Personal Best

I love the sport of Cross Country Running (more commonly referred to as X-C.) It's like life, both solitary and communal. You're a member of a team but you are also running your own race. I'm so happy two of my boys have gotten into it. Our area's District Championships were held last Friday and son H did a wonderful job, finishing high overall but more importantly, achieving his own personal best! We are all really proud of H's hard work, talent and dedication!

Here comes the thundering horde!

Fleet feet flying past

Me being a typical X-C mom, hugging the ropes...

Proud Dad congratulating H!

Cooling down with teammates

Coach was pleased with H's performance!

It was a great day! Congratulations H!

First Race of the Season!

Belmont Plateau was looking its best!

That's my guy! (I'm holding his glasses.)

Coming up the hill...

Dramatic skies as they cross the ridge...

Spreading out

The Hay Bale at the finish...H's long legs made it no obstacle

A good start and a strong finish! Well done!

The entire team did well overall...a happy day!

Sports Awards!

Okay, brag alert! Stop reading now if you've had enough proud parent posts to last you a bit. ;-)

Last night was Peter's Sports Award Banquet at his high school. As a graduating senior and captain of the X-C team as well as a state-qualifier we knew he was going to receive a commendation.

But we were absolutely taken by surprise when Peter won a scholarship  in addition to the award we expected!

We are all so proud of him (younger brother hamming it up with his illustrious bro!)

We raced a big thunderstorm home after the ceremonies.

Peter paying tribute to the Gods of Thunder! :-)

Friend Friday

Racing to States
Today was the District cross-country meet held at Lehigh University and my son P qualified for the State Championship (along with another Harriton team mate) setting a personal best along the way. I kept hearing that it was a very fast course. Not exactly sure what that implies, but all the kids seemed to have sprouted wings on their feet. Congratulations to my wonderful P and the whole Harriton team! Two young men qualified but it was definitely a team effort.

DIVISION CHAMPIONS!
Young H's soccer team, coached by Paul, just won their league's division championship yesterday! It was a hard-fought game with beautiful team work exhibited by both sides. Our team scored the winning goal in the second half of overtime (!!!!) and I could just feel my hair going gray from anxiety as the minutes mounted. But what unrestrained joy when the whistle blew!

Not untinged with sadness on my part, for the defeated team. I have some great shots of both sides displaying incredible intensity, absolutely playing their hearts out. To come so close to the championship and then lose by a hair...oh man. However, I know this viewpoint is not "right" somehow, and that I am obviously just not a sports person. Except that I do like taking sports photos . And I am thrilled for my guys! Congratulations Patriots!

LOFTY
H scraped the sky with a softball at yesterday's district-wide Junior Olympics. Softball throw is the elementary school version of shot put I believe. Last year he won a ribbon, this year he just won open-mouthed admiration as his ball flew higher than most local raptors. If they were giving ribbons for height, he would have won hands-down. Alas, they were going for distance so no prize for H. The softball throw judge did later come up and talk to me about a kid's summer baseball camp though!

Hey, this is post 999! Augh, I can hardly believe it!

GLAD

The season's first goal
at long last! The boys explode,
fizzing with joy

STRENGTH
is today's theme at Photo Friday. Made me realize that most of my photos are about softness, stillness and repose. (Maybe it's time to get my thyroid meds adjusted!)

These men were practicing in a leafy glen in a city park. Like Robin Hood and his men in the forest. Strength training in a leafy bower! I wonder if the absence of that particular gym bouquet: sweat, hormones, and industrial strength cleaners, helps or hinders these pastoral athletes?