Pride

Friday was a fun day in our school district.  The elementary school holds its "Grove Games" and the middle school hosts a 5K.  I had never been to the 5K event before, but Grove Games is always super fun!  The school includes 2nd-4th grades and they start with running races, then a morning full of fun games.  The 2nd and 3rd graders run about a quarter mile, the fourth graders run a mile.  It is awesome and the kids get so excited.  Last year, however, the school decided to switch up the run and REQUIRE all kids to walk so that the slower kids wouldn't feel bad.  Without going into detail, WTF was my attitude and pretty much of all the kids too.  Apparently they all ran anyway.  :)

This year, keeping with the theme of not letting any one feel bad, they went off in waves so it was impossible to tell who was the actual winner.  I get it in theory, but don't think EVERY kid out there wasn't trying to figure it out.  It was super fun and not only did I get to see a bunch of my awesome Girls on the Run girls, but I also got to watch my youngest son race.  He is fast and proud.  He was in a third wave, but blew his wave away and half of that in front of him.  So fun.

My older son was doing the 5K.  His school is 5th -8th grade and I knew he was nervous.  He'd never admit it, but the telltale sign was going to bed early and getting up 45 minutes ahead of schedule (unheard of).  The school allowed kids to run the 5K or do a one mile walk.  I asked him all about it and he told me he didn't want me to come.  I am WAY too embarrassing.

Well, just before heading out to Grove Games, a friend of mine called me all excited.  Her son was running his first ever 5K.  Her advice to him: stick with James (my son).  She wanted to know if I was going, etc., etc.  I explained I was not (too embarassing) and realized how silly that was.  Of course I was going to go!  So I did.

He rocked.  Ended up coming in 4th or 5th out of 350ish kids.  So awesome.  The overall winner was also a 5th grader, so he was bummed he wasn't fastest.  But he was proud an 8th grade (looking) kid told him he was awesome and to keep at it.  And, thankfully, he was happy I was there afterall.  :)

Look at these smiles!

Nice finish!