running for fun...

The kids school has a long standing (3 year) tradition going. They have a Fun Run every fall. It's a fundraiser for the school. They hope to raise close to $8000 each year. Not sure if they get that much, but I'll bet it's close. I hate fundraisers. With a passion. I realize they are kind of necessary, but I don't like sending my kids out to all the neighbors houses (my friends) and having them ask people if they'd like to buy some ridiculously expensive, completely unnecessary item. And I've got 3 kids asking. How do I manage that? I can't expect neighbors to buy from each kid. I CAN have them ask neighbors to sponsor each of them with $1 for their Fun Run though. WAY less pressure. Each kid earned $15 too. It was awesome.

The morning of the race they are always excited/anxious. They pick their outfits the night before. They giggle and chatter as they leave the house. It was cold this year. They didn't care. They run 2 miles...around the school and baseball field two times. Each year they get faster. They really do. Usually the girls beat Alex by quite a bit. Not this year. They still passed him, but he took it a lot more seriously and really pushed it at the end. I think all 3 of them made it in the top 20-ish, out of several hundred kids.

I love watching them run. LOVE. The girls cleaned house in their track meet last spring. Lizzy won the 4oo m and Emily the 200 m. Their all girl, all 3rd grader relay team got 2nd place in the mixed grade (up to 6th) 4x100. I was a maniac. A screaming, jumping, crazy woman. Alex did great in his meets this year too. Faster every time. The last meet was his best. He was discouraged. He felt small and slow. I told him on his 400 m, to save some energy for the end. Not to worry if people passed him early. He did it, and he passed quite a few of them just before the finish. Again...crazy woman. I tear up, get covered in goosebumps. They make me proud. I can see their joy and pride, and it overwhelms me.

I think a lot of my joy comes from the fact that I love running so much right now. I know how good it can make you feel. How accomplished. I was a team sport girl in my childhood, but I may just push this track and field thing. It's individual. They work hard, it pays off. They are runners. I just know they are. They love it. I get excited just thinking about them getting faster, stronger. We'll see where this running thing takes us. :)