The Trifecta

Every year on the Friday before Derby, Concord Elementary holds a Derby of their own with all the festivities.  Prior to this day, each class has a race to pick their fastest girl and boy to represent them in the Derby.  On Derby Day, grade by grade, the representatives from each class square off against one another, sprinting the approximately 100 meters around the pick/up drop/off circle in front of the school.

Throughout this whole year we've heard about Derby Day at Concord.  Being apart of our crazy running family has made our boys a 'crazy' by osmosis, so they were dead-set determined to be in this race! 

Each of them, indeed, won the race to represent their class.  Not surprisingly, when Friday morning arrived, there was great excitement in our home.  There was no special prodding needed to get up that morning.  Owen, especially.  He jumped right out of bed and exclaimed, 'It's Derby Day!'  He took great pains to dress the part that day, wearing his favorite shorts and black Nike socks that went up to his knees (trying his best to copy the performance sock look that his older brother sports).

My friend jokingly said she was putting her money on a Grogan Trifecta.

That afternoon, we crossed our fingers that the dark skies would hold back the bucketful of rains predicted.  The ominous looking skies stayed at bay and students and parents alike stood by to cheer.

No Derby is ever official without a rendition of 'Our Old Kentucky Home' (sung by the fifth grade choir):

And a parade of beautiful homemade hats:

As beautiful as they were, I think this one might have been my fav:

Then it was off to the races!

The first group of horses racers, were the Kindergartners.  Owen walked up, clad in his long black socks with his jaw set and eyes ablazing.  I only wish I could capture in pictures the transformation that happens in this child when he is running.  Ridiculously impassioned, he is.  One can only laugh at the serious stature that overtakes this usually happy-go-lucky six-year-old.  If this boy didn't win, he sure was going to die trying.

And they're off!

As they rounded the corner, Owen and his fellow Kindergartner were neck and neck.

They went out of view for approximately five seconds, but it felt like five minutes.  Finally they rounded the last corner, and we squinted to see who had taken the lead.

He tried with all his might and got second!  We were so proud of him!

Soon, it was time for the second grade race.  Jeremiah is the one in the tie-dye.




He got out in a flash!



We again wait an eternity for them to round that corner...




What I love most about watching Jeremiah run is the fact that he alwasy looks like he is smiling.  I guess you can't help to let it show all over when you are doing something you love.

Jeremiah won!  The best part about it was watching his teacher jump up and down.  That's her in the picture and yes she is as fun as she looks!

Soon it was time for the last race of the day--the fifth graders.  They lined up, a cross between 'I'm too cool for this' and 'deep down really caring about winning'.

And off they went!

They finally rounded that corner.  Oh, it was tight!

But in the end, his buddy pulled ahead.

Second place is a beautiful thing when the runner-up can turn and shake the hand of the winner after the race.  I think this is what I will remember most about this day.  

A Trifecta of sorts.  The first and last time such will ever happen in the history of the Grogan home.  Cause my middle born is headed off to middle school next year.  

There might be no more Trifectas, but I might be persuaded to bet on a Daily Double.  Time shall tell.