I mentioned earlier that I’m personal training my daughter Imani, 9.

It took me a little bit to settle down and commit to working out every week day with her. I noticed that she is slimming down and toning up. It hasn’t been too bad for me, either. Imani is also more limber, has fewer complaints about soreness or injury, or pain. She denies getting bike butt, even!

My oldest daughter, Yanni, has always been thin. Her body got a good start in swimming, which also stretched her already strong endurance to unbelievable lengths. This kid can endure 6 hour dance practices and come home and practice some more, is what I’m saying. She also loves baking, and when she does more baking, and less physical activity, well, you know what happens.

So I’ve decided to get in there with her and get her moving and tightened up, etc. She has different needs and aptitude than Imani, though, as I should have already known. Yesterday I rode bikes with Imani and we both played tennis. Later, I ran around the block with Yanni. She runs fast! Her light jog was faster than I wanted to go.

In the name of efficiency, (and in a sorry attempt to avoid running again tonight), I took both girls on a bike ride today. I thought we’d hit the trail pretty hard, and do a 10 mile ride. But Yanni was riding so slow she looked like she might fall off her bike. Imani was pedaling and coasting, trying her hardest to keep up with her big sister. I took up the rear, trying to push Imani to keep pace with Yanni. Every time Imani got near Yanni, Yanni would speed up.

Imani didn’t understand how to keep pace with that. I told Yanni to go, exert herself on the steep hill on the way home. I also pushed myself up the hill, panting like crazy when I reached the top. We looked behind us, and saw Imani valiantly riding up the hill. We looked back again, and she was walking her bike. Yanni and I’d both been resting in the shade drinking water for a while by the time Imani had made it up the hill. Then she wanted to drink water and rest for a while.

I was stiff when we started for home again. Imani was tired.

Yanni asked if she could ride again after lunch.