5.15.2012

Wellsville Mile 2012

6 weeks of training.


9 different schools.


1,340 4th & 5th graders.


12 different heats.


1 mile sprint.


9 minutes 35.3 seconds.


First ever 1 mile race, complete.  38th place overall for Heat #1, 112 runners.

This race has been going on in the Cache County School District for 32 years.  I kept hearing parents talking about "when I ran this race..."  Students are invited to participate from 9 elementary schools in the district and the race takes place in the small, rural town of Wellsville.  I was thoroughly impressed with the organization of this event and the volunteers who help put this race together.  Buses everywhere, kids everywhere, parents everywhere -- and it was no different that any other organized race.

Students from the Track & Field team at Mountain Crest High School were on hand to run with these kids and give them the motivation to finish.  The boy in orange you see running with Brielle stuck with her the entire time, offering words of encouragement through to the very end.

For Brielle, the weeks leading up to this event was challenging and the thought of coming in last terrified her.  She wasn't sure this was something she wanted to do, but I wasn't about to let her back down.  I'm super proud that Brielle stuck with it, finished and improved her practice time by 40 seconds.  Watching her was motivating.  And... it made me want to the hit the gym to see if I can complete a mile run as fast as her.  Stay tuned.

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