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My middle daughter Emily is on the 7th grade track team. She is in athletics because she was on the volleyball team in the fall and her coaches encourged her to run track. So she did. Whatever.

At yesterday's meet she took 1st in the 800 yard and 1600 yard races.

I missed the first race but watched her run the 1600. She was 1/2 step behind the first place runner for most of the race. I could tell she wanted to pass and was struggling to follow advice to not run too hard at first, just stay withing striking distance of the lead runner. The lead runner and Emily traded places 2 or 3 time over the course of the first 3 1/2 laps. On the final 1/2 lap Emily decieded to move out as this other girl kept kicking Emily's feet (no on purpose) when she passed her, so once Emily had the lead with 200 yard to go she took off. She won by about 30 yards. She never looked like she was trying. The 2nd and 3rd place girls finished about 30-40 yards back while the rest of the field was more than a 1/2 lap (200 yards) back. It was fun to watch.

This is terrific.

How proud you must be.

And how fantastic she has found something she can excel at.

Congratulations, Emily!

BackInTex wrote:My middle daughter Emily is on the 7th grade track team. She is in athletics because she was on the volleyball team in the fall and her coaches encourged her to run track. So she did. Whatever.

At yesterday's meet she took 1st in the 800 yard and 1600 yard races.

I missed the first race but watched her run the 1600. She was 1/2 step behind the first place runner for most of the race. I could tell she wanted to pass and was struggling to follow advice to not run too hard at first, just stay withing striking distance of the lead runner. The lead runner and Emily traded places 2 or 3 time over the course of the first 3 1/2 laps. On the final 1/2 lap Emily decieded to move out as this other girl kept kicking Emily's feet (no on purpose) when she passed her, so once Emily had the lead with 200 yard to go she took off. She won by about 30 yards. She never looked like she was trying. The 2nd and 3rd place girls finished about 30-40 yards back while the rest of the field was more than a 1/2 lap (200 yards) back. It was fun to watch.

Wow!

Being the lead runner is hard. It is a much better idea to draft through the race, and make someone else do all of the work.

Sounds like cross country might be in her future.

I also had to laugh at the "encourage" her to run track.

When I was in high school, the track coach also was the football and basketball coach. He "encouraged" you to run track by letting you know that you would not play the other sports if you did not.

Did I mention that soccer and track both are Spring sports in Nebraska. Once soccer became a sanctioned sport, he had to relent and let kids go out for soccer. (Sadly, my class had to do double duty, as it became a sanctioned sport the year after I left.)

BackInTex wrote:
At yesterday's meet she took 1st in the 800 yard and 1600 yard races.

Hurray for Emily! I will be her biggest fan. (Okay, I will stay politely behind the bigger biggest fans who are part of her family.) Adventure Boy ran the 800 and 1600, and I loved watching those events. Still do.

That's awesome BiT! I'm most impressed that a seventh grader actually listened to the coach!

Sounds like you've got a great daughter!

Go Emily!

How was the win for her?

Was she proud? Was she glad about all of the training she did? Did she see how important it was to follow the coaching? What did she learn?

This is so cool!

I don't want to take anything away from her accomplishments or anythting, but I still feel like I should go ahead and mention that I'm sure that I could outrun her even if I was holding a kid under each arm.

wbtravis007 wrote:I don't want to take anything away from her accomplishments or anythting, but I still feel like I should go ahead and mention that I'm sure that I could outrun her even if I was holding a kid under each arm.

Holding them under your arms will throw off your balance. Use a fireman carry, and you could break 5 minutes for the 1600.

Way to go, Emily!

wbtravis007 wrote:I don't want to take anything away from her accomplishments or anythting, but I still feel like I should go ahead and mention that I'm sure that I could outrun her even if I was holding a kid under each arm.

You forgot to say "while running from a tsunami".

Hooray for Emily!

wbtravis007 wrote:I don't want to take anything away from her accomplishments or anythting, but I still feel like I should go ahead and mention that I'm sure that I could outrun her even if I was holding a kid under each arm.

And I'm pretty sure I could kick your arse cuz you're old.

peacock2121 wrote:Go Emily!

How was the win for her?

Was she proud? Was she glad about all of the training she did? Did she see how important it was to follow the coaching? What did she learn?

This is so cool!

It was just another day to her. She never gets excited when she wins. She was just annoyed at the girl kicking her feet.

Deep down I think she is proud, just embarassed to show it.

BackInTex wrote: It was just another day to her. She never gets excited when she wins. She was just annoyed at the girl kicking her feet.

A good enough reason to leave the other girl in the dust!