Track and Field Day

Elementary students swarmed across the football field. Others ran races around its circum-
ference on the asphalt track. Amidst the sea of kindergartners, first and second graders, I squinted to look for my son.

As soon as I turned away toward the softball fields, I heard him shout: "Hi Mom!"

Noah appeared lying on a blanket very near where I'd stood just moments ago. Maybe, he'd been hiding?

"There you are!" I said. "I was looking for you."

He got up and tried to elude me again. I put away my camera. Noah told me about his morning's activities: running sprints, hopping hurdles and long jumping.

"This is like one long recess," I said. Noah replied, "No! It's like one LONG gym that NEVER ends."


On this partly

cloudy afternoon,

I watched Noah

run the 400 meter dash.

I encouraged him to launch the softball HIGH (See half of it at this photo's top?), so that it would go LONG.

(Advice I'd heard an on-looking father give his first-grade son who threw for 60 feet when everyone else averaged between 40-50 feet.)

I grinned when Noah's softball throw was marked the longest – at 62 feet!


And I cheered on Noah as he took the baton from his teammate who was in the lead during the second leg of the 4 by 100 meter relay. (They finished close to second – because of a misunderstanding on the last baton handoff.) Still... impressive for a FIRST-ever relay run.


I am NOT a sports fan. Noah is our third son to compete. I am tired. But somewhere from deep within comes the ability to encourage – on this Track and Field Day.