Mom’s Monday Musing ” The Growing Up Track”

It is hard to believe that in 5 short weeks from now our region will begin the process of Association meets leading to Regional Finals and ultimately the golden ticket to the USATF Junior Olympics In Sacramento California this July.

As many things enjoyable, events that mark time and progress go to fast. The track season is one of those markers for me.It seem to be going much quicker and Lauren is growing up to fast. At a “newly announced” by her ,confirmed by me, 5’1″ tall, my days are truly numbered in the height department. It was just 18 months ago she seemed to barely touch my jaw, now to cuddle hug me, she has to scrunch down a bit. Her legs are longer than mine (even though I am still taller than she). I now see young men double take her on the street. This new phenomenon Henry can’t reconcile yet okay refuses to. LOL

I hear from time to time parents of older athletes lament on the days of their athletes as  bantams and youth divisions but how they love the new found freedom of High School Track and Field. At first, speaking to these parents I was anxious for my days at fancy High School Meets like, The Arcadia Meet,Nike Invitationals Penn Relays etc. Today, This day,I am pondering alot of emotions regarding track, Lauren the recent past and the rushing in of the future. IT IS GOING TOO FAST….

I like Lauren running fast just not growing up too fast.I see this as a losing battle…she’s growing and I am watching up close the making of a young woman. This past weekend Lauren ran 2 particularly beautiful races and Henry and I have come to new realization about Lauren and her running…. HE and She,  not  We are in control. We guide and nurture, she runs…Period. Nothing she said in particular, everything she did on the track.

As usual, Henry reviewed her  races with her and asked what she was thinking about the race and how she decided to do certain things at certain times.Without boring you with the conversation verbatim,she expressed a level of maturity that we didn’t know she possessed for the strategy of a race. We had not taught. She ran two PR’s 200m 25.73 and 400m 60.38 those numbers are FAT and nice, but the reality is that she not just we are now thinking about the race and how it unfolds,how it develops and how she closes it without ANY help or input from us..Hum…

This is a turning point. A big one in my eyes. I wonder if other parents of youth athletes have this moment of “Ohhhhh you know that too”. We now know she owns a new level of track and field savvy , a deeper understanding we didn’t overtly teach or belabor. A level every serious athlete comes to.I just didn’t know it came so soon or  has it always been there?

I know there is much to learn  on this journey but this first lesson is one I have to mark on the calendar as the weekend Lauren created her own strategy for winning.

More recently I have taken a giant step back realizing that it will be here before I know it as I begin to ponder regularly what High School  “my baby” will attend, who will train her to college level,will she still love track as much next year and the year after that? Oh my goodness these questions and feelings leave me a bit over whelmed and longing for the “subbie” days when she was unattached and every time she ran she would ask “Was that good Daddy?” Running to what seemed to me to be the most amazing times ever..Well they were because she ran them,(to me) not that they were so extremely amazing. I am sure there were more than a few that had run that same lane to the finish line  faster than she in the past ,but she has captivated me with her effortless stride to the finish line to cross…. Over and over and over again first with a smile.

I see just like it was yesterday her first ribbons colored blue they were her very first earned ribbons as well, so in her mind all were to be blue…LOL she had missing teeth and a HUGE SMILE Dad just looked at her in amazement and said to me later that afternoon”Did you teach here to run the curve like that? I laughed and said no I never took her to a track until today… (Thinking in my head, she got that from me, I used to love, love, love running the curve and closing in LOL) She clearly didn’t get her gift from me or Henry. She got it from God ,we just have the distinct  honor and pleasure of nurturing it and helping it become developed and matured. As Mothers day approaches I am honored to be a TrackMom but most honored to be Lauren’s  Mom.

Lauren being only 10 years old, I am sure this is not the last time I will write on the recent  past as she grows up to-to fast ,but one thing I know for sure is that as Lauren grows she will continue to bless our heart as I watch up close the making of a great citizen and athlete and daughter.The once 6 1/2 year old that  many in the stands would say say who’s that  unattached kid in light blue…. She’s mine and Henry’s and She is HIS. No greater gift has HE given Us.