Can I tell you a little something about character?! I don’t know if you have ever seen a Cross Country meet…but these things are grueling! Honestly, I can endure a fair amount of pain…even enjoy it…but what these kids put themselves through on a daily basis is really a remarkable thing!
Take my Son, for example. Truman has been suffering from a knee affliction all season. His legs have grown faster than his knees and now he needs to grow to catch up. Unfortunately this causes him a lot of pain when he does the thing he loves best…running.
Last week alone, he ran 23 miles during practice, and he is 12, people!! 12!!! But he felt GREAT and was very excited for the meet! When they sounded the airhorn, he took off like a shot! Morgan and I raced to about the mile and a half marker to cheer for our favorite runner! When he crested the hill, in the top 1/3 of the pack…I could tell something wasn’t right. He was shaking his head, and had his pain face on. He pulled over and told me his knees were killing him…but he didn’t want to not finish the race. He then saw a few kids on his team, fell in step with them and kept going…with a limping gait.
Morgan and I waited there, because on the third mile, they had to pass that spot, too. We waited and waited and almost every kid in the race passed us. I was sure he had pulled out…when out of the woods, I saw this tiny figure limping along. It was Truman. He was walking…but still in the race. When he got to us, he looked so sad and defeated. He had taken off his number and looked ready to quit. We called to him, we cheered. We told him to hold his head high. To be proud of himself for not giving up and to put that number back on…and finish that race. And you know what…that is exactly what he did! And once he got a safe distance away from us, Morgan and I cried tears! We were so proud of that little Man for not giving up!
This Sunday, I will be competing in the Gangs of the Mid Atlantic Crossfit competition. I know there will be times that I will want to quit…but I will think of Truman in those times…hold my head up high and not quit!
Thank you Truman!! You are an inspiration and I am so proud of you!!
