In this installment of our Hot Take blog series, Darby Comm Senior Account Executive Mindy Smith poses the notion that parenting and raising kids is the true and ultimate outdoor sport.
Coming from an ultramarathoner who’s run everything from a speedy (for me) one-mile race to an okay (for me) performance at the 100-mile distance, I would like to state my hot take that parenting is THE ultimate ultramarathon and outdoor sport. Here’s why I stand firm on that.
Backstory
In 2008, I started my (non-professional) running career. I started with the Gay 5K in Asheville in 2010, worked my way up to my first 50K running race in 2015, and completed my first 100-mile running race in 2018. I ran tough mountain races, flat and fast events, and everything in between. I maintained fitness and strength with regular lifting routines and SUP adventures, and kept it spicy with fun runs (like a 72-mile point-to-point run called Pitchell). Only some of that has prepared me for what’s coming down the pike in a few weeks: PARENTING.
Four years ago, my mother and stepfather asked me if I wanted to step up to the plate to be a mommy to my step-niece. At the time I was completely focused on work, running, organizing group runs for a local club I led, and surviving the global pandemic, so I passed. (Boundless energy I had then!) They took the child into their home and under their care and we didn’t discuss it much more.
Fast-forward
In late 2023, my parents reinvited me to the conversation of adoption. My spouse and I danced around the idea as we navigated personal hurdles with health, community, and career. Then, in early 2024, we made the ultimate decision to say a resounding “YES!” to the adoption and began the legal proceedings.
How is parenting the ultimate sport?
Since earlier this year, my spouse and I have taken the child (who I refer to as “A” in this blog) under our wings several times while the legal adoption proceedings continued, including:
- Her first flight to Arizona, where she visited her first national park, Grand Canyon National Park, in addition to hiking, swimming, and trail running at local state parks.
- A week-long trek to WY where “A” completed her first-ever rounds of open water paddling, building campfires and roasting S’mores and hot dogs, planting flowers, firing pizza in an outdoor pizza oven, trekking through mountains and snow, and summiting mountaintops.
- Chasing her around playgrounds to the point where we were both drenched in sweat.
- Diving into numerous pools to play “Marco, Polo,” tag, and other pool games.
- Teaching her about Leave No Trace while playing in rivers, creeks, and streams.
- Showing her how to pitch a tent, roll up her sleeping bag, and take down a tent, all while keeping it somewhat interesting and entertaining.
- And so. much. more. All within the past eight months!
This former-ultrarunner-turned-endurance-athlete is already exhausted and “A” hasn’t even moved in yet. I know the endurance, skill, and persistence (stubbornness?) that it takes to be an endurance athlete. It takes discipline, day-after-day grinding, the ability to say “no” to a whole host of other requests, and a mindset that settles for nothing other than finishing your goal. To survive those nine days in Wyoming with zero parenting preparation ahead of time felt just like my first 100-mile race. I was tired but when “A” woke up, I had to kick it into high gear and be ready to show her the ropes of being an outdoorswoman (kind of like when you come into an aid station and want to look the part even if you feel like death). We were diligent about eating so we wouldn’t get hangry. I was a role model and had my game face on 200%, 24/7 so she stayed enthusiastic.
I may be tired, but I am alive, excited about what’s to come, and energetic about reestablishing my love and zest for mountains, adventure, and nature through the eyes, ears, ability, and mindset of an 8-year-old. So sure, running 100 miles for 27 hours and 10 minutes is hard, but keeping up with the energy of a child feels a tad harder in a different way. Parenting IS THE ultimate outdoor sport, chock full of endurance, persistence, valleys, peaks, and of course, snacks.