He doesn't have that many local meets, so I try to go to them when he does. But Tuesday?? Who schedules a x-country meet on a Tuesday? In his defense, the coach realized, after it was too late, that he wished he hadn't scheduled it for a Tuesday. ... Tuesday...
My point is, if I have one - well, I don't. Really. Have. A point - but if I did, it would be that I felt a bit guilty about not being able to watch his race. I had to tutor. Wolfgang didn't seem bothered that I wouldn't be there, it being a Tuesday and all...
Thing is, he's thisclose to breaking the 17-minute mark, and I expected that he would do it at this meet since it was on a nice local course that he's familiar with, and he's thisclose. And the running thing, it's one of our common interests so we can geek out about shooz and pacing and such while the rest of the family looks on in befuddlement.
What I really feel guilty about is that I was kind of, but not really, but yeah I kind of was, HOPING THAT HE WOULDN'T DO ALL THAT WELL. I MEAN! I wanted him to do well, but I was conflicted, ya know? Since I wouldn't be there?
And wouldn't you know? It all worked out in MY favor! He ran relatively slow (awww), but everybody ran relatively slow (yaaaaay!). So he still finished well.
It was hot. It was late in the day. It was Tuesday. Times were slow --> WIN!
And Wolfgang wasn't a full on orphan. Magnum knocked off early and made it to the spectator gallery.
Cross country meets aren't exactly spectator events. There's this mass start followed by the runners disappearing into the woods. Every now and then, they run by certain spots in a cloud of dust amid a hail of cheers and cowbells and such. From a spectator's view point, most of it is spent waiting, which is fine for me since I'm not good at watching anyway.
5k's later, they emerge from the woods, sweaty and dusty, into the finish gate. Much hacking and spitting then ensues.
Glamorous.
Magnum has an iPhone he uses just for work. Since he had it on him, he decided to learn to use the camera function. He managed to actually get a couple with at least part of Wolfgang in them.
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| Exit, stage left |
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| Exit, stage right |
Well, it's a new camera on a moving target. And the photos of gravel, trees, and random strangers were nice too.
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14 comments:
Damn I envy your weather! I had to grin at the photos. Nice to see nearly all of Wolfgang. ;)
We have a X-country runner, too. He's >thisclose< to breaking into the 19's. And their meets are every Thursday! (Abbreviated traveling team runs on Saturdays as well.) Good thing about cross country is that nobody gets cut; everybody makes the team.
Not nearly as much hacking and spitting at the end here -- maybe because, unlike Mile High, there's actually, you know, AIR!
Yes, the "purposeful" cropping makes for an added dramatic effect.
I fully remember the guilt I felt when having to miss a sporting event. I think it's inevitable, especially for those of us with full time employment and multiple kids who are close in age. And I think you're right. We feel worse than the kids do.
Nice that Magnum managed to get some shots on his iPhone. Whenever I attempt an action shot with mine, it comes out blurred and grainy. So in my opinion, he did good!
Right, no one gets cut and there's no bench to ride! Our top 7 make varsity, everyone else runs JV. Some of them are animals - at 17:02, Wolfgang is 5th on the depth chart. The air is thin, but I think these guys just LIKE to hack and spit.
His iPhone does take nice crisp photos. My attempts at action shots usually involve me getting nearly trampled, so I understand the challenge!
Awww... how sweet of Wolfgang to not break the 17 minute mark yet! I bet if you drive him all the way across Kansas to my neck of the woods, he'd easily break it! Flatter lands and like Guano said, more air. Just a thought. :)
I think the pics depict how fast Wolfgang is running....
Dang. That is some sweet weather you got up there. And nice passing shots of Wolfgang but Magnum needs to work on his photography merit badge a bit more. I kill to have a 17 (or even a sub 20 minute mark) but that happens when you get older (and lazy). Still, pretty darned good achievement. And I wouldn't sweat not making the meet. I am sure Wolfgang knew you were there in spirit.
The reason there was only part of him in the picture is because he was running so fast :)
Thank you for the story, but I'm wondering exactly what the significance of Tuesday is...
I know! Aren't they the best for slowing down just for me? Maybe if we drove him to the middle of Kansas and dumped him off, he'd run like the wind to get back?
Yes, it is a fine time of year! Even on a bad day, Wolfgang's time puts my good day time to shame. But I am his MOM. It's the way it should be!
Yeah, we'll have to work on that - so he knows to slow up for blog pics.
No big significance. Meets are usually on Friday or Saturday and better attended. I just wanted to bust the Tuesday chops.
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