Regionals-- A Day of Firsts and Lasts

November 3, 2012.  

The date that high schools across the state of Kentucky compete in their district's regionals.  You see, winning or placing high at your district's regionals earns your team a ticket to the high school state cross country meet.  So, all season long, that date has been looming over our runners like a carrot dangling over a rabbit.  Every mile repeat.  Every tempo run.  Every work out.  All the striving ultimately had one goal--regionals.

This year was a special year for our runners in McCracken County, for it was the last year that Heath would ever compete as Heath high school in the 1A division and it was the last year that Lone Oak would compete as Lone Oak in the 2A division.    Next year Heath, Lone Oak and Reidland high schools will be consolidated into a new school called McCracken County High School and they will move into the largest cross country division--3A.

To help with a smooth consolidation, the school administration decided at the beginning of cross country season to go ahead and combine the Heath and Lone Oak cross country teams for their practices.  Thus, Lone Oak and Heath have been practicing together all season long under a single coach for the girls and a single coach for the boys, yet competing separately at the meets.

It has been something special to witness...the comraderie that has developed throughout the season between these two rival schools.  Across the miles and miles of running, walls have crumbled down, friendships forming in its place.  

We have witnessed Black and Gold and Purple praying together before the meets.


We have witnessed Black and Gold and Purple cheering one another on.

We have witnessed a coming together based on love, respect, downright goofiness and fun.  All of the best ingredients to forge a team.

Eric and I have had the honor of being the cross country FCA huddle leaders.  Basically, what this means is one day a week we gather the team together at the end of practice and lead a Bible devotional and prayer time.  Spending this time with them each week has been priceless.  Being able to pray for these kids throughout the week has been a privilege that has allowed us to get to know them on a deeper level.

This past week our FCA devotional was focused on 'laying it all out/giving it all for the team.'  We discussed that if there was ever a time to be there for the team, it was this Saturday at regionals.  We watched a small clip of a video showing a girl giving her all at their team's state championship, allowing her team to win the state title.  We discussed  how Jesus had laid it all out for His team (us), sacrificing His very life for each of us so we could have life.  We talked about how, indeed, the race was a big deal on Saturday...maybe the biggest race they had ever run yet.  However, even bigger is our life--the race we are running with our life.  In life, there is a definite start line and a definite finish line.  Over the course of your race, you have a choice to make...you can choose to run on Jesus' team...or you can choose to not.  We ended our time together  with the question:  When you cross the finish line in life, whose team are you going to be on?  

Friday night we hosted all of the Lone Oak and Heath girls for a lasagna dinner at our house while another family hosted all of the boys at their house.  We loved having these girls at our house with all of our heart.  Such a sweet, sweet group they are!  

After dinner, Coach Sturm, the girl's coach, gave the team a little pep talk.  He started off having them watch a video (a longer version of the clip we had watched at FCA):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrTtDxd-4iY

He talked about the courageous finish this young lady had.  She had finished for the team and if there was ever a time to finish for the team, it was tomorrow.  He talked about the fact that this was the first time in history that Heath had ever had a girl's team in the running to make it to state (the team was ranked third and the top three finishers at regionals go).  He talked about the fact that the Lone Oak girls could win their regionals if they put their mind to it.  He also talked about the fact that this was the last year Heath would have a team.  This was the last year that Lone Oak would have a team.  Across town, Coach Durfee was giving a similar pep talk to the boys.  The Heath boys were ranked number one for their region--but then Josh (their second runner) had gotten hurt.  Whether or not they could win the regional was more of a question mark then it had been a few weeks ago.  They were going to have go all out tomorrow.  Every single runner was going to have to bring their A game.  Runner #5 was going to be of utmost importance.   

The Friday night dinner was a coming together of Heath and Lone Oak--then a parting of ways.  Because Heath is a 1A school and Lone Oak is a 2A school, they were in different regionals.  Heath would be traveling to Fulton County.  Lone Oak would be traveling to Logan County.  Everyone wished the other luck and promised to be texting as soon as the races were over to let the others know how they did.  Since Sophie and Joshua go to Heath, we were going to the Heath regionals...but we would anxiously be anticipating the news from our Lone Oakers.  Everyone felt that way that day.  Our hearts were divided across the state, because our team was divided across the state.

