In The Hartland: Lia's First 9th Grade Track Meet

Thursday, March 23, 2023

Lia's First 9th Grade Track Meet

Since Lia made the transition to high school sports this year, we were surprised to learn that the track season started on February 27th which is over a month earlier than when the junior high school season begins. Although Lia had been training all winter long after taking five weeks off from cross country, she was still a little anxious about turning out for track for a couple of reasons. Luckily, she bravely showed up on the first day with her good friend, Erika, who also has waivered into the same high school and who also carpools with us. After immediately seeing all of the other long-distance girl runners who she became friends with this fall in XC, Lia quickly slipped back into the groove of high school running and training five days a week. However, just like this fall, she has juggled this sport while rehearsing two nights a week for the 101 Dalmatians play that she is starring in as Cruella de Vil. To top it all off, her directors decided to start their spring play (Footloose) a few weeks before 101 Dalmatians wrapped up which means that Lia is in the midst of five afternoons of track practice and five evenings of play practice every week for three weeks. With seminary, school, and homework on top of it all, Lia is on week #2 of keeping up with this brutal schedule and I will be so grateful for her when it slows down a little bit in a week and a half.

On top of that all, Lia's weekly track meets began today. Ron was able to get away from work early to join Emmett and me to root her on in frigid, 42 degree weather with on and off rain. Lia was assigned to run the mile towards the beginning of the meet and then had to wait over two hours to run in the 4x4 relay which is always the last event. I felt so sorry for all of the athletes on the field who were stuck outside in this horribly cold weather and who had to compete in skimpy outfits when it was their turn to run. Luckily, Lia powered through it and was able to PR in the mile as she ran it in 6:37 which is seven seconds faster than her best mile last year. She also did a great job in the relay and ran in the second of four legs. I was so proud of her though for giving it her all in such cold weather and during such a busy time of her life when I know that she is so exhausted. Way to go, Lia!