He had started running when he first joined the Navy and found himself unable to stop. He liked the routine of it, how all his focus was on running heel to toe and his breathing. He could forget all his troubles as he ran, his anger evaporating. By the time he got home after a run he was usually too tired to fight anymore.
After his children were born he didn't stop, but instead had them join him when his wife wasn't around. When they were young he would push them in the bright yellow stroller, never once embarrassed of pushing it.
As they got a little older he had them running with him, all by choice of course. He enjoyed the company and sharing something he liked to do with them. Their runs were never long, their little legs and lungs unable to run the miles he usually did, but it was enough to make the family happy.
It had been a while since he had gone for a run, his wife had just gone back to work and the baby was rebelling against the change. His body was itching to get outside and when the first opportunity rose for him to get out he took it.
Quickly he changed into a pair of sweats and his running shoes.
"I'm going for a jog, anyone want to come?" He called out to the kids.
His eldest daughter shook her head no, but his son jumped up. He had taken to running like his father did. He was always eager to go out, to ease the excess energy that built up during the day, another trait that he had inherited from his father.
"Tell your mom where we went." He said to his daughter as he shut the front door.
The two started off at a steady pace in silence, their bodies warming up. They didn't need to speak or even think as the took their usual route. Only when they started on the main drag, the one that ran parallel to the beach, did they start to talk. It was mindless chatter at first, what his boy learned at school that day or what he and the baby did. It was usually latter in the run that the conversations got deeper.
It was a quip from his son, nothing out of the ordinary for his family, that sent him down memory lane. A conversation years ago that he had with his then girlfriend about that thing she and her dad had.
He didn't know why it was this exact moment that made him realize it, that he too finally had that thing with his kids. The thing that he never had with his family growing up and made him jealous every time he saw it.
He never thought he would have it, that it was something he never deserved. But here he was, nine years into fatherhood and joking around with his son. The kind of jokes that only families understood.
"What you thinking about old man?" his son asked breaking him out of his thoughts.
"Who you calling old? I'm not even in my 40's yet, I'm still in my prime."
"Whatever helps you sleep at night."
"I bet you I can beat you to the pier."
"You're on!"
Before he could say anything his son was off at a full sprint down the boardwalk that led to the beach. The kid was fast, but he was faster thanks to his longer legs. It didn't take much effort before he caught up with the six year old and tackled him into the sand.
"Dad that's cheating! I was totally going to beat you." the boy cried out struggling to get out of his father's grip.
"In your dreams kid." he laughed pulling his son tighter into his chest and giving him a kiss on the head.
"Stop it Dad, you're embarrassing me."
"Sorry I didn't mean to tarnish your reputation." he laughed and let go of him.
The six year old jumped up and did a quick look around to see if anyone he knew was there, which made his dad laugh even harder.
"It's not funny." he pouted looking a lot like his mother.
"You're right it's not. I know how much trouble you would be in with the ladies if they caught your dad showing public affection."
"Thank you." the kid said back in a serious tone, unable to hear the sarcasm in his father's voice.
"Help an old man up will you? I think your mother's making lasagna tonight and I'm pretty sure she's making your grandfather's secret recipe. We don't want to be late."
"Mom said it's not a secret recipe, just extra cheese." his son said as he held out his hand to help his dad up.
The elder of the two did most of the work to stand up, he just liked to pretend that the kid could actually help him.
"You're right, but don't tell your grandpa that you know."
"Don't worry Mom's already sworn me and Charlotte to secrecy by penitently of dirty diaper duty."
"We better not go breaking that promise then."