Cross Country

 The boys' school has a Cross Country team starting in 2nd grade. Gabriel came home begging to join the team. Stephen was a runner and I tried really hard to be, so of course we said yes. But, he also had a agree to no quitting, and working hard and listening to the coach. He just had his first meet.

We'll go over a Track start vs a Cross Country start with him. ;) Cute though.

 And they're off! The bright red shorts really helped us keep track of where he was.

 The boys ready to cheer...or play.

 The girls ready to cheer.

Comin' in. 

As he came in you could tell he was TIRED, but he kept going and finished right in the middle. His school got first, second and third for the 2nd-4th grade group. Those first 3 kids were crazy good. The 2nd place finisher is a kid that has been in Gabriel's class a couple times. He has so much raw ability. He comes from an environment that he will have to overcome. He's a good kid and I hope so much that he will tap into and channel his energy into athletics rather than the other influences in his life. He will be able to go so far if he makes good choices. I pray he does. Back to Gabriel, he ended and was kinda disappointed that he was right in the middle of the pack. I asked what he could do to help that? He had no idea. I asked if maybe not doing quite so much running before the race started would help him have a little more energy for the actual race? The light went off and he said, "I learned a lesson! Don't run around before the race!!" He was so excited and ran around like a crazy kid for the full hour before the race. As we went home he asked if I thought he should keep doing Cross Country. I told him of course I did and now that he learned something he can use it to help him improve the next time. Another light went off.

He had both Grandmas, Papa and our entire family managed to all make it for his first race. That many won't be able to always make, but what a good cheering section for his first school competition.