Not a Track Star

Sometime last fall, Christina let Wayne and I know that she wanted to do fall track.  Imagine my surprise considering I'd never seen Christina run, jog, or walk for exercise, not to mention she hasn't participated in a team sport since elementary school soccer (I think she did 2 seasons).  Honestly, I thought she was kidding, but she brought this up a couple more times, and then she went and signed herself up!  The Saturday before track started, Christina suited up in workout clothes, borrowed my old running shoes, and said, "I'll be right back.  I'm going to 'take a run.'"  I scratched my head and chuckled.  And she was off.


After a couple weeks of track I asked Christina what event she was doing.  She answered, "The 100.  I can't run very far."  Again, I'm taken aback.  I don't know any sprinters in our pedigree.  Not one.  "Any other events?" I ask.  "Nope. Just the 100."  After discussing her times, and how she faired in meets, it was clear that she was at the back of the pack of runners.....for her single event.  Wayne and I wondered if the $240 athletic fee was worth it.  I had a nagging feeling that there was more to this for Christina than whether she was an emerging track star.  We decided to support her.  We enabled and encouraged her by making the extra trips to the school for practices and meets.  We purchased workout clothes, the team sweatsuit, & spiked shoes for our sprinter.  We had conversations about the benefits of her participating in track.

• We talked about how this is good for Christina's health.  She's not growing in height anymore, and so it's important to be active in order to stay in good shape.  She can always go jogging---it requires minimal gear, just get up and go.  Jogging gives quick positive boosts to mental and physical well-being.  It's good for your bones.
• While we asked about her times and placement at meets, that has always been  secondary to how much effort she put into her races.  We asked questions like, "How do you feel about how things went?"  "What went well?"  "Is there anything you'd change?"  The tone has always been encouraging and supportive.

• Christina has come in last place A LOT.  At first this was embarrassing and discouraging for her.  No one likes coming in last place.  But since when is last place equivalent to failure?  I shared with her how I quit the track team in high school because I was too scared to compete.  I was afraid of not doing well.  I let my fear of failure keep me from what could have been a great experience on the track team.  To see Christina get out there and go for it regardless of where she places at the finish line, makes me beyond proud...I'm inspired, and I've told her so.
• Christina left one meet frustrated because she didn't feel like she was timed fairly.  The girl who finished just behind her got a much faster time.  I reacted by telling Christina not to worry about it; it must have been a mix-up.  I thought to myself that it wasn't going to make a difference in the end whether Christina finished last or second to last, so why challenge her time?  However, Wayne encouraged Christina to stick up for herself, and that no question she should talk to the couches whenever there is a time discrepancy.  Wayne's advice resonated with Christina and with me.  I quickly realized that my initial reaction devalued Christina, but Wayne's approach did just the opposite.  He reminded Christina that her efforts were of worthy of defending.  Period.  

Recently I took the kids to one of Christina's meets which was against one of the schools within our ward boundaries, so there were a few other girls from our church there competing as well.  Even though only one of them placed in a single event, they let us know how much it meant to them to have us there cheering them on.  Grace cheered so loud you could hear her on the other side of the track.  To see four of my YW giving it their all was beautiful!   What a great thing for my two little girls to see.


So, no, Christina is not a track star.  There will be no college recruiters or track scholarships in her future, but that's not her goal.  She enjoys being on the track team, and thinks that track will add something positive to her college application.  She's a smart girl.


On her own, Christina followed up winter track with spring track.  She added long jump to her events.

And while she may not be a track star, Christina is a bright star in Young Womens at church.  She has embraced the values and principles that gave her the confidence to sign up for track in the first place, and have a great experience participating on the track team and competing in a sport she knew nothing about just before high school.  She IS a star; a beautiful light to all around her, including her proud mom.  I'll be forever cheering , "Go, NINA!!!!"