When we arrived at the meet, several other divisions had already run.\u00a0 What we saw was incredible.\u00a0 Those runners who had already faced the course, were covered in solid mud from their knees down.\u00a0 The rest of their bodies were covered in layers of splattered mud from their own feet and those of their competitors.\u00a0 Several runners lost their shoes and socks in the thick mud.\u00a0 All of the runners were exhausted from all the effort it took to finish.<\/p>\n
It was at that point I was thankful it wasn’t me having to run in all that mess.\u00a0 My son’s team knew the mud would create a challenge, but they were up for it.\u00a0 They were happy to be there and were going to face the course\u00a0and do their best.\u00a0\u00a0 Everyone push Unfortunately, the team did not make it to the state meet, but they had great tales to tell about all the mud and obstacles.\u00a0 I was proud of them for keeping their shoes on and finishing strong.\u00a0 They kept going even when the mud got deep.<\/p>\n Their race is so much how life has been lately.\u00a0 I had a course set out in my mind.\u00a0 One that I’m somewhat familiar with; I’ve run it before.\u00a0 I’ve done some training\u00a0and preparation for it.\u00a0 But the rain has come and changed it.\u00a0 It’s now riddled with muck and mire.\u00a0 Some of the pits seem so deep and the mud so thick, I wonder if I’ll be able to get out.\u00a0 And the\u00a0course I thought I would finish quickly, is taking so much longer than I had anticipated.\u00a0 My legs are tired and my lungs are burning, yet I still have a long way to go.\u00a0 There’s a part of me that wants to give up, call it quits.\u00a0 But deep down, I know I would be very disappointed with myself if I did.<\/p>\n So I keep Just ask my son…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A couple of days ago, one of my sons ran in the regional high school\u00a0cross country meet.\u00a0 It’s\u00a0the meet that he and his team have been training for since June.\u00a0 They ran through the Texas summer heat every day, rain … Continue reading ![\"groupregionals\"](\"http:\/\/www.karen-gustafson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/groupregionals.jpg\")
<\/a>ed through the mud and made it to the finish line.<\/p>\n<\/a>\u00a0moving forward.\u00a0 Slower than I want and expending more energy than I planned.\u00a0 I keep thinking about that finish line.\u00a0 I know it’s out there.\u00a0 I want to see it.\u00a0 I want to cross it.\u00a0 I know there’s nothing like finishing, breaking through that tape all covered in mud, knowing I gave it all.<\/p>\n