I finally emptied my phone card

. . . and look what I found!

A birthday boy, who obviously is fond of my favorite sport, eating well as he turns 13.It is difficult to take small children to places that sell toys. They think they can play with everything.My home away from home in the wee hours of the morning.The best way to put it, is that I am usually home by 7:00 AM after swimming.
I found this scary duo at the entrance to Fred Meyer this morning. I think they are getting ready to really scare people for Halloween. I am glad to be a Cross Country Mom and a Track Mom, not a Hockey Mom. I am the kind that does not need lipstick. How can someone with such dark hair seem so blonde?

For the real news

I was checking my old local paper to see if they noticed what happened today and I found this story, which was far more interesting. You can always count on SF Gate.

La bicyclette jaune allez tres vite

This fine sunny afternoon was the third of three bike races locally for kids. They seem to draw a larger crowd when it is not raining.10 and 11 year old bikes waiting to start.

We start by spreading out to stretch.
This is where they put the shifter in P for Pounce.
Off to a good start.
6th out of 10 around the first turn, but who cares at this point?
Moving up on the second lap.

This is actually third place, because the first guy in the red shirt is an adult showing the kids the course.
I can multitask. His hand is out for the cup of water I am holding for him. My bike is back there holding up a tree.
I was not close enough to the finish line to catch the celebratory skid, but I did see it from where I was standing. He picked up about 10 lengths on the leader in the last lap to pass him at the end. We all know which side of the family this behavior comes from.
At the end of the day, a short ride back to the car, which would be why my bike came along for the race. I tried to convince them I was 12. When they asked for my ID, I told them I was not old enough to have a license, but they were not buying my story. If I go online early enough on the 15th of October, I can do their triathlon next summer.

Riding in the rain and running with the explorers

Last Sunday was another bike race. The notice said that the race would go in any weather. We did not let the slight dampness keep us home. Beware the jumprope and bike helmet combination. Not too many kids showed up. This group represents everyone from age 9 to 13. Last week, there were more 10 and 11 year old boys than there are kids in the picture.
He may not be the fastest off the starting line.
Coming around the first loop, he is riding alone.
At the finish, my boy is first.
Today we had sunny warm weather, and scenic trees with changing leaves.

Some of the race was difficult to capture.
Closer to the cameras, he pushes up a hill.
And passes a few boys on his way by the camera. After this shot, I ran back to the finish line to collect stickers after the second trip around the loop.
The race passed this gentleman out on the loops through the trees. We went down to see him after the race. Even though this course this week was more challenging than last week, my son took more than 10 seconds off his time.

My girl is racing in Missoula with her team this week. I have not heard from her with results, but I am positive she is having a delightful time on the road trip.

Running races

Yesterday was the first race of the season for my son's cross country team. His sister was quick to point out that she has run more races already, but what do you expect from high school. She ran yesterday at another venue and finished very well. I can only be in one place at a time, and she can drive herself. Her father went down on his bike to watch her, but he had a difficult time finding her in the crowd. Sorry, no pictures of that event.

He is racing in yellow again this year, just to the right of the boy in green. This coach did not win any points with the parents as he followed his team around the course yelling what I hope his kids though were encouraging words at them.

Just off the start, they rounded this tree. Some kids could maintain this sprint speed, and others could not.My son played tag with this girl for most of the race, but he passed her before it was over.Sprinting into the finish.Off he goes. He finished 5th over all and second of his teammates. His group, which includes fifth and sixth grade boys, ran a mile.