A "1st" for us!!!

So today was a Running Club Race for Kylee. For those of you that don't know the details of that...it is a club at school that anyone can be in. The kids meet after school with the coaches (Kindergarten teachers) and they run laps around the school and park area collecting "dots" on their hands for how many laps they have run. Kylee ran last year as a kindergartner and had a pretty good time. This year has had it's ups and downs. I think she likes it...the problem is... she knows that all the neighborhood friends go home and play on these days and she is missing out on "playtime." So it has been a bit of a struggle to get her to stay. I finally gave in and said it was up to her. I didn't feel the need to "push her." She still hasn't quit, and today was the first race. She was excited, but did admit the other day that she didn't want to do the race. I asked why not, and she said because she wanted to "win." We had the umteenth talk about how not everyone can win, especially when there are a couple hundred kids there, and Makyla.

The hundreds of kids are from the 5 different school that compete, and Makyla is the little girl, same school, same grade, different class, that is super super fast. In fact, last year Makyla's dad ran with her, and at one meet Kylee actually asked the dad if she could run with them. Kylee could not even come close to staying up with them, and this girl won every time.

So anyways after this talk with Kylee in the car, we tell her to just try her best, never stop, walk if you have to, and try to pick out someone ahead of you and catch up to them. And once you pass them...don't let them pass you again. We told her we would be proud of her no matter how she did.

Oh I forgot to say, this is a 2 mile course. Yes, 2 miles for a little first grader. Josh wasn't there, Kruz was with a friend, and I was there with Kobi and my dad. I had to help monitor around the course, so my dad and Kobi went to the starting line. My station was a little over half way through the course and I'm cheering for all the kids, encouraging them all, and waiting for Kylee to bring up the rear of the race. They first send off 6th grade boys, then 6th girls, then 5th boys, 5th girls...etc. so 1st grade girls are pretty much bringing up the rear. I was hoping that after Kylee passed me, I could "shew" the rest of the kids along and get to the finish line in time to cheer her on.

So anyways, I'm saying "great job" "keep walking" "put your hands behind your head" for all these kids, and all of a sudden I see Kylee running with a big ol' smile on her face, and I freak out because about 10 feet behind her is Makyla and her dad. Holy Cow!!! She is in front of them. I can't stop watching them all around this HUGE loop and I all of a sudden realize, I am NEVER going to make it to the finish line in time. I am yelling for these kids to pass me so that I can leave my post...and finally after the last one passes I start jogging to the finish line. And then....waaaay down the way, I hear my dad. You know, a voice I have heard encouraging me in sports my whole life. I could pick out his voice anywhere and I can tell he is up at the front of the final stretch of the race to the finish line. I know she is coming. I start running as FAST as I can, and I am heading through mass amounts of people to the end of the finish line and right as I duck under someones arm, Kylee is just running past the cones and someone gives her a number and takes the number off her shirt. I was breathing soo hard...but I definitely noticed she finished about two people ahead of Makyla. I couldn't believe it. I had no idea how she did, I just knew she had done awesome. I swept her up , gave her the biggest hug, and told her how proud I was of her.

Ok so I know this is a long post, but here is the quick run down of what came next.

1. Kylee was given the number 63.

2. Kylee says she didn't stop once. (Remember 2 miles)

3. She saw Makyla's dad at the start line and asked him again today if she would run with them. He says yes.

4. My dad goes to ask someone how the numbers are given out.

5. They say it is a "total" number

6. Interpretation....(Kylee was the 63rd girl to cross the finish line.)

7. My dad says they are still handing out numbers to the finishers and they are in the 220's, for girls.

8. We do some quick math in our heads and decide we better stay for the awards.

9. They announce that there were 268 girl runners today.

10. We wait and of course they start with 6th grade.

11. I am up close and when they get to 2nd grade girls I am straining to see what numbers they are holding.

12. I am sweating and so nervous ( I think it was a high of 58 today)

13. 1st grade girls...5th place .........4th place.......3rd place.......

14. I start to doubt myself, did we calculate wrong?? Was Makyla sick today and really they all ran slow??

15. 2nd place...Makyla ?? CTA I start to cry (I know, sorry)

16. 1st Place Kylee Hough CTA I can't believe it. Oh my gosh, I am just freaking out. She just got 1st place.

I give her a huge hug, she is soo excited and Makyla's dad walks over. He says some very nice things about Kylee and said that all along the way he is reminding Makyla of things to do, and she is ignoring him, but he can tell Kylee is listening and doing everything he says. He said not once did she ever fall behind them. He said she was actually "pacing" them and he was working to keep up with her. He said he remembered her from last year and she has made huge improvements. He congratulated her and we were off.

I have a huge smile on my face, we call Josh to tell him, we meet him at home, and we celebrate with Happy Meals from McDonalds. We put Kylee in bed and she says "mom?? I am sooo doing Running Club in 2nd grade."

What a great day.

I love you Kylee and am so proud of you.

1st Place Ribbon

One Happy Little Girl