And just like that…another XC season is over. We traveled from KS to Ohio this past weekend for Coaches Youth XC Nationals. This year it was held at Voice of America MetroPark. Out of the four venues we’ve experienced, I must say it was my least favorite. Zero access to the course. And the mud…oh the mud. I know the mud wasn’t their fault. I don’t know how much it rained before we got there, but thankfully it didn’t rain in the two days we were there. That would have made it an even bigger nightmare than it already was.

Tiny Boy ran an 8:32 2K. 6:51 pace! He made it official…8yo Tiny Boy is faster than 8yo Runner Boy. He has learned so much from his brother’s running, and I hope that trend will continue. He was the 47th 8yo across the line.

The aftermath. The 2K course wasn’t too bad.

Runner Boy ran a 13:12 3K (7:04 pace). He came in 69th 10yo. This is well off his usual pace. He just plain had a crummy race. He said he couldn’t get footing and slid all over the place, tweaking his hip halfway through the race. He couldn’t get up to speed after that. He crumbled into me at the finish line. He tossed his finisher medal in our pull cart and hasn’t asked for it since. It’s hard as a parent to watch him want something so badly and have a bad run during his biggest race of the season. We walked to the car to get the battery pack for our phones, and he held my hand the whole way there and the whole way back. That’s how I knew he was upset.

Hopefully they can both turn it around and ease back into training. Mr. Neon is encouraging both boys to pick up another sport to work on other muscle groups. And Runner Boy has already asked for more biking and swimming. Runner Boy –> Tri Boy.

It’s not very often kids are encouraged by their parents to play in the mud.

Stay neon!