My First Run with My Six Year Old, a Thankful Friday Things and Running Playlist

I hadn't really planned on being able to get a run in on Thanksgiving, much less have this first outing with my son.  But, the stars aligned and I had some time in the morning to sneak out for my own personal 5K turkey trot.  The weather could not have been more glorious in Seattle, sunny and in the low 40s.  My son asked if he could come with, which he does on occasion.  This time I came back to get him to turn right back around and go for another mile.  It was the most HILARIOUS mile of my life.  

After I took him through a few dynamic stretches, we talked about the rules of the trail: staying to the right, letting bikers go past, saying 'on your left' if we were passing, etc.  So, as we passed people, he would say "Hi! I'm going for a run with my mom!  My dad and my sister are at the park over there!  Stay on the right! Watch out for bikes!"  Basically, trying to have a full-on conversation with every person out there.  It was like running with Buddy the Elf, and it was awesome.  I might have mentioned before that my boy is rather outspoken, and this doesn't change while he's running, apparently.  We came across three different dogs, and stopped to pet each one while he regaled the owners with the tale of our day and wished them all a Happy Thanksgiving.  As we'd start back up again, he'd do a few leaping jumps almost exactly like Phoebe Buffay.  No joke.  A husband and wife doing a ten miler caught up to us and we had a chatty little foursome for about a quarter of a mile.  I think he was the highlight of their run and I couldn't have been more proud.  The smile on my face must have been ridiculously huge.  He did a half mile out and back (one mile total at about a 10-11min/mile pace) with time to spare at the playground, never losing steam.  I was prepared for whining, 'are we done,yet?' and the like.  Needless to say, I'm already scheming our first 5K together and so thankful for being able to share these experiences with him.

I hope everyone had a wonderful a Thanksgiving Day.  Thank you all for the positive thoughts put out into the universe last week.  My friend's little boy is out of the woods at Children's and I'm so, so thankful.  The cancer my mom is facing now is treatable, and not in her brain.  For that, I am thankful, and for all of life's blessings.  

Thanksgiving internet fun:

• Thanksgiving As a Kid vs. Thanksgiving as an Adult via Buzzfeed
• Even funnier, The Oatmeal's version
• America's Thanksgiving food preferences by Region
• Really cool piece from Thought Catalog: 16 People On Things They Couldn't Believe About America Until They Lived Here
• British folks trying to label all our states!
• Lastly, I really hope that everyone takes this article to heart: How to Get Enough Food at Holiday Parties.  Because really, I do not care to read any article on how to save calories over the holidays.  That. Is. Not. The. Point.

Okay, it's got Bieber in it, but I really do love #Thatpower by Will.I.Am.  It came on during my run yesterday and I couldn't help just being thankful to be outside on a beautiful day, being healthy, just being alive.  

"And oh, I'm alive, I'm alive, I'm alive
And oh, I can fly, I can fly, I can fly"

Uh oh, am I getting all spiritual up in here?  Well, on that note, happy Friday and happy holidays!

2013 Playlist

September by Earth Wind and Fire 

Move Your Feet by Junior Senior
Black Sheep by Metric
Still Into You by Paramore
Stay the Night by Zedd, featuring Hayley Williams
This is What it Feels Like by Armin vanBuuren
Pompeii by Bastille
Out of the Blue by System F
The Pursuit of Happiness by Kid Cudi (Remixed by Steve Aoki)
Lose My Mind by Sebastian Ingrosso & Alesso
Better Off Alone by Alice Deejay
Stereo Hearts by Gym Class Heroes

Mirrors  by Justin Timberlake

Wake Me Up by Avicii and Aloe Blacc

Hey Now by Martin Solveig

We Come Running by Youngblood Hawke

Take You Higher by Goodwill and Hook N Sling

Justice and Independence by John Mellencamp

Glowing by Nikki Williams

Easy  by Porter Robinson (and Matt Zo).

I Could be the One by Avicii featuring Nicky Romero

Pair of Dice by Tiesto

Ain't No Stoppin' by Ferry Corsten (featuring Ben Hague)

Come and Get It by Selena Gomez
Apollo by Hardwell featuring Amba Shepherd

This Head I Hold by Electric Guest

Castles in the Sky by Ian Van Dahl

Feel this Moment by Pitbull, featuring Christina Aguilera

Into Your Arms by the Lemonheads

Just Give me a Reason by Pink

I Love It by Icona Pop

Little Secrets Passion Pit

Sovereign Light Cafe by Keane, remixed by Afrojack

Clarity by Zedd

Years by Alesso

Something Good Can Work by Two Door Cinema Club
She Wolf by David Guetta, featuring Sia
Alive by Krewella
Illmerica by Wolfgang Garnter
Drowning by Armin van Buren
Give Me Your Hand by The Ready Set
Language by Porter Robinson
Cry for You by September
You Are My Diamond by Tiesto - featuring Kianna
Arguru - Deadmau5
We Are by Jus Jack & Oza, featuring Aeone