cross country meet #4

AND ASPEN WON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh my goodness, it was such an exciting day! Aspen ran in her fourth cross country meet, and it was a very windy day. So windy that my ball cap kept blowing off! And that much wind obviously makes it more difficult to run...

We've been telling Aspen that she needs to be quicker out of the gate, and she did well this race. There were about 80 or so 7th grade girls in the race, and at the end of the starting stretch, she had gotten herself into 8th place. That's a much better start than she's been having.

After snapping some photos of her at that point, I next ran to see her at the end of the race. This course had the runners running into the track, and doing almost a full lap to the finish shoot. I was waiting for her right outside the track to get her coming in, and then I was able to run around and get her at the end as well. This whole time, Chris was pretty much running the course with her, giving encouragement and motivation...

As I stood outside the track, the number one girl came by, shortly followed by Aspen!!! My heart about jumped out of my chest with excitement!! I yelled at her, "Aspen, you can WIN this girl!!! Sprint!!!!!!!!!!"

Aspen caught up with the first girl, and passed her. Not long after, the girl passed her back. They went like this throughout the lap, and then on the last curve, into the home stretch, Aspen started her final kick and sped past the girl, running it straight into the finishing stretch in FIRST PLACE!!!!!



Here she is, right before she entered the finishing shoot...look at that smile on her face! Her very first FIRST PLACE win! Her very first time to break the winner's ribbon...she raised her hands up and everything, what a moment. I was screaming my heart out, I was so excited. Chris was going crazy on the infield, and caught her as she came out of the finishing shoot, to envelop her in a huge bear hug.

He was one extremely excited daddy, and only let go when Aspen said, "Daddy, I can't breathe!"

She ran her heart out, and ran a very smart race. I can not even begin to express the excitement of this day. To see her experiencing success...huge success. Knowing that this is only the beginning and if she continues to work hard, she will have a great running future ahead of her. Chris says that she is really beginning to understand the logistics of racing, and that her running is smart. She has natural talent and she's running smart...and we are having so much fun watching her.

A first place medal in her hands...a first...a huge moment...one that I am sure the three of us will remember forever. I don't remember feeling adreneline like that in a very very long time...it was thrilling!!!!!!

Aspen, you make us so proud...keep up the hard work and who knows where it will get you!!!