I love to watch track meets! I've always been there for my kids during track season. Indoor meets feel like a 3-ring circus. You can watch so many events going on at the same time. Depending on the location of the indoor meet, sometimes the provided seating for the spectators and fans can be so close to the athletes. You really get to witness the sweat and blood efforts. Depending on the weather, an outdoor meet can be just as enjoyable. It reminds me of "field day" during the earlier school days and getting to be outside.
I remember a particular meet years ago when my oldest daughter (above, second to the left) was in high school. We lived in Colorado and it was a blizzard of a day as usual for spring sports. But I stuck it out with all of the outdoor gear and a heavy comforter. I just couldn't contain my excitement. I wrapped myself up, jumped off the bleachers, ran to the other side of the track in the middle of the race, and cheered Amy on. At that time, she was known as "AJ - the Bullet". I was positive she was a future Olympian! I'm sure everyone thought that I was an overly enthusiastic mother. What do they know!
Now that my son runs for K-State, I really get to watch some incredible athletes. My most recent trip to Ames, Iowa to see him in a Big 12 Tournament was very exciting. My favorite events are the relays, the hurdles, and the longer races. The races that have some distance give the competitors a chance for some long range strategies. Track athletes have such beautiful bodies and they are so graceful. They make the coordinated movements look effortless.
The wonderful thing about being there in the stands for your child is that it's a double feature. Not only are you there witnessing the moment, but you also have flashbacks and you get to rewind on all the memories. As a parent, you remember the special times that have led up to the present. All the yesterdays come back. When Sam was just 2 or 3 years old, we lived in a house that was built in such a way, that the little guy could go through every room in the upstairs in a big circle and never have to stop. His short little legs never tired. He'd run through the kitchen where I was always there cooking, and tell me, "Watch the clock Mama, time me!" .... and he was off. Lap after lap, round and around he would go. His legs would still be running as he fell asleep at night. Now as the big, strong, young man gets ready at the starting line, I'm still there watching the clock - again an overly enthusiastic mother!
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