Our cross-country season officially ended on Saturday, October 21, at our KAIAC tournament. I have no pictures from that meet, by then having accepted the fact that I cannot cheer to my utmost AND take pictures. Besides, whenever I have tried to multitask, I forget that my trusty Canon is strapped around my neck, and it's probably not too good for my camera to accompany me on my speedy scrambles from view/cheerpoint A to point B.
Our numbers overshot sixty in our first weeks, but they slowly dwindled to fourteen girls and twenty-six boys. Still great numbers, in Jaci's and my opinion! We had fantastic weather throughout the season. I didn't have to even pack my blue winter hat for any of the meets, and I never once had to wear long pants to practices or meets. Super!
At every meet as well as at practice, I counted my blessings for being able to spend time running with these kids. Over the season we saw kids assume their leadership positions as captains; learn that there's more to being a member of a team than running fast; gain confidence in themselves after realizing that they can do much more than they think they can; form much-needed friendships; make me laugh; drool on each other on the bus rides to and from meets; and have FUN running! I love having the opportunity to get to know the kids outside the classroom, and that they get to know me is... well, fun for me, perhaps scary for them. :) Yes, I do seem to be on a constant freakish runner's high!
Anyway, I'll be posting more pictures of the kids on ofoto. Oh, and I have decided to train for a marathon in March in Seoul along with my fellow coach, Jaci, her husband, Mike, and April, another staff member. Hurray?
