Lia's First Cross Country Meet

For years, Lia has looked up to several of her older cousins who have been runners and participated in their schools' cross country and track programs.  As a result, Lia has always expressed an interest in competing in these sports once she was old enough.  At the end of her 5th grade year, Lia finally was able to participate in her elementary school's track program that ran April through June of that year.  However, during her second week of practices, Lia's coach asked the kids do the long jump for the first time.  With little to no coaching on how to properly land in the sand pit, Lia landed wrong and sprained her ankle.  This began a two-year process of healing that was very frustrating and disheartening at times.  Although it was a disappointment to have her 6th grade year of track cancelled due to the pandemic, it also was a relief to us as her ankle still was bothering her.  After multiple doctor's appointments (including two with a children's orthopedic doctor), two sets of x-rays, and hundreds of hours in physical therapy, her ankle finally healed last spring in time for her to participate in her school's, 4-week, intramural track program that was held the last month of school.  Lia and I were both so relieved that her ankle did not bother her the entire time.  And although Lia didn't know anyone when she showed up for the first day of practice, she luckily met one girl, named Abby, who became her friend throughout this shortened season.

Fast forward to this fall, Lia was planning on participating in the cross country season with one of her few friends from church who also attends the same junior high.  We were very disappointed to find out a few weeks before school that her friend has changed her mind and decided not to participate.  Although Lia was hesitant to turn out for this sport without her, I insisted that she give it a try since I knew that it would help her to meet people and become more involved in a school where she barely knew anyone.  The first day of practice, Lia was so nervous and totally did not want to go.  She kept on begging me to let her quit, but I refused to give in.  I hoped and prayed that she would meet some friends and grow to love this sport.  Luckily, when she showed up on the first day of practice on Sept 7th, she found the same friend, Abby, who she had gotten to know during the track season last spring.  And within a matter of days, she quickly became friends with a lovely group of other 8th grade girls--even providing two new friends to eat lunch with in the cafeteria on a daily basis.  A month later, I am so relieved to report that Lia leaves happily for school every morning and never complains about staying after school for two extra hours to practice with her cross country team.  She has run her heart out, running several miles a week and has gone from not being able to run the 2-mile course without stopping to being one of the fastest runners on her team.  

With all of this progress that she has made over the past month, Lia was still unbelievably nervous about competing in her first meet today.  She was so afraid that she would be the last girl to finish and that it would be an awful experience.  She had a total melt down at breakfast with me this morning.  After giving her several words of encouragement and saying a prayer with her, I sent her out the door this morning with a prayer in my heart that this first meet would be a positive experience for her.  After watching the rain fall all day long, I woke Emmett up early from his nap and drove to the junior high downtown where this meet was being held.  As luck would have it, the rain miraculously stopped right after we arrived.  Ron was able to slip away early from work and met us in the school parking lot right as we pulled up.  Emmett, Ron, and me then walked out to the track where we found Lia warming up with the rest of the girls on her team.  After saying a brief 'hello' to her, Lia and her team soon lined up on the track with the other team to begin the 2-mile course around the campus.  After the bell went off, we had so much fun cheering her on every time she ran by us (which was a few different times).  We were so pleased that Lia came in 4th place out of her team and in 9th place (out of 26 girls).  She ran the two miles in 15 minutes and 52 seconds with was a PR for her.  Lia was so relieved and pleased with her progress.  It was so nice to see her gain some confidence and have some success by pushing herself to do something difficult and out of her comfort zone!  Afterwards, we were able to meet a few of these new friends that she met at school and congratulate Lia before saying goodbye and heading home.  One cross country meet down and five more to go!  I can't wait to watch her run in several more races!  

Lia lining up with the rest of the runners at the starting line.

And they're off!  Lia and the rest of the pack taking off after the bell was rung.

Lia running with the pack.

Lia running right past us at the beginning of the race.

Lia running her past us during her second loop of the race.

A close-up of our girl as she ran right past us a second time.

Lia crossing the finish line at the end of the race.

Our proud runner giving me a smile after the race was complete!

Lia talking with a few of her friends (Jacqueline, Heather, and Erica) after the race was over.  It seriously just warmed my heart to see her laughing and talking with her friends afterwards.