Saturday morning came.  It was much warmer than anyone anticipated--a little warm by XC standards. 

The girl's race was first.  The team warmed up...

Mamas took pictures of their sweet girls...

Daddys gave last minute encouragement and support...

Parents stood around making small talk, trying to not be nervous...

Coach Durfee rallied the troops before heading to the front line...

 The start...

 And they're off!

Runners after the first loop.  The lead pack emerged with many tailing right behind them...

After the second loop...starting to see the pain on the faces...  Sophie was in a strong third...

This runner--Caitlin--was nursing an ankle injury and actually rolled it during the race.  Had she dropped out, our team's chances of going to state would have vanished out of sight.  Gotta love her determination!  I believe visions of the video we watched the night before kept her going when she wanted to quit.

Laying it all out for the team...
               Go Jessie Go!

Go Jenna and Allie!

You can do it Mason!

Every single girl finished strong and gave it their all.  Everyone of them--they pushed it for the team.  Sophie led the team with a strong third place finish, followed by 15th, 22nd, 25th, 26th and 30th.  Four out of our six girls ran a personal best.  Their effort was not in vain. Finishing third in the region, they were going to state!  A first in Heath history!

A text confirmed that our Lone Oak girls had won the 2A title, finishing 2nd, 4th, 9th, 10th and 15th!  The Fulton County cell tower was getting hammered with teammates texting teammate across the state!

Woo Hoo!  It was just too much--Black & Gold and Purple all going to state together!  Let's get some air on that one! 

We celebrated unofficially and then...gained some composure and turned around, ready to bite our nails for a second time today.  Cause now it was time for these young men to show us what they were made of.  I heard someone in the crowd say that it was going to come down to the fourth and fifth runners on the team.  Indeed it was.  

Let the battle begin!

Coming around the first loop, Zach clearly took the lead, with many black jerseys fighting for position in the background.

Here they emerged from the second loop.  Zach had a sizable lead...and these guys were hanging in the front of the pack.  Look at all that black!  Heath mama and daddys all over the course were getting hopeful...

We screamed like Heathens until we were hoarse when our number five runner came into the finish, clinching the Regional title!  

Placing 1st, 6th, 7th, 8th, 12th, 17th and 27th...they didn't  just win, they swept it!  

A Regional title--the first in Heath history!

I couldn't help believing that the wearing of this had had something to do with the strength we had witnessed out on the course.

All smiles abounded at the award ceremony from boy and girl alike:

Smiles in Fulton County...

Smiles in Logan County... 

The coach leading the team in a time of thanksgiving...

Accomplishing many historical firsts in a year that would be the last...a special moment indeed.

And now it's off to state we go!

Drama, Drama, Drama

Last Saturday we left the Meet of Champions, jokingly commenting that it had been a day filled with drama.  First, Wes had awoken that morning covered from head to toe with poison ivy.  Then, Joshua had fallen and been transported off the course by way of the medical cart.  Then, Wes had gutted it out to the finish line, only to have the officials mix up the places during the medal ceremony.  

Little did we know, our drama was just getting started.

Sunday morning we were on our way to our old church in Louisville, excited to see people we hadn't seen for awhile, when suddenly the 'Low Engine Power' light came on.  Eric kept trying to push on the gas, but there was no power.  Nothing.  We coasted our big rig into a parking lot, turned off the engine and called Eric's parents.    While we were waiting on them, we decided to try to start it back up.  Strangely, it started back up just fine.  On a wing and a prayer, we decided to drive down the street to Ken Towery's.  Maybe they were open.  If not, at least we wouldn't have to pay a tow fee to get it there.  

We made it with no problem (though they were closed) and called his parents to now meet us there.  His dad wondered if we had gotten some bad gas and suggested we rev the engine for awhile.  Eric did better than that.  He drove around and around the building as fast as he could, causing the Ken Towery cleaning crew to cock a brow.  Eric finally stopped and explained what we were doing.  

