We had to get up early this morning for Kelly’s last cross country meet. The freshman boys would race at 8 am and the girls would race at 8:30 am. Kelly and I left first because she had to be there at 7:30 a.m. , and the drive was more than 30 minutes away. Our destination was the same course that had wiped Kelly out for her first meet.
Kelly was bundled up in a ski cap and parka. As we approached the field (which is in the Chattahoochee river basin) Kelly observed that the frost on a golf course and the fog made everything look like snow. I told her to hold up her fist at the course, shake it, and say “I defy you!” (Inside joke… she laughed.)
The sun rose and warmed things up a bit. Kelly and her friends huddled together during the boys’ race, getting themselves psyched up for their race. Kathy, Claire, Clyde, and Stout arrived just in time for the beginning of Kelly’s race.
Kelly intentionally started off slower than the pack so that she could choose a target in front of her to pass. This was an approach her coach had recommended. Sure enough, she started passing one girl after another. While three orange-suited girls from Parkview broke way ahead, Kelly was one of the leaders of the Brookwood team by the 1 mile mark. By the two mile mark she had passed all but 6 girls, holding 7th. She was the lead Brookwood runner. Her coach spotted her and yelled… “Look at Kelly! Cashel is having the run of her life!” He was very surprised and excited about how well she was doing. He started shouting encouragement to her at the various bends that would snake in towards the crowd.
“Don’t look back Cashel! Keep pushing Cashel!” As she approached the end of the 3 mile race, he shouted, “She’s going to break 24!” She not only broke 24, but she stepped on it with a 23 min 30 29 sec strong finish. She placed 7th and earned a medal. Her teammates all congratulated her on such a strong finish, and her coach was amazed. (We decided he was surprised because he had not noted her time last race and did not fully realize the progress she had been making. He must not read this blog.)
After some socializing, the four of us celebrated at a nearby Waffle House. (Clyde and Stout had to celebrate in the car.)
And her coach was right. This really was the run of her life. Way to go Kelly! What a great way to finish the season!
