Fall is in the air

Varsity Girls huddle before the meet


Varsity Boys er um...get ready






Cross country meets, the smell of wet grass and decomposing leaves, the need to put on layers of long sleeves, putting an extra blanket on the bed...these things all portend the coming winter. My son Matt is running with the high school cross country team this fall. I am so incredibly proud of him. He is not fast, he usually comes in last on the team, but he persists, he doesn't stop, he maintains his speed, he doesn't give up. Running for him is more for fitness and fun, and I believe a personal challenge that he is enjoying. The benefits of his running are evident. He's feeling fit, looking in shape and loving the time he spends with his friends on the team. They all support him and cheer him on. I missed the meet where they all ran with him for the last bit, cheering him on, but I heard about it.

There are many life lessons to learn from cross country teams, not the least of which is that the joy is simply in doing. Keith Olberman mentioned during his broadcast last week, a group of female cross country runners from Ithaca who all got lost in the woods and decided to exit and finish in the order they entered and got lost in the first place. Those girls were our girls! His point was that true sportsmanship is not dead.