The Girl Formerly Known as Goose
I wasn't planning to write another blog entry until the craziness of this cross-country move was past us, but this weekend Goose accomplished a post-worthy feat and earned herself a new nickname: Lion.

You already know this 5 year old is a pretty hardcore distance runner. In fact, a couple of weekends ago she ran 6 miles with Daddy--and not just any 6 miles. She ran 6 miles of seriously hilly terrain (see photo), and she did it in the rain.

This weekend she and Daddy were running their last 5k race before we hit the road--just a little fun run at Daddy's workplace. Unfortunately, it didn't go so well. She face-planted on the asphalt . . . twice. At some point after this, she was bleeding, crying, clutching a side stitch, and complaining about her feet starting to hurt. Daddy gave her an opportunity to take a shortcut and just get back to her sisters and I and her water bottle. In fact, he gave her several opportunities to bow out. But she insisted--through her tears--that she was going to finish the race. Our lionhearted little girl crossed the finish line! She finished the race with bloody knees and tear-streaked cheeks, but she finished it running!

(Lion's stated desire to run marathons--possibly Olympic ones--when she gets big seems perfectly reasonable now, doesn't it?)