18 May 2009

Track and Field

I've been trying to write this post about Madison for a while now, but life keeps getting in the way. Anyway, here goes . . . .

This spring Madison joined the Provo city track and field team. You may not believe me, but she has some advantages over the other runners.

First, she is skinny. She is nine and might weigh 45 lbs. soaking wet. It takes less energy to move skinny than it does to move fat. For that matter it take less energy to move skinny than it does to move not quite as skinny.

Second, she practices more than the the allotted three hours a week as she is constantly running away from the torment of three little brothers. Unfortunately, distance rarely removes you from the torment of brothers. Not that I would know, my two brothers are and always have been absolute gems. That being said, I'm pretty sure I was the best sister a couple of boys could ever hope for.

Third, Madison never lets anyone get in the way of something she's worked for. She's timid but determined.

Last Thursday (the 14th) was her first ever track meet. She was a little nervous. "Mom," she said, "The 14 year old girl on my team is way faster than me." She felt a little better when she heard she wouldn't be competing against the 14 year olds.

She competed in the 100 meter, the 200 meter, and the standing long jump. She did well enough on the long jump and the 100 meter, but her crowning moment was the 200 meter.

They put her in lane 6. Now I know that all the lanes are the same distance. I learned that from cyberchase (that link takes a long time to load by the way. At least it does for me . . . if it doesn't for you, try not to brag). Madison also knows that all the lanes are the same distance (who do you think I was watching cyberchase with after all? If I'd had my druthers we'd have been watching Judge Judy. But try as I might she's never been that interested in law).

Even though all the lanes are the same distance Madison still felt like she was starting out in first place and was willing to fight to keep it. She held strong until a boy (yes she was racing against boys) started coming up on her. So she ran faster, so he ran faster, so she ran faster, so he ran faster, and so on and so forth. You'd be amazed at how much back and forth there can be in 200 meters. She. Was. Awesome.

In the end he barely one, but I'm sure it was only because he didn't want to be humiliated by being out run by a 45 lb girl.

Watch out though little boy, there's another track meet next week and she's coming for you.

3 comments:

Shell said...

That is awesome. Way to go, Maddie!

Anonymous said...

Go, Madison!

They don't make them compete against 14-year-olds, but they do make them compete against boys? Interesting.

Ali said...

Wow. Go Maddie! that's rockin'!