Abby has been training for several weeks for the annual Cross Country Run for 3rd-5th graders in our County. We spent several evenings each week as a family running loops around our neighborhood and they also practiced at school during their gym time. She definitely has some great endurance and is improving with her speed as well.
The big day arrived on Saturday, September 27th and she was VERY excited. There were 134 runners in the 3rd grade girls group from all the different schools in the area.
Abby getting some last minute advice from her gym teacher, Mr. Zellman (Mr. Z)...
Getting ready for take off...
They ran about 2/3 of a mile. For the first half, we couldn't see the runners because they went around the school and through a wooded area. This was our first sight of Abby as she came back up and over the hill...
Her goal was to finish in the top 30 (so she would earn a ribbon and get her name in the paper) but at this point she was about 40th...
She kept pushing though and ended up passing about 15 runners during the last third of a mile.
Almost there...
She ended up finishing in 25th place and we couldn't have been more proud!!
Here she is with the top 30 runners from her race...
She had three other friends from her school who also finished in the top 30. A very good day for the Paramount 3rd grade girls!!
She was a bit emotional afterwards as one of her friends earned a medal for finishing in the top 15. She has decided that finishing in the top 15 will be her goal for next year and has dedicated herself to more training in order to get herself there. It's always great to have a goal, but we are so proud of how well she did in her first race.
Way to go ABBY!!
