Tears and Laughter at our 2nd Annual Fun Run

This past Friday was our Elementary School’s Annual Fun Run. Depending on the age, the kids compete in one of three treks; a quarter-mile run, a half-mile, or a one mile race. There are ribbons for 1st-3rd place and green ribbons for anyone who completes the run.

Before I unload enough photos to choke up your browser in my bit-by-bit photo montage of the event, I want to say I feel VERY STRONGLY about allowing kids to compete. I don’t mean competition where everyone is a winner. No. That isn’t competition. In competition there are winners and losers. True competition clearly delineates our individual strengths and weaknesses – and THAT is important.

We encourage competition in our household. We encourage the kids to try their best, to work hard, to stay motivated, etc… We do not rake them over the coals if they aren’t the first one across the line or last one standing on stage, but we also don’t lie to them. You might hear us say, “Yep, those boys are faster than you now – maybe you can beat them next year.” or “You’re right, you messed-up on that move, you need to practice a bit harder and get in the game.”

Kids KNOW when you are buttering them up or telling them falsehoods. They don’t buy into it – they recognize it for what it is – a lie. When we do say, “WOW! You rocked!” or “Whooohooo! You are the best out there!” they believe us. Why wouldn’t they? At some point they’ve likely already heard that they weren’t the best. At some point their news wasn’t all hunky-dory and gooey-chewy.

At any rate, I’m just disgusted by what the movie, The Incredibles, appropriately called “celebrating mediocrity”. We do not celebrate mediocrity and think it is dumbing down our educational system and extracurricular activites, etc… when others do.

If my child stunk at a game, he or she would deserve to sit on the bench more than they played. If they tried their hardest and still stunk, it would be my hope they’d have the wisdom to choose something they were better at doing. If my child can’t hold a note, play an instrument, etc… (and recognize I realize it isn’t cut and dry – sometimes a good deal of time and effort needs to be put into practicing.) I’d encourage him/her to move on to something else.

We want to help them find what they were made to do.
We do that by allowing them to win AND lose.

Now if someone would help me move this soapbox away we’ll get on to the main event.

Kenny is settling into Pre-K fabulously and was VERY excited about the Fun Run.

Of course it is absolutely imperative to stretch before any good run

All the Pre-K classes filed out of the gym with “Hornets in the Nest” (hands behind their back, together) and “Bees in the Hive” (mouth closed tight – most with bubbly cheeks) as they walk out to the starting line.

Look at all these wee little ones lining up for their quarter mile run. They were supposed to be holding hands and spreading out the width of their arms, but it wasn’t happening.

AND THEY’RE OFF. Jeff ran with Kenny. Isn’t that just the sweetest thing? Kenny is still laughing with excitement.

Breaking ahead. Check out Kenny’s face – that’s determination.

I love this photo. Kenny looks left to see a very fast, long-legged boy gaining on him fast. He passes him in a wink.

About 3/4 done, coming back down the hill and tiring – Kenny’s in 5th place and fighting for his position.

I didn’t get a photo, but this is the point he trips in a sinkhole and falls flat on his stomach. Seeing his face tore at all those motherly heart strings, but Jeff helped him up quickly and we (me and Izzy) cheered him on loudly from the sidelines. Not that we weren’t cheering the whole time, but of course, he needed EXTRA cheers now.

As you can see, he’s anything BUT happy.

He would have easily stopped the race right then and crawled into mine or Jeff’s arms. He wanted to, but Jeff wanted to teach him to keep on. Jeff kept right ahead of Kenny until the finish line so Kenny would keep running. Jeff knew the best thing for Kenny to do was to finish strong – and he did.

Right into Izzy’s arms.

Kenny was less than happy with his placement. The race was over – his quarter mile complete. It didn’t go the way he wanted, but later when he calmed he was proud of himself for getting up and finishing.

An hour later it was Meredith’s turn to race. Meredith is serious about running. She runs hard everyday in P.E. and is very competitive. Last year she won the girls’ Roadrunner award for most miles run during P.E. that year.

She has two girls that she recognizes are strong runners. They are her close friends, but during the race all she wants to do is beat them.

Time to stretch.

I didn’t get a shot of her at the starting line because the boys were released about 10 full seconds before the girls and they were blocking any view I had of Mer.

I did get her pop off the starting line though.

She had a full mile to run, cross-country style (up and down hills, uneven terrain, and squishy and muddy ground from the rain), and we watched her set her pace at the start.

I knew they were headed up to the tree (where Kenny turned and came back), and then they would wrap around the back side of a very large hill. I ran to the other side of the hill to capture Meredith as she came around the side…

and headed down toward the ditch.

This was halfway through the race. She had passed all but 3 boys and only had one of her girlfriends ahead of her now. After the sharp incline, she was digging in to run back up and around the other side of the hill she just ran down.

This is the final turn. Jeff is cheering her on at the curve and I’m about 20 feet in front of the finish line. The tables are turned and Meredith is now considerably ahead of the girl she was tracking before the second climb, but was passed by another of her friends at the top of the hill, so she’s still in 2nd place.

Just five feet from a strong finish!

Over the line, with an untied shoe, for 2nd place!!!

Of course, just as with Kenny, we were all hootin’ and hollerin’! It was a fabulous run. She set a pace and did not get deterred. Running is her “game” and she definitely had her game on.

Cooling down with a Gatorade snowcone.

And here are Meredith and two of her close friends, left to right, in the order they crossed the line. Funny thing is this is the EXACT same line-up as last year’s Fun Run!

Jeff didn’t run with Meredith. She would not want him to run with her. She gets in her own little world – I’m not even sure she hears our screaming. Nice and steady.

I can learn a lot from my kiddos.

After yesterday’s post – thanks again for all of y’all’s amazing comments – I’m encouraged that I too need to get up when I fall and stay in my “zone” – a nice and steady pace.