Amazing Day for the Lowes at the Rumble in the Jungle

The night before the race, the Rumble in the Jungle, our house is full of excitement and anxiety.  Common things heard are …

"I hope I do good."

"I've never run Varsity"

"What if I don't do good."

"Marissa, Devon, Robert remember to drink more water"

"Did you get enough to eat, because you wont want much tomorrow morning."

"Drink more water"

"Time for bed, everyone needs a good night's sleep"

Tomorrow is  a big day for our family.  Devon, Marissa and Robert will be running in one of the most prestigious cross country meets in the state of Kentucky because it has such a true "Cross Country" course…filled with hills, narrow and wide areas, running through a wooded area that I call a forest.

Devon is running on the first team of the JV race.  It starts at 9:15 a.m.

Marissa is running for the first time on the Varsity team.  Her race starts at 10:00 a.m.

Robert is running on the middle school boys team.  His race isn't until 1:00 p.m. 

We get up, get Devon and Marissa a good breakfast and then Mark and Devon leave by 7:15 to be at the meet by 7:45 (early).  I come shortly after with Marissa, Robert and Oliver.  We wanted to give Robert more time to sleep (since he really doesn't need to be there until 11:00).

Betsy has agreed to take photographs for all six teams - JV & Varsity girls, JV and Varsity boys, Middle School Girls and Boys.  The first race is at 8:30.  Mark, Betsy, Oliver and Robert are great spectators.  We watch the start (Betsy taking photographs the whole time), then run over to another section of the course - more photographs, then to spot three of the course and then finally to the finish line to cheer the teams on and once again, take photographs.  We do this six times!   

For the first race there isn't any stress since non of our kids are in the race, but we do want to cheer on the JV girls.  They do great and finish 3rd overall, 1st in their division.  I think it would have been 1st place if Marissa, Emma and Christina were running but all three of them were moved up to Varsity.

Devon runs in the second race.  He gets a great start and stays close to the person we told him to stay with.  He looks strong and confident.  He has an amazing finish - it is a race to the finish against his team mate and friend, Danny Walker.  In the end Danny passed him - Devon actually says he's happy Danny did, he knew he would.  Devon finished 17th with a 19:07 time.   That is over a minute faster than what he ran in the Rumble last year and 30 ish seconds better than his last race.  Devon was in the top 50 - he got a medal!   Way to go Devon.  

Marissa's race was right after Devon's.  She was on the very far side, second back, but got off to a great start!  She was in a great position the entire race, surprising us since it was a Varsity race.  At the 2 mile marker Marissa was in 2nd place for our team, right behind Shelby Adams.  Then the runner disappeared into the forest again, so you don't see them until they approach the finish area.  As the lead runners are finishing the race, we are watching, Shelby Adams comes out of the woods, but right behind her is Marissa!  She's done amazing!!!!  She finished in 46th place with a time of 21:57.  That's a 1:37 minute PR!  … and only 2 seconds behind Shelby.  Marissa received a medal for 46th place.  She did amazing; this was her first VARSITY race and she came in 2nd fastest runner for the whole team.  She also broke her season goal of breaking 22.  We are so proud of you Marissa, and so happy for you!!!

Okay, back to the races.  The boys Varsity run.  They do amazing - all our runners are in the front of the pack.  We finish third behind two AAA teams.  Devon's time is faster than one of the Varsity runners - that's a good feeling.  Now there is a long break for the high school awards before the middle school races.

Robert's race is after the middle school girls.  I didn't realize it but my camera photo card became full during the girls race.  Yikes!  I had to go through, very quickly to delete some mis-shots to make room for the boys race.  Now it's the boys turn.  Robert is right on the front line.  We told him to stay with Tyler Scholten - he did, and even passed him down the finish stretch.  He was only a .03 second from passing Dallas as well.  Robert finished at 11:56 for a 3K, 8th for his team and 21 overall.  We have such a strong middle school team.  They won 1st place and continue to be undefeated.

What a great day!  All three medaled, all three improved their times.  Devon had a season best, Marissa and Robert each earned a PR.  I feel so happy for all of them.  They set their goals and accomplished their goals and even exceeded them.