The Great Train Race

Near where we live, the VA runners club hosts the biggest race for kids under the age of 18 on the East Coast. It is called The Great Train Race. approximately 3500 children participate in this run. The kids age 6 and older run a mile. It is a lot of fun and promotes physical activity, something lacking in today’s generation of children.

Caleb is a child who is very physically active. He loves to run. I discovered this winter just how much he loves to run. I have realized he is not a speed racer, but an endurance runner. During a basketball practice for Ambriel, the coaches had the girls run a mile. Caleb asked if he could run too around the track. I told him I didn’t mind. Well, Caleb ran. He was a lap behind the girls when he started, then he caught up. By the last lap he was ahead of them by a lap and wanted to run more. He ran two and a half miles by the time all the girls were done running their mile. During football practices Caleb starts out last and usually catches the first guy by the time the run is done, in full pads. I have been told by numerous coaches to sign him up for running. So I did. I signed him up for this run.

Caleb didn’t train for this run… I wanted to see how he would do without formal training. He ran a few laps around the tracks where the girls were practicing softball recently, but that is all. He was nervous about the run, but excited as well. Right before the race he found a four leaf clover which you can see here.

He was sure it was a good sign. You can see photos of him at the starting line here,  racing here, and getting his medal here.  He raced against 187 other 10 year old boys (he just turned 10 last week too!).

When it was all said and done, here are the results:

I have erased the last names for those children’s privacy. You can see, my son got 14th place… not too bad at all. He finished in the top 5% of his heat… wow. He came in 1st place against anyone in our County. WOO HOO!

Seeing how well he did, I think I am going to start hitting the track with him and start formally training him. I hope we can shave some seconds off his time. WAY TO GO SON!!!!!

As an added bonus, I am including a picture of my favorite little runner in the bunch:

This child, about 1 1/2 years old ran the whole way down the hill in his diaper. Notice how he is picking his leg up in this photo? TOO CUTE!!!