One of the men replied, with great enthusiasm, 'Oh, yeah!  I bet you got you some bad gas.  What you need to do is head on over there to Wal-mart, buy you some gas treatment, put it in your gas tank and then take it out there on the interstate and blow it out!'

Excuse me, Sir, but do you happen to be from Paducah?  And, why are we destined to shop at Wal-mart?

So Eric's parents brought us their vehicle, and I piled in with the kids.  Eric went over to Wally World, bought some gas treatment and blew it out.  By this point, we were going to get to church about the time they were wrapping up, so being the responsible parent I am, we went back to the grandparents and watched the Avengers. 

Oh well, we tried.

Eric took the van and blew it out--all the way to LaGrange.  And our van was fine.  Real fine.

We laughingly said we hoped that was the end of our drama.

But wait--there's more.

Eric decided to drive our prize-winning, browner-than-dirt 1992 Chevrolet truck back to Paducah.  We lovingly refer to it as 'Heart & Soul'.  Heart and Soul has been sitting in his parent's driveway for a couple of months too many.  We were kind of hoping they might want to keep him.  The last time Heart & Soul made a trip, he broke down three times.  Me and Heart & Soul--well, we have a hate/hate relationship.  I was nervous-skiddish that Heart & Soul would kick the bucket on the side of the WK (Western KY Parkway).  I was nervous-skiddish that Big Rig would decide to power down again.    

I decided this called for a Starbucks.

Anyway, I was driving the big rig--packed to the rim with kids--drinking my Starbucks, listening to Elevation Network live, enjoying myself a little too much.  'Cause suddenly I've got siren lights going off in the rear view.  

And I found myself sitting on the side of the WK, but not like I had anticipated.  

'Ma'am do you realize why I just pulled you over?'

Loaded down with six kids and groceries for a month from Costco, did my big rig hit max capacity?

'I clocked you going 87 in a 65.'

I was just trying to blow out some gas, Sir. Really.

'Ma'am did you know that your license expired last month?'

Of course it did. 

'Ma'am, here is a citation.  Since your license is expired you will have to appear in court.  If you don't show up, they will issue a warrant for your arrest.  Now, since you don't have anyone of age that can drive, I am going to turn around now and head east and you can continue west--catch my drift?  Be careful and slow her down.'

I got a good look at the Ohio county surroundings since I would be driving 1 1/2 hours back here for a Monday morning 8:30 AM court date. I cautiously pulled back out on the interstate, hands in the 10 and 2 position, my body in a deflated position.  

Then I realized that our five year old was sitting in the back of the van, looking kind of smallish.  Kind of curled up in a fetal-like position.  

'Owen, did it scare you that a policeman just pulled us over?'

'Yes.  I was so tared.  I tought he was going to awwest me cause I was sittin on my knees.' (slight speech impediment, were working on it)

Too bad, hindsight's 50/50.  I so could have taken advantage of that moment, forever stopping my five-year-old's battle over the buckling.  

Amazingly, Heart and Soul and Big Rig made it home with no more side of the road experiences.  I was especially proud of Heart and Soul...it was his shining moment.  I decided to upgrade our relationship to a love/hate status.

Of course, everyone rushed in trying to be the first to share the news with their daddy about the ticket.  That was my shining moment.

We all fell in bed, exhausted, thinking that the citation sure was the finale of a drama-filled weekend.

Not quite so fast, buddy.

At 11:00 PM, Jeremiah stood over me (why oh why do all the late night calls come to the mama side of the bed?).  I immediately jumped out of bed, ready to pick him up and run to the toilet in the heave position (my go-to position during all night calls).  I quickly ruled out throw up, though, when I realized he was sobbing and holding his ear.  Poor little guy. After dosing him up with Motrin, I tucked him back into bed.  

At 2:00 AM he woke me again, sobbing and holding his ear.  I was out of options.  We had no Tylenol, and Motrin couldn't be given for three more hours.  

