Not quite a month into the new school year, unexpected trouble started brewing in my 12-year-old’s middle school.

This trouble is unexpected because it came from the area of P.E., yes… as in Physical Education.

A couple of weeks ago, the P.E. teacher started this mile run test, and to earn an A on this test, you will have to complete this mile run in 8 minutes and 30 seconds or less. Apparently, this became a test given weekly, and is threatened to go on FOREVER.

On week one, my kid did 11 minutes and 11 seconds. That earned her a “D”.

On week two, my kid did 11 minutes and 10 seconds. That just barely earned her a “C”.

These grades are a monstrous eyesore on my child’s otherwise Stanford bound worthy online progress reports.

What kind of school lets a silly P.E. class ruin a student’s straight A status!!

I must set this straight, and fast. I came up with a bold strategy: I am going to lead my 12 year old to this eight minute victory! How hard can it be to run a mile in 8 minutes…

Last Saturday, shortly after lunch, I told my 12 year old to suit up in running shoes, and we drove to our middle school’s sandy track field. I chose to run right after lunch, because her PE class is after lunch, when the sun dispenses her strongest heat. We were going to achieve victory together in the same miserable running condition.

As soon as we got to the sandy track field, we wasted no time. My 12 year old set the running clock on her wrist, and off we went.

Sandy Track Field


I set a good pace, we were running side by side, and I was feeling great. Except….That great feeling was extremely short-lived. Ops.

As I passed the second bend on the track, I quickly conceded that running 4 laps in this track would amount to a daunting task. Especially since I could already feel that hollow feeling in my chest, and the air was choked off from my lungs.

My 12-year-old turned to take note of me in my obvious struggle. She had that combo amused and surprised look.

“Hey, don’t wait for me,” I yelled out in between my labored breaths. “You just keep going, and beat 8 minutes 30 seconds. It doesn’t matter if I don’t make 8 minutes. You are the one who needs that 8 minutes.”

The kid was grinning big now, and ran off without me.

Kid left me in the dust


Finally, I made it to the finish line.

“Mom! I beat you by a whole minute.” 12-year-old.

I paced in circles to slow down my heart rate, and said, “Oh, were YOU close to being 8 minutes?”

12-year-old was all giggles, and blurted out, “Mom, your time was 12 minutes and 32 seconds.”

I will admit that I have miraculously overestimated myself before. But this is a parenting disaster!

I just spent all that energy providing my kid with the awesome excuse of inheriting bad running genes from me.

Luckily, I have a better half. I am going to dispatch my husband to lead our 12-year-old to this 8 minute mile run next weekend.

We are so getting an “A” in P.E.

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