The Junior 'Dillo

This school year, Sam has expressed a real interest in running. I find this awesome and ironic all at the same time. It's ironic because it CERTAINLY is not genetic. In fact, I won't speak for his dad, but I will say that I am for sure the least athletic person I know. Keith is super coordinated, but he would also say there is no love lost between him and running.


It's awesome because it's super convenient! All the info we have read about kids with Asperger's says that "Aspies" (as my friend calls them)usually excel at individual sports. Like Sam, most "aspies" are super competitive. But team sports are normally pretty tough for them, as they have a difficult time seeing another person's point-of-view. So far, Sam has shown an interest in two sports: running and swimming....both individual....both easy to access.


One day, Sam's teacher told me that I needed to come up to the school and watch him run. When the weather is nice, his class goes to run around the track a few times before rest time. Smart lady, that teacher of his! She mentioned that Sam seems like a pretty strong runner. I agreed to come one day, not thinking much of it. After all, surely no one in our family can run! But I went anyway and the little guy can move!


Since then, we have tried to encourage him as much as possible. He likes to go run the school track on Saturdays, but yesterday we took him to run in a race downtown called the Junior 'Dillo. For you non-Texans, or Alabamians currently being held captive by the Lord : ) , that would be short for "Armadillo." Cute...


Both boys competed in the "6 and Under" category. Keith ran with Sam, as he did what Keith called, "interval sprints." He ran as hard and as fast as he possibly could, then walked for a minute, then sprinted again. Apparently, we have something to learn about pacing ourselves. He finished in 12 minutes and 33 seconds! He did a great job and was super proud of himself at the end.

Here he is...Go, Sam, Go!

Stephen and I ran the first 2/10 together. Then he walked...then I carried him...then he ran...then he walked...then I carried him. You get the idea. But come on, people....He's three! As we got closer to the finish line, there were people lining the street cheering. He got all excited and started screaming, "We almost 'dere! The finish line! We almost 'dere!" So he ran the rest of the way. Stephen finished in 15 minutes and 9 seconds.

See Stephen run...