Here is one of the reasons that I often like running without headphones on. (I sometimes do bring the trusty ol' iPod, but that's a topic for another post).
So I was out for a short run this afternoon - just an easy four miles around the lake. I was about 2/3 of the way done, and up ahead of me, just past the beach, I saw a young family walking on the path - Mom, Dad, and a little blond, curly haired, sundressed daughter who must have been about 2 and a half years old. Super cute family, all walking, holding hands, chatting amiably. Norman Rockwell at Lake Nokomis, if you see what I'm sayin'.
Anyhow, as I ran by them, the little girl started to get upset, kind of crying/whining (if you have ever had a 2 year old girl live at your house, you know exactly the sound I'm describing). I was about 10 steps past them when I heard the Mom say, "Sweetie, it's okay. Not every stranger has to give you a high five. I'll give you one." Dad chimes in, "Oh yeah - here's one from me too."
Of course, what am I going to do? I turn around and trot (oh yeah, I can trot - don't snicker) back to the little girl, crouch down, and give her a high five that provoked a smile that I thought was going to crack her cheeks. She smiled, I smiled, and the parents both said, "Oh my gosh, thank you. That just made the rest of our walk back home so much easier, you have no idea."
To which I had to reply, "Oh, I do. My daughter was just like that when she was small."
One little girl happy, and, let's be honest, is there a runner out there who doesn't appreciate a high five from a spectator as they are running?
