Yesterday afternoon all three of our children had cross-country meets. My stepson’s modified team was running in our neighborhood against the local public school teams, while my son and daughter were running in a neighboring county park with some of the area suburban school districts. Beyond the times and finishing places, all seemed to enjoy the opportunities for a good run, despite record warm temperatures and high humidity. Being there as an observer, interacting with the student-athletes and fellow parents was also a welcome reminder for me of why I enjoyed cross country running as a youth, and have since rekindled the love affair in my adulthood.
The course my stepson ran today was the same that I ran on twenty years ago as a public school student. In fact, he ran against some lads representing my old school—a new motley crew of non-runners, wrestlers, and out-of-season basketball players, with one or two “real” cross-countrymen thrown in for good measure. As I chatted up one of the lads at the start for information about the shorter modified course, I was pleased to see that these gents were also very game for a brief discussion of the run, even if it wasn’t their “main game.” For sure, cross-country is the odd-bird sport that brings out a wide variety of would-be athletes, especially those who are there not for the “win,” but for the experience, together… there are few sports were those who “lose” or come in near the back, often receive the loudest cheers from the crowds.
Huffing up the incline, leaning into rolling hills, lengthening your gait as you careen across uneven fields… win or lose, having come this far on the course—it is good to be reminded that we are all “cross-countrymen.”
Breathe in, breathe out... YOU AND I ARE ALIVE!
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