Summer Cross Country

I just dropped Madsen off for his first summer run with the high school cross country team. He looked scared to death and I can not blame him! I can not think of many things that would scare me more than being dropped off with a group of strangers and being told to have fun. The coach seemed nice. He did not particularly look like a runner. I am anxious to hear if he runs with the kids. My cross country coach did every single work out with us. That may be a rare thing. There were a lot of kids. A couple of boys who looked young and scared like Madsen. Oh how I hope this will be a good experience for him. Not just today, but for the next four years. I hope he will make friends. This is part of why he is doing this. To meet kids before school starts and to be part of a team. After running they are going to the swimming and then having pancakes at the home of one of the girls, she just happens to be in our ward. It should be fun. I have butterflies in my tummy for him. I just hope he does not come home and tell me he hated it and does not ever want to go back.

A report back:

He did have a good time and met some nice boys. One older boy was particularly kind and asked him lots of stuff and made him feel comfortable. He said he ran by himself because he could not keep up with the others. The coach did not run, I belief Mr. Howard was a rare kind of coach! He is looking forward to running with the team again when we get back from vacation. I also imagine that when school starts there will be more kids. Overall- a good day! And, I think cross-country kids make good friends because they are not your stereotypical athlete, you know, dumb and arrogant! I think it will be good. And yes, cross country smells different in NC, but I have smelled it!