Cafeoutdoors.com: Gonna be a bittersweet day tomorrow...

Tomorrow we will make the 2 hour jaunt over to Jeff City to watch my son run the Class 1 State race...been going for 7 years now, tomorrow will be our last as parents watching our child run, my youngest is a senior...

My older son ran there for 3 years, took 35, 12th his junior year (team won State that year, first ever State trophy in anything for his school), and 5th his senior year...

My youngest has qualified to run there all four years, either as a runner, or his team qualified...his freshman year, the team qualified for State, Aaron was 7th on the team, but the coach left a higher a higher runner off the registration, my kid gave up his spot so the other kid could run...team took 3rd at State...Aaron won't be all-State this year, but if he runs good the team could be in the top four...he is a team runner...

Both my boys gave up football to run, both were above average football players, I love football...but I can't be prouder of them, the discipline they have learned through running has helped them in the classroom, both are NHS studets, both went to Boy's State...it has been a remarkable ride...

There is an odd comraderie that develops between distance runners, they race against each other frequently, especially the smaller schools...but they often don't have other elite runners to practice against, so many train together...my older son did this...they will finish a race and greet the others until most have finished...it is awesome sportsmanship to watch...

Won't miss buying $120 dollar running shoes every 3 months...but I'll be back at State XC, my older boy will be coaching a team next year that qualified for State this year, with only one senior...but it will be different!

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somewhere between "Hi, how can we help you?" and "Get off my lawn!"

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