My little one does the Mom's day fun run

My 5 year old Dahlia started saying she wanted to do a race.  And after the 1^st LOST swimming Board meeting, Joanne gave me flyer for a Mother’s Day fun run that the IronDames were putting on.  Dahlia saw the flyer and was sold.  She took the flyer to kindergarten to show her teachers and class mates the race she was going to do.   She could hardly wait, finally the race was here, it was brutally cold for mid-May, we had to dig out the hats and mitts, and huddle together before the race.  Finally we start, she is running a good steady strong pace not too fast.  We make the turn-around she starts passing some who are fading, I’m wondering if she can keep it going til the end, then it hits “the wall” and she starts to complain her back hurts, “there’s the finish can you make it?  Do you want to walk a bit”  She doesn’t answer, she keeps going, but she starts to cry.  She pushed herself along and crossed the line crying and I feel like everyone is looking at me like I’m this awful parent who pushed their kid to do something painful, I honestly was not, this was something she showed the initial interest in, I would have gladly walked if she said she wanted to… 
And I only wish everyone saw her just a few minutes after the race was over and she said this was the best day ever!  I really find this raw emotions interesting, I’ve felt like crying at times in races, I sometime wonder when we feel pain what it is that makes us want to stop the finish line keeps us moving til we are there and then how after that we can say that was awesome, when is the next one?
Dahlia is a doll, who is really passionate, this will likely make her a good athlete one day, she already displayed determination and ability.

P.S. The chocolate medal only lasted long enough to show dad.