Fall Fun Run 2017

The girls participated in their school's Fall Fun Run on Thursday, October 26th.  Kindergarten and 1st grade runs 1/2 a mile.  2nd through 5th grade runs 1 mile.  They are timed races each season/year.  That way the kids and parents can see the improvements that their children are making.  (This is one of my favorite activities that our girls school does every Spring and Fall.  I love to run, and to watch my kids run and compete.  Both girls have become fierce runners.  It is exciting to see them grow, run hard, and improve their times.)

Phoebe was ready for the race.  She didn't seem nervous to me, just focused, like she was there to do a job.  She is pictured below, lining up for the start of her race.  Her hair is in a ponytail, and she has on a white tshirt and black shorts.

On your marks.  Get set.  Go!

As she came around this curve to pass me, she started to move up and establish a good position in her race.  She was moving fast.

She does not like to run with the name/number ribbon pinned so far up on her shirt.  It blows around and hits her in the face, which makes her feel the need to reach up and hold it down while she runs instead of moving her arms around freely while she runs.

There was one straight long path on the 1 mile race course.  This was where I had told the girls to focus and try to survey the runners around, before and after them, and to figure out who they needed to work on catching or staying in front of for the rest of the race.

There was a few short hills throughout the 1 mile course.  One at the end of the race, heading into the chute.  The girls and I had talked about the hills before the races too.  They both knew to pound those hills with their feet and use the hills to their advantage.  Phoebe used my words to run an impressive race!  Below, she is coming up the last hill into the last few yards of the race.

GO, PHOEBE!!! GO!!!!!!!!

Phoebe ran an 8:26 mile!  This is a tremendous feat for her first timed 1 mile race!  She also was the 6th girl to cross the finish line in her race against all the 2nd and 3rd grade girls!  She was the 4th girl to cross the line out of all the second grade girls.  Her time of 8:26 put her on the school's leader board as the #5 All Time 2nd Grade Girls Time for the Fall Fun Run.  AMAZING!

When I went to find her after her race, I could tell she was stressed.  She was trying not to cry.  She ran so hard the whole way, she needed a little release.  A few tears later, a popsicle, and some hugs from me, Popee and Nanee, and she was smiling again.

Sarah's race was next.  4th and 5th grades ran their race together.  Below Sarah is on the line getting ready for her race.  She has on navy shorts, and an aqua colored tank top.

On your marks.  Get set.  Go!

I love how big her stride always is at the beginning and end of her races.  She has told me those are the times that she feels like she is flying.

Sarah started strong but was passed by a few 5th grade girls in the beginning of the race.

She continued to run hard pounding the hills and picking people off as she worked her way around the course.  She wasn't able to catch back up to two of the girls.  They had gotten too far ahead of her.

As she came up the last hill and into the chute I could tell she was still running hard.

Sarah's 1 mile time for this race was 7:59.  Her best 1 mile time is 7:42.  She ran hard the whole way.  There is no doubt about that.  I know she was a little disappointed in herself for letting two girls beat her.  (That hasn't happened before in the school Fun Runs.)  I will take some of the blame for this...she and I have not been running together, which I know has helped her in the past. Never the less, she did well.  She placed 3rd out of all the 4th and 5th grade girls, and 3rd out of the 5th grade girls.  She also moved herself onto the school's leader board for the #5 All Time 5th Grade Girls time for the Fall Fun Run.  Good job, Sarah!

I love my athletic runner girls!  It is so much fun to me to watch them compete in whatever sport they may be in at the time.  I especially enjoy watching them race because I know and understand how hard distance running is.  It takes a strong person, body and mind, to run miles.  My girls ARE STRONG!  Hendrickson girls ARE STRONG!  Way to go girls!