I typically prefer to run alone (mostly), but when an opportunity came up to be a parent volunteer with the running club at my kid’s school, I couldn’t resist. Running is important to me, so the thought of passing that on to others made me jump (or run) at the chance. Now that we’ve gone out a couple of times, I’ve realized I do like running with other people, especially endlessly curious and uninhibited 12-year-olds.

The running club is for P6 and P7 kids (5th and 6th graders in the US), and we go out once a week around the neighborhood. We’re only a few weeks into the club but so far we’ve worked up to a distance of 3.5k. There are a couple of groups, each with around 27 kids, all running in a line with parent volunteers like me spread out at different intervals. It’s not like it’s a big effort in terms of volunteering, I don’t really feel like I’m doing much other than watching to make sure everyone is safe crossing the roads, but regardless I’ve already made a few buddies that run with me regularly.

Even though the club has only gone out a few times together, it’s quickly become a highlight of my week. The kids are so funny. They mostly love to talk. It’s obvious that the running part of running club is a little beside the point. Running club means they get out of class and away from their teacher! Who can blame them? My buddies ask a lot of questions during our runs. It started with “What’s it like to live in America?” and “Why would you want to move to Scotland?” to other questions that are just as hard to answer, like “What would you name yourself if you could pick any name? and “What’s it like to be a Dad?”

Even though my running buddies don’t give those questions a second thought, I think about them for days after.

What’s it like to be a Dad?!? Seriously? That’s deep man.

I want to tell them all the things I’m thinking, but I think I’ll just stick with what I said “It’s pretty tiring, but I love it, I have an excuse to play anytime I want.”

I can’t wait for more running club chat.