My Running Girl

At school Open House we were all sitting there, listening to the blah, blah, blah about dress codes, staying off the grass and the importance of punctuality. The meeting was winding up when they made one more announcement.

"We need the parents of any fall athlete to stay for a few more minutes to discuss eligibility."

Stunned, I realized that meant me.

It's true, the Girl has joined a school sport. She is a member of the Cross Country team. This is a sport I've only been vaguely aware of that existed before this and now we are all living around it's schedule.

How this happened is hard to pinpoint. Early this month she started to get herself up and out of the house and off to practice sometimes walking, sometimes on her bike. She would come home completely beat and sore. But the next morning, bright and early, she left again. Now that school has started, her practices come directly after school. She's REALLY tired by the time she gets home. But she must like it.

Yesterday was their first meet. Here's the Girl and the Girl Who Thinks She Lives at my House #1. We had to be at the meet at 7:15 AM!

This was a huge meet. The Man and I couldn't get over the number of people who were out there. First all the boys ran and then the girls. Here's our Girl right off the starting line.

She finished her two miles in 17 minutes and 39 seconds and that with taking a tumble after tripping over #1's feet! So she not only likes it, but she's good at it too!

Honestly, I can't understand it. I'd rather do pretty much anything other than run. But as long as she's happy, you can keep finding me in big soggy fields before the sun rises most Saturdays this fall.