Dr. Google to the rescue.

Finally, A warm compression and warm olive oil with minced garlic on a cottonball seemed to do the trick (Okay, I realize now that minced garlic in the ear is probably not the best option, but it was 2:00 AM and my brain was only half firing.  No judgment, please.)

Tear-stained, angelic eight-year-old face asked if he could sleep with us.  How do you say no to that?  So while he laid between Eric and I, rolling over every few minutes, I laid in a squished ball, eyes wide open.  Eric snored peacefully...and that's all I have to say about that.  Cause I learned growing up if you don't have something nice to say, keep your trap shut.

At 5:30, my eyes still wide open, Eric sleeping blissfully, trap still shut, Jeremiah awoke again, sobbing in pain.

We got up, I shuffled to the kitchen and gave him some Motrin.  This time Dr. Disney Jr. came to the rescue while I made some coffee.  Oh, it was going to be a looooonnnggg Monday.

But wait--there's more.

At 6:30, Wes came down the stairs and I about jumped out of my skin, cause he kind of looked like he had a distorted face mask on.  Except he didn't.  It was his face.  His poison ivy had went to his bloodstream and he looked like Will Smith on Hitch.

So we now have a writhing ear infection, a puffed up distorted face, a foot that might be broken, all the while our children's health insurance is proving to be about as worthless as driving down a dark road with the headlights off.  

Shouldn't the drama be drying up?  What more could happen?  Oh, what more could be unleashed on our poor, innocent family?

Leave it to the O-factor.

As I was taking the dog out for his morning walk, all of a sudden Owen came bolting out of our house like a bat out of hell.  He ran down the street towards me with a look of terror on his face, like he had seen a ghost.  As he caught up to me, he kept looking back like somebody was after him.

It didn't take me long to figure out that Owen was scared of Wes.

Owen was scared of Wes.

And when you live in a home of five boys (I say five because my husband was just as bad), it didn't take long for them to want to capitalize on the moment.  Eric wanted Wes to run out the door towards Owen with his hands up in the air.  I, thankfully, came to the poor little guy's rescue.  Oh, but they wanted to do it so badly.

All the way to school Owen kept his hands over his eyes.  When Owen started to whine about his jacket, Joshua said if he didn't cool it, Wes was going to look at him.  Which made Owen yell as if in pain.  Then, every so often Wes would make ghost sounds.  And Owen would yell in pain again.  Poor Owen.  Being the youngest of four brothers is a tough spot to be.

We spent the day injecting Wes with prednisone, getting Joshua's foot x-rayed and drinking lots of coffee.  When we picked Owen up from school, he got in the van with his hands over his eyes.

Oh, brother.

Oh, brother, indeed.

Owen would not even be in the same room as Wes.  So that night Owen ate his supper alone in the play room.  

He would yell over to us every so often, 'This is really good bread!'  or 'Can I have some more?'  But, no sir, no sir-ee, he was not going to step foot in the same room as his brother.

The next day Wes was still swollen but was well enough to go back to school.  I tried to convince Owen to look at him.  I even took a picture of Wes with my cell phone and tried to get him to look at that.  No luck.  

'Owen, you've got to sit in the van with Wes on the way to school.  And you are going to have to be in the same room as Wes to eat breakfast.'

He came up with a plan, of course.

I had to go into school and explain the situation to Owen's teachers in case he saw Wes at school.  I know.  Hysterically ridiculous.

Wednesday came.  Wes, at this point, looked normal.  I woke up Owen, thinking surely he was going to snap out of his irrationality.  I talked until I was blue in the face.  But he was convinced that Wes was still scary.  What once was funny was starting to become a nuisance.  Mama was starting to lose her patience.

After having yet another melt-down over almost seeing Wes, I got fed up and told him: 'If you want to go trick or treating tonight you are going to have to look at your brother.  Because you are going to be seeing a whole lot more scary faces out there than him.  You got that?'  I felt smugly satisfied, sure it would do the trick.

