The biggest event of the year for their track club is the Festival of Miles (which they ran in last year, too). It's a charity event which features a mile run for the kids, and a variety of races that elite athletes come from all over the world to compete in. It's an absolute blast. My favorite event of the night is the elite men's mile run that is finished in less than four minutes. It's surreal to watch. These finely-tuned athletes are machines.
With pressure from Chase, McKay even decided to enter the race (though he had trained not at all and was hardly looking forward to it).
The day of the big race found Chase running a fever and sick in bed. It was tragic.
But with the other two registered and committed, we were still in.
McKay ran the mile that night in 6:35, which is pretty darn impressive considering he had not trained much at all. Hannah finished in 7:59, which was a new PR for her.
Chase laid in bed at home with a broken heart.
So, to make it up to him, we decided to host our own mile-run at the high school track.
Mindy, our fabulously expert private track coach, set each kid up with time goals for every loop around the track. Chase was aiming for a time of 6:28, well below his PR of 6:55.
And they were off! Mindy ran it with them to help keep them motivated.
I did my motivating from a bench at the finish line. You know, because I didn't want to intimidate the children with my speed and all.
Yeah, that's it.
Oh shut up.
And here is Chase, crossing the finish line in SIX-TWENTY!! A whole eight seconds faster than his goal, and a new PR for him, as well. Props to Nick for playing Rabbit and helping keep the pace.
Hannah was a trooper, too. She finished strong at 7:50. Four seconds faster than her own PR.
And the entire crew after the race:
It has been so great to see the kids work on something, learn discipline, and see results for their efforts. This mama tiger is hugely proud.
You know. From the finish line. With her donut and diet coke in hand. Go team!
