Running well <3

It was a big weekend. Our Joely turned 10, there was soccer galore, and impromptu fall cookout on the patio and Graham’s Cross Country team qualified for sectionals. 

Russ and I joined Zach to cheer him and his team on. I use the term “cheer” loosely because there is something about Cross Country that causes my heart to constrict and tears to flow. I try to choke out a word of encouragement as he runs past us but mostly it comes out soggy and strained. 

Even as I type it, I find my eyes filling up and spilling over. I have been that way since our own son decided to run Cross Country in grade school. The sight of all those kids running with everything they have just does something to me. 

Sarah ran it in high school and I can tell you, it was the same thing for that season. Lots of tight throated attempts to call out, “You’re doing great!!”  And not just for her and her team – for all of them.

I found that for this sport, the fans just clap for everyone and call out random prompts to run faster, catch the next one, there’s one behind you for all the kids. You can’t help but clap and yell for every single one of them.

Graham ran a great race as did all his teammates. They placed 7th which qualified for moving on. We were all ecstatic. 

But here’s the deal. The part that makes me love this sport. 

The first runner finished in under 15 minutes. He was amazing. 90 some runners came after him. People were taking photos of teams under the arch that marked the finish line. Groups were gathering and checking phones for team scores. Some kids had taken off for their cooldown run. 

And then the applause started again. 

Thirty minutes on the clock and here came a runner. Everyone stopped what they were doing and cheered with enthusiasm. A little while later the last runner rounded the final bend and it started again. 

His team was hollering his name and telling him good job. We all were. 

I don’t think we get a clearer picture of the Journey than this. 

Every single kid ran their best race. 

Sure they won’t qualify for state, but they didn’t stop. 

Step by step they pounded it out and ran as hard and as well as they could. 

And they finished. 

And a great cloud of witnesses cheered them on. 

We are either running or cheering.

Keep going friend. 

Finish your race well.

Cheer on the others.

Til the last one crosses the finish line.

Never give up.

You are precious and dearly loved <3