Hershey track meet

Once again the 4th and 5th graders in the area met at the high school to run, jump and throw. Rachel, Ryan and I went to watch first Dallin and then a few days later, Taylor. Both boys did great - winning their heat and doing really well overall. Taylor once again got first in the long jump. He jumped 81 inches - down from his 84 inch personal best. I was a bit disappointed he didn't try a little harder. He played with his friends at the meet, when it got to be his turn he went over stood on the line and jumped then went back to his playing. No stretching, no practicing, no stressing over it - nothing- he just seemed to not even care. But he got first so I guess that is ok.

Well we found out the next meet is while we were going to be gone to New Mexico. I asked Taylor how he felt about not going to the meet. He said I don't really care about going to the meet - but I do really want to go to Nationals and I want even have a chance if I don't go to the meet. I decided to check out last years results at the National Hershey meet to see if they were a lot better than him. Turns out he would have placed 10th in the nation with his best jump. That's not too bad I thought - (although I think lots of kids don't go to the national meet because it is so far away- so there is not so much competition) so I decided to let him take the chance and just see how far he can go. I am not really expecting him to go to PA - but I am hoping he can get to state.

It is exciting to see my kids grow and develop talents and skills. It kinda bugs me that I can no longer beat them in a race. As toddlers I would race them and I would let them win. The older they got the harder I tried but I still would hold back to let them finish first. Well a few years ago I decided they were old enough to lose so I did my best and beat them - problem is I didn't start doing this soon enough because it didn't take to long before I was doing my best and still losing. I keep trying to get Taylor to run a 1/2 marathon with me - I am hoping that even though he is faster his body isn't strong enough to do 13 miles and I can pass him up and win. He won't do it - I think he knows he would lose and now he knows he can beat me fair and square in a race he doesn't want to give that up. I know how that feels - luckily I still have Rachel to race.