That was a pretty fun event.
I didn't know what this running race was prior to going and expected Smallsteps to be running against a couple other school's kids in some kind of final. Instead, there were over a thousand kids running in relays, with each school putting forward a boys and a girls team with eight runners each, two from each year three through to six.
There were schools from all over, there were commentators, and it was televised.
Smallsteps was pretty happy that her team pulled lane 13.
Her favourite number.
She is born on the thirteenth and now that she knows it is superstitiously "unlucky" she has instead reframed it as her own lucky number. The stories we tell ourselves shape our lives, whether they are true or not, so we best create ones that work for us.
Before the race they did a bit of a warm-up with one of their gym teachers, but it was pretty obvious that there was a massive difference in skill, development and seriousness of the various runners. Some of these slightly older kids looked like they had already been training for a few years and were gearing up like it was the Olympics. But many were everyday kids, having fun. Smallsteps goes to a school with a strong music focus, so suffice to say, they aren't on average the athletic kids. But they were excited to participate and had dreams of doing well.
They were second last in their group.
There were over twenty lanes spread across the field with cones separating the tracks, and they shuttle ran, each running 80 metres for eight ends. As each ran past, they would tap the hand of the next who would run back down the track to continue the cycle. Smallsteps was running third and was already well behind by that stage, but she smashed it down the track and was catching the girl closest to her. By the time the round had finished, they were probably 40 metres behind first place.
After the race, we stuck around to watch the boys from her school race their race and they did better in position, but were still not much of a match from other schools. Yet, what I found interesting was that Smallsteps was a bit disappointed that she didn't do better. I think she had it in her head that she is pretty quick, but hasn't fully factored that it also depends on all the others in the team too. Before today, she didn't know most of the others as they are in different years to her and they had never practiced together before.
Not only that, when she ran last week, they did 60 metres, not 80.
And I think this bit of disappointment (light-hearted disappointment) is good for her, as it gives her more experience and insight into the pros and cons of being in a team. She hasn't played a team sport before and at that age, kids tend not to fully appreciate that a team is only as fast as its slowest.
It was also interesting to talk to one of the parents of the boys, who seemed disappointed when I asked if he enjoyed the race. He said, they didn't do very well. I disagree. His son did really well considering, he is a great piano player. And really well since neither his mother or father seems to be very active themselves.
But I didn't say those things aloud.
Yes, a few of these kids might have some natural talent and even have a future ahead of them in athletics, but what I think parents need to encourage as the main points are participating in physical activity, moving, running and having fun doing it. It isn't about winning or losing for these kids, because most of them are not going to even try to pursue athletics and have their skills and interests in other areas. But having the experience means that maybe, they will be a little more active than the average for longer, making them a little healthier than the average for longer.
Perhaps it will inspire some of the parents to move a little more also.
It has inspired me.
Taraz
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