Target Acquisition

Actual conversation between me and my 8-year-old daughter during our most recent 5K training session ...

Daughter: So are we doing the 5K in Salinas this spring, or the one in Carmel?

Me: The one in Carmel. It's the same one [her brother] did for his first 5K.

Daughter: OK ... (long pause) ... so what was [her brother's] time when he did that race?

Me: I'm not exactly sure ... I think it was something around 36 or 37 minutes. I can check for sure when we get home. (Another pause) You're going to try to beat his time, aren't you?

Daughter (with sly smile): Maybe.

It's not my normal parenting style to compare one child to another, or to place the unnecessary pressure of expectation on a kid who's doing something primarily intended to be fun and healthy, so let's just keep the following observations between you, me and the Internet: This is a very determined little girl. And I don't think her brother's mark stands a chance this April.