No Watch, No Phone, Just GO!!

As a parent-volunteer-coach I have only a few jobs at a track meet … and I suppose I failed last night. Keep splits. After lap 3 of the 8-lap 3200m I saw what kind of night it was going to be … cool, no breeze, hungry pack of guys competing … and I simply gave up on giving splits ... “TIME DOESN’T MATTER!!!! JUST RACE EACH OTHER FOR ANOTHER LAP!!!” I said for each of the remaining 5 laps.

On the parenting side, my phone was dead - no photos, videos, or up close selfies w/ my son or other athletes after they finished fantastic races. It was just us being caught up in the moment. Them running another lap against one another. Me enjoying the sunset, sweat, and the purity of competition on the track. Just another lap. And then another. Another. I left my post at the start/finish line where splits are yelled … went to the homestretch. The backstretch. Per usual there were some running PR races and some that wanted more from themselves and others just figuring out the sport.

The best part … teammates being elated with their buddy’s PR. Competitors wanting to crush each other for 8 laps but then hugging and lifting one another up after they cross the line. This is everything I could’ve asked for going into the Boston Marathon on Monday. That high school feeling again with a sunset. Performance comes when you let go of the phone, let go of the watch, and hang on to one another. A special thanks to those young brave athletes for reminding me to take it in and reset my focus. I owe you one big time.

Video clips from my wife in the stands … she’s of course a veteran super-parent with all the vids / pics alongside our other two restless ones 😍

I’m so thankful, but not surprised that another rockstar parent captured this at the finish line …. we must lift one another up!!!!