Last weekend, before the Deluge (only 34 days and 34 nights to go!), our Port City elementary school hosted a 5K road race. I had just bought a running stroller in anticipation of numero due, so I optimistically entered myself to give it its maiden voyage. Before the race, they had a series of “fun runs” for the kids, including a third-of-a-mile lap around the pond for children second grade and under. The parents were allowed to run with the kids, so I thought I’d see if Aitch wanted to participate. I thought he might be intimidated by the big crowd, but it was for charity so I paid the small fee and figured we could bow out at any time.

So, this is what the starting line at the Boston Marathon would look like if they lowered the qualifying age, and allowed the racers to run with their mommies:

Aitch is the child who’s clad in the sportif sweater with elbow patches. (I was not going to go through the bother of changing him on the off chance that he might be running a third of a mile.) Even dressed like a geek, he had a wonderful time. When the Korean Jim Thorpe grows up, though, don’t tell him that his mommy had to carry him for a few steps in his first big race.

My official time in the 5K was 31:47. Since I hung way back at the start to avoid running anyone over with my baby SUV, I’ll take another 20 seconds off that. It isn’t my best time, but it is my “personal running stroller best.”