Tears and Hugs

on May 5, 2011
in Girls on the Run and Operation Beautiful

Back in August, the Husband came to me and said, “What do you think about being a husband-wife coaching team for Girls on the Run next season?”  I practically jumped for joy. 

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I was so excited he wanted to get involved!  We promptly signed up to coach  fifteen elementary school girls for twelve weeks.  Twice a week, we met after school, running our way to this Saturday’s 5K (here’s last season’s recap!) and learning important life lessons (‘be yourself,’ ‘no gossiping,’ and ‘emotional bullying’) along the way. 

 

Being a husband-wife team was amazing.  We’re the type of couple that it always together because we work together at the clinic, and sometimes things can get less-than-romantic.  Volunteering together brought us closer together in such a positive way.  It made me see Kristien in a new light – I’ve never seen him with kids before!  And it prompted so many important conversations between the two of us.

 

Today was our last day of the season – the whole team was so sad!  We’ve really enjoyed coaching the girls, who are all great.    Today was a celebration day.  We ran for a little bit, bestowed Molly Awards (Energizer Bunny Award, Stylin’ and Profilin’ Award, Good Heart Award, etc.), and gave the the girls the homemade albums.  They LOVED them!  I highly recommend other coaches take pictures all season long and make the girls customized $5 Snapfish albums as a goodbye gift.  They had a blast comparing pictures. 

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After some hugs and tears with the girls, we said goodbye at school for the last time.  It broke my heart!

 

Want some more Girls on the Run posts from this season and beyond?

 

 

After practice, we always drive by a Yoforia, and I always thought about stopping in but never did.  So today we finally got some fro-yo! Whoo-hoo.  I got coffee fro-yo with Oreos, blueberries, and Resee’s.  Yum.

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Dinner Part 1 was a faux sausage, egg, and herbs-in-a-tube sammie.

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And a salad:

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We went to the office for a while.  We got back around 9PM. 

 

Time for Dinner Part II: Greek yogurt, blackberries, oatmeal, and cashews.

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Dates for dessert!

 

To bed I go.  It’s going to be a busy Friday!

{ 43 comments }

 

  • Stacy @ Every Little Thing May 5, 2011, 10:30 pm

    Glad your season went well! I can’t believe our 5K isn’t until next weekend!

  • Holly @ The Runny Egg May 5, 2011, 10:31 pm

    Well I’m glad the whole experience was so rewarding — I’m glad you and your hubby got to do it together.

    Will you be coaching next season?

    • Caitlin May 6, 2011, 9:24 am

      Yup! Cannot wait.

  • Sophia @ Raven Waves May 5, 2011, 10:32 pm

    I’m glad it all went so well!! It sounds like such an amazing organization!

  • Sarena (The Non Dairy Queen) May 5, 2011, 10:32 pm

    This gave me chills! Tony and I are together all day everyday and it really says something about you two that you volunteered together. I wish we had the time to do something like this too. Hopefully once our business is completely off the ground, we will be able to work on that. Have a great night Caitlin!

  • Wendy May 5, 2011, 10:33 pm

    GOTR rocks! I assistant-coached two seasons, and was really sad that I had to quit because of time constraints. But I did sign up to be a running buddy to stay involved, and today was the practice 5K. I just love the GOTR energy. I also loved that my 6 year old daughter ended up running nearly 2 miles with the girls!

    How awesome that you and the husband have the chance to coach together. Good luck to your team at your real 5k!

    • Caitlin May 6, 2011, 9:39 am

      Your 6 year old is a tiger! Tell her I said WTG!

  • Vanessa @ Swift as Shadows May 5, 2011, 10:40 pm

    That’s so awesome that you and Kristien make such a great team. Kudos to both of you for giving back to the community and future generations. =)

    About the frozen yogurt, were the blueberries good on the coffee flavor? Doesn’t seem like it would mesh well, but then again you could be on to something (like with your baked bean/sweet potato combo).

  • Amanda (Eating Up) May 5, 2011, 10:40 pm

    It’s amazing how much of an impact volunteering can have on the volunteer as well as those that benefit from his/her work! It’s a win win!

  • Jenny @ Fitness Health and Food May 5, 2011, 11:12 pm

    It is soo sweet that your husband got involved in GOTR! 🙂 You two are a wonderful pair.

    I’m so happy that my husband gets involved in my blog, I can’t imagine writing one that didn’t involve him frequently because he’s such an important part of my life! 🙂

    That dinner looks delish, good luck with your busy Friday! 🙂

  • Mo May 5, 2011, 11:15 pm

    Congrats! You both are such an inspiration. I love that volunteering makes everyone benefit! You two make a wonderful team, in marriage, coaching, working, etc. Yeah, sometimes it’s less than romantic, but a couple with common goals, ethics, work, will be the ones that can endure it all through the years. I wish I was as self assured, engaging, and self-less when I was your age.

    • Caitlin May 6, 2011, 9:40 am

      Thank you Mo 🙂

  • Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga) May 5, 2011, 11:23 pm

    the season went so fast for me reading on the sidelines…who knows for you living it and actually doing it 🙂

    job well done, Caitlin!

  • Emma (Namaste Everyday) May 5, 2011, 11:33 pm

    I can’t wait to be a coach some day! some day SOON i hope!

