Emma, It Runs in The Family
Ever since she was little, Emma has been close to her dad. She reflects on the important role her father has played in her SRLA experience, and she expresses gratitude for his constant support throughout her running career.
My dad has always been one of my biggest support systems. Ever since I was little, I have always been close to my dad. He has always supported and encouraged me to join any hobby, sport, or extracurricular and that very thing happened when I joined SRLA. In my first year on my school’s SRLA team, my dad was always there. He would drive me and my friends to all practices, races, and team activities and would constantly have his trunk full of refreshments and snacks while doing it. This was around the time where he started running as well, and we started our journeys around the same time. Unfortunately, he has suffered injuries along his running season but is looking forward to completing his first full marathon in the fall, and I will be so proud of him when he does it.
“My dad was always there when I had lows, the same as he was when I had my successes.”
In the second year of being part of SRLA, my dad just became so much more vital to the team. Even when I wasn’t able to make a run, he was always there to support the team. Some on the team even called him a “parent coach”. I think he did the most coaching for me. Training in a pandemic could have its lows, and my dad was always there when I had lows, the same as he was when I had my successes.
My dad is one of my favorite people, and I am happy that he and I have had this journey through SRLA together and it is something I know I am going to cherish even more when I am older. And just like he has been there for me all these years, I too want to stand by his marathon finish line and cheer him on as he finishes his first marathon.
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