Across the Country

Last week one of my favourite sport events of the year took place.

Every September the notices come home in the backpack that cross-country practices are starting.

For about 4 weeks the grade 3-6 kids all troop up to school 45 minutes early and run laps around the school yard under the watchful eyes of teachers and parent volunteers.

About 150 kids show up every Wednesday and Friday morning and cheer each other on wildly and run  or walk their way around the yard. It doesn't matter how fast you go as long as you make your way around the loop. No one gets cut from the team, no one is left out, everyone is encouraged to do their best.

Then in early October they meet up with about eight other schools for the race.

Photo by MJ McMenamin

What do the kids get excited about?

The kids get excited about taking the bus to the track. They get excited about the extra treats some parents pack for race day (Maxman loves chocolate milk and Smarties). They get excited about sitting in the stands and cheering on the other runners. They get excited about crossing the finish line and getting a ribbon.

They get nervous waiting for their race to be called.

I try to keep from crying the whole time. Why am I crying? I'm crying at the sheer goodness of it all.

I love the kid who was tired from his race but was more tired from cheering and screaming for his schoolmates the whole afternoon.

I love the kid who improved 30 positions from last year and made her mom cry doing it.

I love the kid who walked into the stadium last holding her teacher or parent's hand and upon hearing the crowd cheer for her dropped the hand and started sprinting for the finish line.

I love the kid who placed really well and was really fast and all he really cared about was the treat waiting for him in his backpack.

Photo by MJ McMenamin

I love watching a girl I've known since she was 3 months old running down the backstretch with her two long braids flying behind her.

I love the kid who made running look easy.

I love the kids who make running look hard but upon hearing the crowd speed up to get to the finish line.

I love the enthusiasm from every single person.

I love all the parents who took time off work to show up to a small, local cross country race and cheer on the kids.

I love that a teacher on maternity leave showed up with her baby to cheer on her students.

I love watching those kids fly across a field on a beautiful fall day.

Photo by MJ McMenamin

It was glorious.