Several months ago I registered the boys up for the After Dark one mile fun run. We headed out to Dogwood Park about an hour before the start time. The boys really didn't know what to expect, and Ryan and I weren't sure how they would do. We had conversations with them explaining that they would be running on the street. Confusion would follow, wondering where the cars would be. We also had to talk about not pushing each other during the race, which has happened before at the track. Next came the conversations about not being able to see Ryan and I during the race. (The race was down a street and back.) Also, there were reminders about no cheating: run all the way to the policeman and then turn around where they tell you. Yes, cheating has also happened at the track! haha! (Gigi witnessed it!) They can be competitive with each other to say the least.
We arrived at the check-in table where the kids got their free T-shirt! (Aedan chose to wear his for the race.) Also, they were given a race backpack, which they were super pumped about. (One of the ladies in charge of the race is my yoga instructor, so she gave them the backpacks:) They seemed so nervous at the start of the race. Aedan looked worried, and once the gun went off thoughts came to our (Ryan and myself) minds- uh, oh...I hope they will be okay. Will they give up? Or break down crying if it's too hard? The TN Tech girls soccer team came out to run with the kids, so I was hopeful they would help if needed. Aedan ran with some of them during the race:) (see picture below) I stood at the last little turn right before the finish line and Ryan stood at the finish line so he could see their time. (Yes, we both ran in high school, so knowing their time is important.) First came Josiah! Woot! He looked so good running, and was able to sprint in successfully! Ryan said that he even beat a bigger kid that was near him at the end. Josiah ran his mile in 10:25!!!! AWESOME! After a minute or so came Aedan! He was kind of surrounded by soccer players. (I'm sure they probably thought~I can't believe his little guy's parents have him running this by himself! haha!!) He sped up when I began cheering for him. Aedan finished in 11:38! YAY!! AWESOME!!! They did so well and were so excited when it was over! We are so proud of them! Here is a conversation between Josiah and Ryan as we were walking back to the car:
Josiah said, "I was so tired! I was crying when it was over."
Ryan said, "Why were you crying?"
And Josiah said, "I wasn't sad. It was good job tears."
Aedan followed up by saying it was like they were in the Olympics! Oh, yeah!!!! There is nothing like seeing them run as hard as they can to the finish line cheering for them! I felt like I was, indeed, at the Olympics watching my boys compete. Only in Cookeville, Tennessee. Go USA!
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| Before the race |
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| silly shot before |
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| Our next door neighbors were there! (Mara and Hannah) The boys LOVE playing with them! They are so good with Mercy, and Mercy adores them. |
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| Here are the boys waiting nervously! They are next to Mara. |
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| Here's Josiah very close to the end, right before the turn to the finish. |
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| Here's Aedan! Our neighbor, Kim is the lady on the side cheering for Aedan. |
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After the race! My superstars!
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1 comment:
What fun! I love this post.
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