On Thursday, October 20th the girls ran in their school's fall Fun Run. Like last year, Kindergarten and First grade were grouped together and ran a half mile race. Second and Third were grouped together and ran a mile race. And, Fourth and Fifth grades were grouped together and ran a mile race. The girls and I had practiced running the new course a couple times in the evenings prior to race day. I like to do this with them and give them pointers about where to run harder, where to start a sprint, and just to talk about the course we are running together so that they will be even more ready mentally for their races.
It was a mild weather day with temperatures in the upper 60's/low 70's and a breeze out of the north....a great day for a race!
Phoebe's race was first. I reminded her to run hard the whole way and gave her the thumbs up. She was ready!
She is wearing the blue shorts and peach and blue striped - long sleeved pullover in these pictures. Above and below, she is pictured towards the right. On your mark. Get set. Go!
All these little kiddos started out in quick stepped, short legged, sprints, then quickly slowed down, except for the top group, who were prepared, athletic, and competitive.
There is always a gator driven by a couple of the teachers leading the pack so that they all stay on course and don't forget where to run.
As kids began to slow and walk, Phoebe raced past them. She kept her legs moving and her face determined. She ran a strong focused race.
Here comes the top leading group in Phoebe's race rounding the last corner and heading into the final stretch..... There is Phoebe, below on the right, hanging in there with the top pack! As she passed me (the crazy loud yeller mom) she began to speed up trying to catch a couple of the boys in front of her.
Phoebe finished 14th overall out of approximately 100 kids! She was the 3rd first grade girl to cross the finish line! She ran hard the whole half mile. Her half mile time was 4:25. This is her PR (personal record). Below, she and her good friend, Lydia, were all smiles after their race.
Popee, Nanee, and Silas were at the Fun Run too. Silas cheered loudly for lots of kids. He likes watching what we call the "battles" at the end of the races when two or three kids speed up and sprint toward the finish line to win. He usually gets very into his yelling, yelling loudly things that he has heard us yell before like, "Go now. Catch somebody. Go get that kid in front of you. Sprint now. Finish strong." But this time he added in his own yell, over and over during the battles, of "Knock em' down!". He told me later he yelled that because that is what you yell in a battle.
Second and Third graders ran next. Then it was Sarah's turn. I gave her lots of advice and reminders while we were waiting for her race to begin, maybe too many things for her to remember, but all I could think of to help her run a strong smart race kept coming to my mind and I just needed to tell her and pump her up. Each time I would try to talk to her, her friends would move in close to try to hear what I was telling her. It was like a little swarm of bees on a flower dripping with pollen. I would move over to talk to Sarah and they would swarm us. Between the eavesdroppers and the Jayhawk shirt being flung in my face by another fourth grader I had to talk fast, close, and quiet, and silently tell myself, "Self, don't turn into a Wildcat and eat that Jayhawk here. Not appropriate here. Walk away and bleed purple somewhere else." Annnnyway, I filled Sarah's head with all the where's and when she should begin a sprint, don't let anyone get to far in front of you, hang with them, double knot your shoelaces, be strong, get on the line to start, establish your position, keep a pace, use the hills to help you, let the wind push you, breathe, and on and on and on....
Sarah, above and below, towards the right of the pictures, wearing a purpleish colored short-sleeved shirt with purple, pink, and orange capri leggings. On the line, ready to get the party started.....
And, they are off!!!
Like in Phoebe's race, there are some who just sprint out off the line and then die out, slow down, and walk. Sarah knows this too, and she has already begun to learn how to run different lengths of races, like the mile, 2 mile, and 5k's.
She had a pretty good start off the line. She got out quickly, and then tried to settle into a pace, while not letting a couple of girls get too far in front of her.
Below she was only about a quarter of the way into the race. There were about 8 fifth graders (7 boys and 1 girl) in front of her and five fourth graders (3 boys and 2 girls). She knew to be tough and stay with them.
Below, half done, time to start making her move and picking them off one by one....
And, there she goes on the last big curve.... She passed both fourth grade girls that were in front of her and a couple boys. She kept moving and increasing her speed.
Below, on the home stretch, using her big stride to catch and pass one last person!!!! Go Sarah, Go!
Sarah was the second girl to cross the finish line in her 1 mile race, and was the first fourth grade girl to cross the finish line. She was the fourth, fourth grader to cross the line, three fourth grade boys finished before her. She got her best 1 mile time ever! Her PR (personal record) 7:42! Way to go, Sarah!!!
I absolutely LOVE these two girls, watching them run, and watching them succeed! They both are athletic, competitive, strong, and positive influences among their friends and peers. They make my mommy heart full and I am so very thankful to have these little lights in my life.
