This means way more then I thought it would mean initially, when we first bought his new to him 16 inch wheel bike. This is requiring many more changes. I thought buying the bike would mean I could start running with a single stroller pushing the 2 year old and he would pedal right beside me and life would be all rainbows and roses. Funny, me the PE teacher, did not account for the fact that my 4 year old would not just get on and ride for 4-6 miles. In my mind I just thought that is what kids did...yeah, not so much!
He did AWESOME at his first ride. I should mention that the first time he ever got on his new bike was at a Stroller Warrior workout that had over 100 people in attendance and he rode for about 3 miles. However, I had forgotten to bring him water. So, yeah he was struggling. How could I have not realized that he would need water????? I needed water. I had some for myself even. Which was good, so that I could share. But ummm, yes, that was lesson number one. 1) Bring a water bottle for new bike rider to the workouts!
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| Who doesn't need a lime green bike??? |
So, at bike ride number 2, which was a week later at another workout, I realized that hills (even baby ones that are more like lumps) and a new bike rider do not go together so well. I got an arm workout pushing him up each one and still trying to steer the stroller with the other one and trying to not let either one get out of control! He ended up going about 3 miles that day too. Yay! I remembered water, but ummmm he was starving after the ride and it was clear his blood sugar had dropped. This is lesson number two that I learned. 2) Bring new bike rider a recovery snack.
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| Finding other new riders helps to encourage him! |
Bike ride three happened about two weeks after bike ride two, and it was in our neighborhood, which is perfect. Water and snacks easily accessible!! We have a loop that is about 2.5 miles long, so the goal was to do the loop. We made it to the end of the street and then the complaining started. Oh did it start! He wanted to walk his bike the rest of the way. He was tired. He couldn't do it. He needed help. He wanted a drink. His legs hurt. His arms hurt. His head hurt. He was hot. We had gone .2 of a mile. "What in the world was going on?" I asked myself. He had been riding much farther then this. I was confused. That was when my schooling kicked in, (see I am not "wasting my degree" after all!), and I re-learned lesson number three. 3) Even little bodies need to "train" for physical activity.
We had been sick, so his body was not in the same physical shape that it had been in previously. We did this on our own, so he also didn't have the peer pressure from seeing other bike riders, nor did he have the constant encouragement that comes from the other runners telling him he was doing an awesome job. Jack is fiercely competitive (not sure where he got that from), and he needs the motivation of "beating" someone. He also didn't have the motivation of the playground at the end of the ride.
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| One of his proudest moments on his first ride was beating my good friend Stephanie to the "finish line!" |
So, what is our plan of action. No, I am not putting him on a "training plan." Please do not start treating me like a "stage" parent! I should say that as adults we would never expect ourselves to just get on the bike and ride any distance with out practice!! Our plan is to ride the bike around the block and up and down the street, a couple of times a week, so that when we do longer rides he is prepared. You see kids, just like adults need to train their bodies. He WILL be able to get on his bike and ride next to, or in front of me while I run. But he can't do it the first few times getting on the bike. Did I mention lesson number four? 4) Little ones can have sore muscles. This usually manifests into saying that the legs hurt. It's true. He might not be faking it if he rode his bike for the first time for 3 miles the day before.
I LOVE that we are turning this corner and we can bring his bike to group runs. It makes me sad only because it is a huge visual sign that he is getting bigger. He is growing up and pretty soon he will be making those rides without me next to him, with proper hydration and nutrition...otherwise I have a grump on my hands. I thought I might share my lessons learned with you so that maybe you can avoid my failures as you make that turn from being a toddler into little kid.
What are some of your lessons learned as you watch your little one grow up and master new skills?
