Rasmussen Reflections

September 14, 2011

Jaron~All League Cross Country Meet~Richland! Placed 18th out of 75~ 8th Grade Boys!!

Jaron ran in his first Cross Country meet of his 8th grade year today! It was the All League Cross Country meet in Richland. It's a pretty tough coarse - lots of hills! He ran it in 14:23. He placed 18th out of 75 - 8th Grade boys! He has gotten a lot stronger this year and it shows in his running! He loves Cross Country season - and I love watching him do what he loves to do! I used to have to run after him when he was little - he never walked anywhere - he always had a little jog all day long - when he was 2 years old he opened the door and started running down a main street - bare foot, in his diaper, smiling and running - a gal from our church ward recognized him and brought him to her house - and I was frantically trying to find him. We had to put a lock way up on our door - so that he couldn't reach it and escape to run! We stopped at a gas station during a road trip when he was 3 years old and he took off down a hill at a rest stop - laughing and running his little heart out - and Toby was trying to catch him before he went into muddy water at the bottom! He's always been a runner - and now he can put his talent to good use - instead of running away from Toby and I!! He was lucky to have run on the Chief Moses Cross Country team as a 6th grader - and he ran for Desert Hills middle school in Kennewick last year - and had an awesome coach that taught him a lot! And now he is running at McLoughlin middle school in West Pasco. In middle school they run 2 miles. Next year he will run 3 miles as a Freshman. That freaks me out to even type Freshman - I am now done talking about that! :)

He has really loved being the team leader for his team! He was all smiles and relaxed before the race! Toby and I were about ready to have a nervous break down from being nervous for him - but running has always relaxed him - even during a race. In case you are wondering - he is 5'9" tall now. Toby is 6'2" and he said he was as tall as Jaron is now the beginning of his freshman year. So we are predicting that Jaron will be around 6'4" or taller. He hasn't really even hit his growth spurt yet. He is eating us out of house and home though!

And they are off!! 75 - 8th Grade Boys!!

Jaron~All League Cross Country Meet~Placed 18th out of 75~8th Grade Boys!!

At the start of the race - There were so many boys - and at this point of the race - it was really narrow - and alot of them were fighting for position resulting in some of them falling - luckily Jaron didn't fall - although he came close, but he caught himself before he did fall.

Getting into his stride.

He ran a very consistent race. His last coach taught him how to pace himself and surge up hills and breath right during different stages of the race. He has so much endurance! He can keep the same pace forever - and that really helps him stay consistent in races. He says the longer the distance, the better he feels like he runs. He was frustrated in Track last spring because the longest distance race they had for middle schoolers to run was the mile - and he said he didn't like it because it was too short. He said he started feeling like he was hitting his stride right at the end of the mile race. He likes longer distances. I think he will do even better next year when he can run the 3 mile in High School.

Me up on a hill looking down.

Jaron~All League Cross Country Meet~Placed 18th out of 75~8th Grade Boys!!

This is half way through the race - after he just ran up the killer hill! He is concentrating on his breathing!

Toby and I watched at the top of this hill - and we saw a lot of runners stop after they got up it, or some of them started walking for awhile after they got to the top. Jaron breathed his way through it - he did awesome!

By this point he was recovered from the hill - and this is the point where a lot of runners stopped or started walking for awhile.

Jaron~All League Cross Country Meet~Placed 18th out of 75~8th Grade Boys!!

This is the home stretch! I ran down the big hill to get him coming into the last part of his race.

Concentrating....

Coming into the finish line!

Kicking it in to the finish line!!

Jaron~All League Cross Country Meet~Placed 18th out of 75~8th Grade Boys!!

The finish line up ahead!!

We are so proud of you buddy! You rock!!!

Jaron~Warms my Heart!

Jaron rallied some of his team mates together and went to help cheer on a runner from their team to the finish line! That made me cry! I am grateful my son is learning how to be a leader and help his classmates. I am even prouder of this moment~than I am with how well Jaron ran his race! He has a big heart!! Does a mom good to see your kids do things like this for other kids! Instant tears!!