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A few weeks ago I was the proudest momma alive. Ok, so I'm usually the proudest momma alive, but on this morning, there was just something extra in the pride I felt at my two precious little boys.

Each year there is an annual race held in one of the local forests. It's for the children and they race by age. Although my eldest had taken part before, he's almost 5, this was the first year that the baby - almost 2 - had participated.

We were running late - as usual - but we did manage to get them entered and their entry numbers pinned to the back of their jackets before the first race began. This was the baby's big moment. His heat was the 0-3 year olds so most of the baby's were actually pushed around in their buggies - this is not such a light task as it sounds if you can imagine a forest where a "path" is a place where some of the natural undergrowth has been trampled down. The ground was also a bit muddy so I was thankful that Connor was walking and not needing to be pushed. He was one of the youngest who actually made it around the 500 meter track on his feet and I was so proud to be holding his hand. He doesn't understand about the concept of racing, and yet he was full of enthusiasm and walking as fast as his little legs would go.

We completed our race, coming around halfway in the pack, collected his completion cup and went to find his pappa and big brother who had been cheering us on. Then it was time for them to do their race. Last time Jake did the race he walked it. This time I was amazed to see my little boy running the race. I think his daddy who also had to run to keep up with him was even more amazing - I don't think his daddy's recovered yet! Again, they came about halfway through the pack of entrants to complete the race, and collect Jake's completion cup.

Jake says that he likes running. I wonder if he will turn out to be a runner as time goes by. I wonder if the sprinters who rule the international track events today ever thought of being a runner when they were small children. One thing I do know for sure however, the pride their momma's have as they watch their grown children collect their medals can be no greater than the pride I felt watching my boys compete in this simple forest race.

Katie-Anne Gustafsson