That was a pretty fun event.
I didn't know what this running race was prior to going and expected Smallsteps to be running against a couple other school's kids in some kind of final. Instead, there were over a thousand kids running in relays, with each school putting forward a boys and a girls team with eight runners each, two from each year three through to six.
There were schools from all over, there were commentators, and it was televised.
Smallsteps was pretty happy that her team pulled lane 13.
Her favourite number.
She is born on the thirteenth and now that she knows it is superstitiously "unlucky" she has instead reframed it as her own lucky number. The stories we tell ourselves shape our lives, whether they are true or not, so we best create ones that work for us.
Before the race they did a bit of a warm-up with one of their gym teachers, but it was pretty obvious that there was a massive difference in skill, development and seriousness of the various runners. Some of these slightly older kids looked like they had already been training for a few years and were gearing up like it was the Olympics. But many were everyday kids, having fun. Smallsteps goes to a school with a strong music focus, so suffice to say, they aren't on average the athletic kids. But they were excited to participate and had dreams of doing well.
They were second last in their group.
There were over twenty lanes spread across the field with cones separating the tracks, and they shuttle ran, each running 80 metres for eight ends. As each ran past, they would tap the hand of the next who would run back down the track to continue the cycle. Smallsteps was running third and was already well behind by that stage, but she smashed it down the track and was catching the girl closest to her. By the time the round had finished, they were probably 40 metres behind first place.
After the race, we stuck around to watch the boys from her school race their race and they did better in position, but were still not much of a match from other schools. Yet, what I found interesting was that Smallsteps was a bit disappointed that she didn't do better. I think she had it in her head that she is pretty quick, but hasn't fully factored that it also depends on all the others in the team too. Before today, she didn't know most of the others as they are in different years to her and they had never practiced together before.
Not only that, when she ran last week, they did 60 metres, not 80.
And I think this bit of disappointment (light-hearted disappointment) is good for her, as it gives her more experience and insight into the pros and cons of being in a team. She hasn't played a team sport before and at that age, kids tend not to fully appreciate that a team is only as fast as its slowest.
It was also interesting to talk to one of the parents of the boys, who seemed disappointed when I asked if he enjoyed the race. He said, they didn't do very well. I disagree. His son did really well considering, he is a great piano player. And really well since neither his mother or father seems to be very active themselves.
But I didn't say those things aloud.
Yes, a few of these kids might have some natural talent and even have a future ahead of them in athletics, but what I think parents need to encourage as the main points are participating in physical activity, moving, running and having fun doing it. It isn't about winning or losing for these kids, because most of them are not going to even try to pursue athletics and have their skills and interests in other areas. But having the experience means that maybe, they will be a little more active than the average for longer, making them a little healthier than the average for longer.
Perhaps it will inspire some of the parents to move a little more also.
It has inspired me.
Taraz
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Running, just like any other sport requires training you cannot compete against people doing it seriously. I was on the track and field team and only made it into California finals due to the fact that I played soccer and other sports a lot prior and had natural talent and a few months of runner training, but if I trained for a few years at that point I would be competing for top spots in California finals instead of just making it there... But kids don't know that it takes time to develop as a runner, just like it takes time and effort to be come a great piano player :)
Last night I was looking at the "expected" times for a ten year old running 60. Her time of 9.3 was a bit faster than the lowest times. But a bit above the expected times of someone training for it. I guess with some training she could lower her time considering, as even with my limited knowledge I can see her form is bad :D
And perhaps it is better for most not to realise and instead just have fun.
Sounds like time well spent. Glad it inspired you. My kids participation in sports and other events were always fun. I enjoyed watching them experiment when they were younger with different techniques and stuff.
With all the guides available, I wonder if I could help her improve a bit.
meh, unless she shows a big interest in running or sprinting, I would just let her have fun.
Yep. But I also know that she likes to improve at things.
All that matters is taking part which she did. And the best thing is: her parent were there for her. It actually means a lpt especially nowadays. Moreover, this experience will be going a long way for her. Personally, I believe there are no winners or losers, just people competing, in order to find their real talent.
In the end, it's the beautiful smile for me.
Her grandparents came to watch also. We made a thing if it for her and she was excited. She smiled the whole run!
So Smallsteps is good at both running and playing music? This makes me wonder how many people are good at something but never try it and that talent/ potential remains undiscovered.
She is better at music, but we keep her active as much as possible. We are complicated creatures, being physically active allows us to do a lot more throughout life. I don't understand why adults don't exercise.
I think most people have hidden talents they have never explored.
Interesting, the parents should lead by example, right?
Yeah, I think so. I fail at it a lot.
you can always go with her to the track and let her enjoy running. make it fun. you know, like that game where you run with a paper on your chest, with such speed so it stay stuck there and not falling down.
Truly, it isn't about winning or losing for the kids.
It reminds me of my first year in high school.
We call it inter-house sports over here.
I didn't care wether my house will win or not, all I ever care about was to participate.
It's always a fun event.
As a kid we had all kinds of events all the way up to state level. I didn't compete in the running, bit represented my region in the field hockey for a few years.
What was your favourite sport?
My favorite sport was running.
There was no year I didn't participate in running during the inter-house sport activities.
Tha is cool. Were you more of a sprinter or distance? Do you still run?
More of a sprinter..
I still get to run whenever parents are called upon to run during sport days .
I hope I am not asked to run now!!!
Oh no!
You won't be asked to run if you don't want to.
Our one niece was plagued most of her high school career to be on a team with very little talent. It sucked for her because she deserved so much more, but it was also a good learning experience for her. I don't think she minded as much as we did, but from the outside it was pretty frustrating. I hated relays when I was a kid. We had this stupid one called the clothes relay and I didn't like it at all.