September 8, 2014

What Running Has Done For My Kids …

chriswarmup

It was a big surprise to us when Big C joined Cross Country his Freshman year. It was an even bigger surprise when he ended up with a Varsity letter. Turns out he’s kind of fast. We were excited when Hannie B. decided to run on the team this year as well. She had only ever run a mile or two at a time and never consistently, so we didn’t know how it would go for her, but I’m happy to report that she is enjoying it and doing well!

I am so impressed with the Cross Country community and have already seen so many benefits for both my kids. Here they are in no particular order:

  • Cross Country starts a month before school does, so a month ago my kids were already getting up early to run! They also had a chance to get to know one hundred and twenty other kids before school started! Why so many kids? Because at our school they don’t cut kids from the Cross Country team. This means its is a very inclusive sport with kids from every walk of life and every fitness level.
  • Cross Country is a Varsity sport at the school. The kids with the fastest times will run in all meets and invitationals. But every team member gets to run in the mid-week meets regardless of their time. There are some kids on the team who come in last EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. But the entire team waits at the finish line to cheer them on and it is awesome. I love that my kids are learning how to support their peers!

hannah1

  • Hannie B. sleeps better at night. When the running (of sometimes up to 6 or 7 miles) is combined with her early morning wake up time due to Seminary, the girl is tired with a capial T! On the days she doesn’t have CC, I have seen her going for a run because she knows her body needs to expend the energy.

chris1

  • The last but best thing to come from my kids running Cross Country is that they have something in common with one another! Big C has become somewhat of a mentor to Hannie B., introducing her to the sport, explaining the races to her and gently pushing her to give her all and improve her running each and every week. It has made such a gigantic difference in their relationship and it makes my mother heart swell with joy!

hannahfinish

If your kids are looking for something athletic to do when they enter High School, but maybe aren’t athletic enough for some of the other teams, really, truly, give Cross Country a chance. It has made a great difference to our kids, their schooling and their relationship with each other!

6 comments:

Ronalin said...

Awesome pictures! Your kids are so healthy, what a great activity to be involved in. Run Hannah and Chris, RUN!!

MelancholySmile said...

I love running and wish I had done cross country at their age (you know, before I became old and tired.) Go SpeedyLee's!

Apis Melliflora said...

I love running for its mind clearing, stress-relieving powers. My runner child always has his best moods and grades in the semester he runs. I agree with you: great team sport on so many levels!

The Queen Vee said...

Run, run has fast as you can…you can't catch us we're a woman and Lee man.

Do you remember the little story book tapes we use have, particularly the Gingerbread man?

It's great to see my grands run because I've never been able to do it.

Darci said...

My daughter wants to run so bad, but her asthma is not allowing her to even play basketball at times. The one picture of H is so powerful to me as she is the only one looking up and straight at you searching you out as if to say I needed you!

TracyS. said...

Great plug for running cross country. Great for the body, great for the relationship.