You see, my Wyatt, he has never been a runner. Ridiculously strong-Yes, athletic-Yes, coordinated-Yes, running-No, big firm all caps NO. Not because he wasn't capable, he just hated it. One particular break, Thanksgiving I believe, I had decided our family was going to run from our house to the nearby gym, 1 mile, and then do a family class. The kids were all excited except Wyatt who didn't want to run. Begrudgingly he went, but about halfway through the run and a fair amount of complaining already and while going up a hill, he decided he would no longer participate. He just say down in the middle of the road and refused to move. I tried to negotiate, bargain, bribe, and threaten him to no avail. It wasn't a busy road, but I was worried and I was angry. In my anger and frustration I decided that if I pinched him, maybe the pain would be enough motivation for him to run. I did it once and he was unmoved. I did it a second time harder and still nothing. At this point I looked to my husband, who is always the voice of calm and reason. He bent down and hefted him up and deposited him on the side of the road to solve our first and most pressing concern. I can't remember how we got him to the class in the end, but once there, he happily participated and walked home instead of running afterwards.
Flash forward two years. The expectation in our home was that each of our children would play one sport, play one instrument, and be successful in school. Although Wyatt is athletic...the academics are cake for him, the musical instrument is enjoyable most of the time for him, but the sports is a necessary evil. So as we approached middle school and he knew he needed a sport he decided to play soccer with a lot of his friends. In his first season he started on the JV team, won most improved player, and become a solid player despite his lack of any experience. Afterwards he was so excited he joined boys volleyball. There he also excelled without any experience and I was excited that perhaps an athlete was born.
Another year later and we decided to move to Texas. The middle school offered neither of those sports and he didn't want to participate any longer despite two amazing experiences. I reiterated our rule and he conceded to play club soccer. I signed him up, but due to the late sign up they had filled the spots on the team. His 8th grade year he escaped without any sport, but I prepared him to start mentally preparing for 9th grade because that would not be happening again. He decided that cross country is the sport he would choose. Imagine my absolute shock and blow me over with a puff of wind surprise. I cautiously asked him if he was sure; he told me yes. I prepared him that there would be no quitting midway through the season. He rolled his eyes at me. The year started and Isabella and I watched with apprehension.
He was by far the slowest on the team. He admitted the practices were hard. Some days he was very sore. But increasingly I heard less and less about it. About three weeks into the school year and 7 weeks into the season, he said - I think cross country is my favorite class this year. Here they practice not only before school, but you take the class as your first period class too. What?!?!? He said I really like the alone time to think each day. Even though the running still sometimes sucks it's gotten a lot easier, but it is just good personal time for me to think and I enjoy that. Well color me happy to see his attitude change.
Starting the season his time trials averaged in the 8 1/2 minute mile ranges, both for 1 mile and 2. But then about three weeks ago, I got a text. He had run his 1 mile trial in 6:48, a new PR for sure. We were so proud. He thought it was because of his time, but I explained it was because of his effort. He told me that his 2 mile trial was still around 16 minutes. I told him that I though so much of running was mental for him. His doubts and fears kept him reserved on the longer course, but I felt confident with the improvements I had seen in both his running and attitude that he could do much better. And so yesterday I was not surprised, but still amazingly enthused to get a text saying his new 2 mile PR was 13:53. His first mile was 6:46 a new PR and his second 7:07. Once again he was beyond elated and I finally sat him down to fully explain how proud of him I was.
You see not because of his time, although he is getting dang fast, but because our school is so deep in talent, especially on the cross country team. With that time, he still is not able to run on Varsity or JV only the fastest 7 run or both. But he still puts in his top effort day after day. He tries hard, makes good practice habits, and his hard work is paying off. He has changed his attitude, he has proven that the competition was never about anyone else, but about him seeing the fruits of his labor. And that is something he and we as his parents can be dang proud of. I asked him to send me a selfie and he didn't understand. He said I already showered and got ready for school. I said to send a selfie anyway. He did and I found exactly what I was looking for. The glowing eyes, and sweet smile of being proud of yourself when you have shown, even yourself, that you are capable of great, amazing things.
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