This year, Ethan is in 7th grade and it's the first year where he is able to be in athletics for school. He's totally pumped about this. First stop on the athletics train, Cross Country. For those of you that know Ethan well, you know he is as quick as a jack rabbit. His first "meet" was this past Saturday at the Celebrate Fun Run. This was a 5K event. For those that don't know that is 3.1 miles. He had been talking about this since the day school started. Ethan had told me that he needed to be at the school at 6:30 the morning of the meet. I wanted to confirm this so I emailed his coach and she said he needed to be there in time to get on the bus and that the bus leaving at 7:50am. In my head, there is no reason for him to be there at 6:30 and wait for over an hour. Still, Ethan insisted he need to be there at 6:30am. So, again, I emailed the coach and told her Ethan is still saying 6:30 and asked her if this was true. She again, for a second time told me the bus was leaving at 7:50. Okay, fine, he'll be there at 7:40 in time for the bus to leave at 7:50.
We wake up, run through the house getting ready and leave and are at the school by 7:40. No one is around. No students, no teachers, no coaches, no school buses. The place was empty. So after waiting for 10 minutes, we headed off to where the meet was supposed to be. The race was to start in ten minutes at 8:00am. We get to the meet, Ethan and I jump out of the car while my mom, Corbin, Taya and my brother find a place to park. Ethan and I hustled to registration and the lady told us the race had already started but that Ethan could still participate. Ethan, being the kid that he is was horrified. He didn't want to run the race alone and start all by himself with numerous people watching, wondering why he was starting so late. The registration lady gave him his number bib and shoe tag and told him he could still win this thing. In the meantime, my mom had found the coach then found us. Coach could tell we were ticked. I asked her why she told me 7:50 TWO times. Only answer she had was that she MEANT 6:50. I was fuming(not to mention I had just come down with sinus/allergy crap and I felt like total poo)! I will forever listen to my kids over anyone else from now on. I felt horrible. I should have listened to him.
We got Ethan all suited up, walked him over to the starting line and sent him on his way. The whole time, him saying he didn't want to do it now, he was going to loose and that he was just plain mad. After a couple minutes, they sounded the start horn just for him and off he went. He started the race THIRTEEN minutes late.
We stood at the finish line(there was no way I was missing him cross that line) and after about 7 minutes the first runners started coming in. These were GROWN men who finished in 20 minutes. We stood there longer as more runners came in. Taya and I decided we wanted a better view so we went to the side a bit. One of my friends happened to be running the race(35 yr old female). As she ran by, I hollered to her "good job, Casi!". She said thanks then said "I saw your son, he was running really fast!". See, not only had Ethan started 13 minutes late, he CAUGHT up to a full grown lady and lapped other people. I remember looking at the clock when Casi came in, the race had been started for 33 minutes and Ethan had been gone for 20. At that point, something inside me told me to go back to the finish line and watch for my boy. I no longer got back to the finish line, told my mom what Casi said and turned to look down the road. In the distance, I saw a bunch of people coming in. One looked like Ethan. As he got closer, I was still unsure...his LONG hair flapping in the wind. It wasn't until I looked at the bib on his shirt that I realized it was him. He was hauling ass. Running as fast as he could. A look of determination on his face that I had never seen before. I was trying to get my stupid iPhone to unlock so I could get a picture of him crossing that finish line, but the phone didn't cooperate. And to be quite honest, I was so wrapped up in seeing him that the picture really didn't matter. He crossed the finish line and landed straight in arms! I was shocked, he actually let me sit there and hold and hug him in front of everyone for a good few minutes. Tears streaming down my face(yes, I know, when it comes to my kids and all their awesome achievements I become a three year old)!
The best part was that even though he started 13 minutes late, down on himself....he ran that race...a 5K....3.1 miles...in 27 minutes! Only 7 minutes longer than grown men and women. I am one proud momma. His next meet is October 5th. He WILL be there on time and I am SO excited to see how far and how fast he goes.
I'm a little bummed out that I didn't get the picture of him crossing the finish line for Matt to see, but the memory and picture I have in my head will last forever. It was truly a moment I will never forget.
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