Did I mention she was 8?
This got me thinking that Paige, my seven year old, could no more run 6 miles than grow an extra leg or invest cold fusion.
But maybe she could. Maybe......
So I came up with a plan. There is a park near the kids school that has a wide sidewalk where we take the kids bike riding. Around the perimeter of the park is another narrow sidewalk that is 0.8 miles long.
When I asked Paige if she would like to learn how to run a mile she obviously said no.
So I bribed her. Like any good mother.
I made her this deal: If you can run the perimeter sidewalk ALL BY HERSELF without walking at all I would buy her a movie, any movie she wanted, so she could go home and be lazy on the couch.
She quickly grabbed at the bribe because my kids are "stuff" hungry. Anything to get a present!
The first time she practiced the run she did pretty well but had to rest a few times. While in NC for our 2 week stay, she practiced running around my mom's house 38 times in a row.
When we got back from NC she told me she was ready to give it a try.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2QdKgmRQE-ZzXVKqKYLCCQhb_agQfoE38uVB8F_LX-QMHGyUlTKDvgno-xjTJ5W_2lkJbrYI0Mv0SWmZj4od0-gajlDSAjbp0bInu9SGxdrVFypw2NkAcXbSudwNU4dxPu2Rv-zKM_po/s400/IMG_4797.jpg)
Jerry decided to go with him for moral, and safety, support.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ1K7z2_D7kyDtfrXTWl32ebVu-T9MEajUf-hXURJYilIsa3YzOWaD48moB7E_jjOY2YVIS-J-fvUgXkIM-EPvfIu7tMUAWsxife4fbBXAguJwEdC6g19bdH50HWWbxL_RknNwqagzKVc/s400/IMG_4802.jpg)
No practice, no build up, just fast feet and a love of stuff.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNAdUdrSOtBDfqIlA5OSruj_AE778K3Tw5BeGjX_qo5MPJ5WpHjXR_naZaHoORcN-HXh4az5sq1-EAdHr1oskovV3EpKxB_XhafAvWicM-nkGxrG4JuG9hD5o4aoQSEz6iC9CctyJS6Z4/s400/IMG_4807.jpg)
(The little turd is turning out to be like his father; annoyingly good at everything. I mean, good for him!)
They have since gotten their movies as promised by the bribe. When I ask if they would like to run it again, this time for fun and not a movie you can guess the response:
"Run? For nothing? NO WAY!!!"