In my last print column, I wrote about trying to keep fit, partly to show my kids that fitness is a valuable goal. My column for this week doesn’t seem to be posted yet, and I forgot to link to the last one, so here it is. Since it appeared in the Appeal-Democrat, I’ve had several people encourage me to keep running. I need all the encouragement I can get! Maybe if I post today it will be my inspiration to get back out there today. With allergies in full roar, I just want to stay in. I hope this will get me moving. Here it is:

Setting an example in pursuit of fitness 

Integrating physical fitness into our homeschool routine can be a challenge. Some day, our children will outgrow riding scooters and climbing trees. We hope to expose them to a variety of physical activities, and we hope to cultivate in them a love of fitness. But we can’t inspire them if we are sitting on the couch ourselves.

Our older kids tried team sports to start with, but seasons — and interests — come and go. We needed something more consistent. Early morning calisthenics were Brian’s idea. I’d like morning a lot more if it just started later in the day, but I went along. After the stretches and other exercises, we ran.

I was passionate about running in my college days. Not particularly good at it, mind you, but determined. When I first took up running, I called up my friend, Paige, and the two of us bundled up and set out on a 3-mile course through snow drifts. There was an indoor track at the university, but we had decided that was for sissies. Halfway through our run, Paige observed that our noses were running faster than we were. It was true, but we were undeterred.

At 40, I am a fair-weather runner. Several years ago, I got serious and decided to run in the Sacramento marathon. I would have made it, too, but a few weeks before the event, I broke my toe while putting on my shoe. Seriously. The toe was already weak from a previous break, which occurred in a jazz dancing class. I’m not much of a dancer, either.

I ran easily in my younger years, the miles on foot erasing my other excesses and rarely leading to more than a blister or stubbed toe. Now, with each step, I wonder if I will — like the running great Jim Fixx — simply fall over and die.

Our kids seem to be absorbing the fitness message. They run along with me, and they eagerly participate in karate and dance. I watch them develop agility, strength and confidence. They watch to see if I keep trying to get back in shape.

The last time I set out to keep up a running program, my oldest son took a break from working on the house to come along and encourage me. He was able to keep up while carrying an 8-foot length of siding under one arm.

Even though it is difficult, I am taking running up again, cautiously, and I head out a few times a week. On my first day out, I had a small group trailing behind me. My 4-year-old complained that I was going “too fast.” Nobody has ever accused me of that before. Another daughter ran along with me, easily chatting as I plodded and gasped my way around the field. She seemed supportive, but I suspect she was waiting to see if I would pass out.

Now that the kids know I won’t stop to talk and I am not likely to fall over, they go on their own way and I enjoy a moment of painful solitude.

Have we been successful in teaching our children about fitness? I think so. They move for the joy of movement, not because they want to keep their cholesterol in check or lose a few pounds. If nothing else, they will learn about persistence. And I keep moving now, slowly, with joints creaking and muscles screaming. I keep after my goal. I run now because my children are watching.

This entry was posted on Thursday, April 17th, 2008 at 11:47 am and is filed under Home Schooling, children, education, family fun, homeschool, homeschool curriculum, homeschool fun, how to homeschool, learning at home. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.