Wednesday afternoon, when I pulled up at carpool, Owen got in the van, cap pulled over his eyes, and exclaimed, 'It's okay!  I don't need to go twick or tweating.  Mrs. Faughn gave us a wot of candy!'

Thanks a lot, Mrs. Faughn.

In yet another proud parenting moment, I retracted my statement that he couldn't go trick or treating since it was getting us no where anyway, and who wants to be known someday as the mother who wouldn't let me go trick or treating when I was five because I was too scared to look at my brother?

Halloween.  It definitely wasn't a banner year at the Grogan home.  Joshua couldn't participate because of his foot.  Owen was throwing a fit every time Wes got near him (Wes had to wear a mask the whole night), Sophie was sulking over the fact that trick or treating plans with her cross country friends had fallen through, and me?  Well, I just wanted to lock them all out, put on my pj's, curl up on the couch with a glass of wine.  Or two.

Instead, I told them to go outside and get a picture.  Cause that's what I do in awkward moments.  Record it.

I asked Captain America after the picture if he needed to go to the bathroom to which he replied, 'No, I'm just holding my pee pee.'  Ummmm, yeah.  I'm not sure why that answer worked.  I guess I have too many boys to care.  Anyway, a half mile down the road, Captain America had to strip down by the nearest tree.

Yesterday, at the end of cross country practice, Owen came up out of the blue and proudly declared, 'Guess what?  I looked at Wes!  He's not scarwy!'

What an anti-climatic end to our drama-filled week.  

Praise the Lord for that!







  

Snapshots of MOC 2012

The start of the girl's middle school race of 7th and 8th graders--350 plus girls... 

 Sophie ran a PR and medaled, placing 48th!  Yelling for her began my hoarseness.  She finished strong and we were so very proud of her!

One of her very best friends since 1st grade, Catherine, placed 3rd.  We screamed her into the finish!  I need to get her autograph now before she makes it big.

Sophie's teammates, Kaylyn and Ashlee also medaled, placing 34th and 39th!  Yay girls!  

We enjoyed bringing our new Paducah friend, Eli, along to the race.  He fit right in with our crew.  Here's Wes and Eli trying to stay warm. 

And here's Eli praying.  Actually, I think he was just trying to keep warm, but his mom will like that answer.

Fun Uncle Trent playing with Pols and O.  He is fun, but I think he was trying to keep warm too.

I do not know what team this is, but I love shots like this.  So common in cross-country, to see a team huddled together, praying or offering up last words of encouragement before the start.

Wes and Eli line up along with 391 other boys for the start of the 5th and 6th grade boys race.

This talented six grader is Stevie, a boy that our kids have run with for years on the Y team in Louisville.  He sure did run a strong race, finishing 2nd.  

Wes stayed on the heels of his buddy, Riggs, the entire race.  These two are fierce competitors.  They like to make every race a nail biter to the end.  Yes, I was the crazy mom jumping up and down on the bleachers like a mad woman.  Wes literally beat Riggs by a nose...and maybe not  by that much!  Wes got 8th and Riggs got 9th.  They are going to be fun to watch in the years to come!  

Here's Eli coming down the home stretch, finishing 130th!  So proud of him in his very first MOC!

Ethan and Wes congratulating each other.

Ethan is another buddy of Wes' and one amazing runner!  He finished 18th.  So impressive! 

Jeremiah ran in the 4th grade and under race along with 288 other runners.

 He finished 76th.  Way to go Jeremiah!  What an effort in all your cuteness!

Do you see the look of determination on this little guy?  He passed no telling how many boys at the end of the race, finishing 45th.  He sure did earn his medal!

All I can say is--Sweet.

Three of the best cheerleaders in the whole world...  Some of Sophie's dearest... Sigh... 

Theo takes off for the start line along with 173 other boys.  Go get'em Theo!

He finishes 33rd, despite falling in a hole/ditch (what is it with this course, anyway?!!) and limping to the finish!  Wow!  Amazing effort, Theo!

Father and son walk off the course...

It's been full...It's been fun...It's been freezing.

And I think we are all ready to call it a day.