I like trail running. Maybe it's just because there is no pavement. Maybe I don't particularly like running in circles. Maybe all of the above. So when the kids were old enough and relatively stable on their bikes we started running while they ride. This works great on running trails. No cars or crosswalks to worry about. And the terrain challenges the kiddos enough so we can keep up with them. I don't expect this to last forever, though. As they get bigger and better, they tend to get too far ahead.
Today it worked perfect. The kids wanted to ride bikes today. My son even said, without being prompted, that he wanted to ride on a trail. It was a perfect chance to see how the kids manage the walking trails at Barboursville City Park on bikes. The the inclines are mild and the trails are wide enough in total, but the actual walking surface is a gravel covered single track that runs down the middle. The rest of the trail surface is mowed natural grass. The grass is a little tough for kiddos to pedal through, so they have to stick to the single track. Either way, it still tends to slow the kiddos down a little. No biggie, since the two easier trails are loops, making it less likely for them to get out of range or lost. This was particularly helpful today as my other half is out of town, and it was just me and the kiddos. I actually had to wait for them a few times at the inclines, but otherwise they did great. And it was short enough to keep them entertained. The weather was also perfect. Sunny, dry, 75 degrees. I make no assumption that this is normal for late September in WV, but I'm not complaining, either.
For a workout it was a little short (about 25 minutes), so we drove to the running path around the little lake. I ran a few laps while the kids played on the playground. Then we drove to Frostop in Huntington. They are known for their root beer, and we hadn't tried it yet. It turned out to be great. My daughter loves their burgers, and my son loves the corndogs. I like their onion rings...a little too much. It's an original drive-in with tables outside. Couldn't pick a better day for it.
