a Forest Gump, once he starts running he just keeps on going!

Jak has trained hard for this race, especially in the last few weeks. We spent last week away on holiday and he still went out for a run with his Dad just so that he wouldn’t be begin on his training.

Jak was running in the London Mini Marathon.

This was to be his first race and what a race to make a debut at in regards to his amateur sporting career. He has run in local parkrun events with other adults and children but just for fun. He has never run with children of his own age, they have either been much older or younger.

Jak had to meet a coach which was put on by the borough at 6:45, Dad was cycling him to the meet up point and then carrying on into London to met him and the rest of the team there.

As I waved my son off a tear came to my eye, he was heading off to achieve a goal that he has dreamt of for months.

The next time that morning I saw him was when he was running along the streets of London heading down Birdcage walk towards Buckingham Palace, nearing the end of the 3 mile race.

My heart was beating fast, I shouted out
“Go Jak!”
Joseph was jumping up and down, with excitement cheering on his big brother

Jak looked over at us and waved, he was beaming with pride

We headed over to the finish line, to meet him at the designated netting point for the borough, we waited a while and then I spotted him walking along looking slightly dazed eating an apple. I asked him if he was ok as when I noticed him running along I saw that he was running with his arm outwards, he did he was fine but was just taking it all in, he had a pain in his shoulder which was giving him a bit of grief but he was just so overwhelmed with the whole experience.

We collected him form the coach pick up point and I have him the biggest hug possible, I was so proud of him, my boy never seems to amaze me with his ability to just get on with things and enjoy the moment.

We took him for a cooked breakfast in Trafalgar Square, where we sat all talked about his experience, he quickly told us that it was an experience like no other and he would be getting back into training as soon as possible so he could attend the trials next year and hopefully get picked to represent the borough again so he can beat his time.

 

One very proud Mummy signing out 🙂