Why I haven’t been able to talk about running

I have a client to whom I’ve been giving my sole attention. He doesn’t have any social media accounts. He doesn’t read. So it hasn’t been necessary to post anything here in a while. I’ve wanted to share my recent successes in the Philly 10K, the Rock and Roll Half Marathon, and to talk about my journey (even though it may end before the race) as I train for my first marathon, but I’ve been consumed.

This client doesn’t pay me, but he’s my most important client. Until he achieves his goals, I plan to continue working solely with him, unable to devote my time and energy to anyone else.

He gets physical therapy several times a week. Twice a week at our house and twice a week at CHOP. Sometimes he does his exercises on land; sometimes in the pool. He has more success when I’m out of sight, which makes it very difficult to coach him effectively. He’s not the type of client who would benefit from my virtual services.

I stare at him every day, wondering what else I can do to increase his strength – to get him to walk. He just turned 26 months old. His brother walked at 23 months, just before the “he better start walking by 2” deadline. He doesn’t like it when I try to show him how to squat or help him engage his core. I stare at the long list of exercises we’ve been prescribed by his PTs, yet I am met with resistance every time. He’d much rather do his own thing.

The other day I looked at him and saw beautiful, silky, straight blond hair. Who is this kid? Big brown eyes. Luscious red lips. And a smile so sweet. Usually I just see a project – something I need to constantly be working on and thinking about – consumed by. Maybe I should stop calling him my client and start calling him my son. And maybe he’s just going to run before he walks.