  • Katie @ Nourishing Flourishing May 5, 2011, 11:38 pm

    Wow. This makes me want to get things moving on our co-volunteering front! We’ve talked about it for a while, but life happened and we made excuses I guess. Love both of your commitments to doing good, and to doing good together! (Sorry to be repetitive, but I wrote “and doing it together”….and realized I would be misunderstood. But hey, good for you on that too! Ha :D)

    • Caitlin May 6, 2011, 9:40 am

      Just try out something small, like doing the soup kitchen thang once or twice to see how you like it!

  • Sana May 5, 2011, 11:41 pm

    Soo sweet, you and the husband are amazing!

  • Baking 'n' Books May 5, 2011, 11:44 pm

    I always get the most happiness and sense of calmness coming here….its like I feel I can accept myself more – that its okay to make mistakes and be me…and its never too late to start over.

    I know that has nothing to do with this post really. I think it just comes from the vibe and the good sense of positivity and contribution to the world…like with GOTR…

    and fro-yo does not hurt either of course 😉

  • Kiran @ KiranTarun.com May 5, 2011, 11:49 pm

    Wife and hubby, the best voluntary team ever 🙂

  • Elena @ GagaForGrapefruit May 5, 2011, 11:52 pm

    how lovely! i’m so glad you had a great experience! volunteering is the best!

  • Michelle (your girlfriend for fitness) May 6, 2011, 12:13 am

    I think that is soo special you were able to capture those moments and give them each a photo album. I am sure that is something they will cherish for a long time to come!

  • Khushboo May 6, 2011, 12:16 am

    Saying goodbye is never easy, especially considering the bond you have created with the girls! I’m sure they will forever be grateful for their experience with you and Kristien. Do u think you will keep in touch with the girls now that the program is over?

    • Caitlin May 6, 2011, 9:41 am

      I don’t know… honestly, probably not, based on my prior coaching experiences. Hopefully we’ll see each other next season but the girls aren’t old enough to really use the computer, etc, which I think limits communication.

  • Christine May 6, 2011, 12:43 am

    Your yogurt cup is way too empty.

    Isn’t it nice seeing husbands with kids? I’m such a softy for dad and their children.

  • Cait @ Beyond Bananas May 6, 2011, 5:47 am

    It was a joy following both you and the husband through your experience with GOTR!

  • Christine @ Burning It Off May 6, 2011, 6:25 am

    Amazing. I think it’s so important for girls at that age to be involved in something so positive both for their physical health and self esteem. Good for you guys for volunteering!

  • Lauren May 6, 2011, 6:50 am

    I bet this was one of the most incredible experience for you guys. You will make amazing parents someday! 🙂

  • Jumanah @ Healthy Living in the Middle East May 6, 2011, 7:10 am

    I’ve really enjoyed reading all your GOTR posts! Glad it was such a great experience for you guys! Are you planning to coach together again next year?

  • Verna May 6, 2011, 7:17 am

    Loved the “less than romantic” comment! Way to keep it honest!! ; ) Glad you both had fun together!! You two are so cute!

    • Caitlin May 6, 2011, 9:42 am

      Keeping it reeeeeal.

  • Ash @ Good Taste Healthy Me May 6, 2011, 8:04 am

    This is so sweet. I love that it brought you and the hubs closer together. 🙂

  • Kelly May 6, 2011, 8:21 am

    It sounds like a wonderful experience for you and Kristin to go through together. Are you guys going to coach again next season?

    • Caitlin May 6, 2011, 9:42 am

      For sure!

  • Molly @ RDexposed May 6, 2011, 8:47 am

    Fro-yo with a jolt-always an interesting choice!

  • Kaci May 6, 2011, 8:48 am

    My daughter, Elly, next year will be old enough to join Girls on the Run, she is so excited.

    Oooo and we have the same silverware. =)

    Have a great weekend!

  • Selena May 6, 2011, 9:32 am

    How wonderful! My oldest will be old enough next year I think…maybe 2 years I forget what the minimum age is. I can’t wait for her to do it and I can only hope that she has a coach like you and your hubby. What a positive influence for them, you should be very proud of yourself!

    I’m going to look into volunteering in some capacity. I don’t have the ability to coach now since I work full time and have 3 little ones, but maybe one day.

  • Running Mama May 6, 2011, 9:45 am

    How fun! I SO wish my husband and I would team up when it came to anything fitness. I do love working out alone, but it would be so great to have things in common in the fitness area. I guess I should just be glad that both of us care about staying healthy and working out regularly. He plays basketball 3 days a week.

    runningtobeskinny.com

  • Jolene May 6, 2011, 9:51 am

    Seriously you’ve got me looking into GOTR for my 9 yr old. We homeschool and live in a rural area and we will have to travel 1 hour each direction to do this but we’re seriously looking into it!

  • Kelly May 6, 2011, 10:58 am

    Weird thought, does that fro-yo container look huge in the angle you’re holding it, I almost thought it was a half gallon. Great job this season. I am recommending this organization to a friend in Indianapolis who is a long-time runner.

    • Caitlin May 6, 2011, 11:00 am

      It was like a 24 ounce container LOL it was huge!

  • Amber K May 6, 2011, 11:54 am

    So bittersweet, so awesome that they have come so far, but I think it would be hard to get that close to those girls and then know that you probably won’t see them again. You have truly changed their lives!

  • Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin May 6, 2011, 7:07 pm

    Aww I hate it when good things come to an end! Are you two going to do this together again?

  • Rebecca - Thru Thin and Thick May 6, 2011, 11:37 pm

    I’m glad you had such a good season.

    I did not.. I blame it more on the Coordinator than anything else but I won’t be Coaching next season. I’m sorta bummed because I loved your enthusiasm from last season!

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