Bellevue Invite videos

 

Bellevue Invite

The top 12 runners on the cross country boy's team went to the Bellevue Invite. The girls team got the weekend off.  The meet was less than 48 hours after the Walla Walla meet. The team got home at 10 pm on Thursday from Walla Walla and then had to get up for school Friday and then leave on the bus for Bellevue at 1:30 on Friday.  That was too tight of a turnaround to get all Nathan's food in order so Jeremy and I drove him to the meet Saturday morning. Jeremy took the day off to do so. 

It wasn't Nathan's fastest race. He said his legs were still dead from his amazing Walla Walla race less than 48 hours before. Plus, as you can see below, the start of the race and the middle part, you had to run across a sandy beach. He didn't know how to run fast on sand and said it was really challenging. 

The race was divided into interesting categories. The #1 and #2 runners of both genders ran together in a race. Then, the #3 and #4 runners and then so on through the top 8 runners. The JV races were bigger as they weren't split precisely. Nathan had been slotted to run the JV race with 4 of his teammates. But then, one of the varsity runners got injured so Nathan ran in the #3 and #4 varsity race so it was a challenge. 

The facilities were amazing! The parking was great. They had real bathrooms that didn't have huge lines too!  It was held at Lake Sammamish State Park on a free parking day so we didn't need a Discover Pass to park. It was a long day over and back but the weather was gorgeous and the course was fun to run around watching the athletes run! 

The state of Nathan's race! 

He's in the middle trying to figure out how to run across the sand. 

That morning had been the Prosser hot air balloon festival. We had seen balloons floating in the sky on our way to Bellevue early that morning. I looked online and it said they had a "night glow" so on our way home, we decided to swing through. Unfortunately, it was 8:00 and it was just ending so we didn't see much except the few balloons left standing and we got stuck in a bunch of traffic trying to get out. 

 

Walla Walla Meet Videos

 

Here are the short videos I took of the kids running in Walla Walla. The last one of Nathan's legs failing him at the finish line is the highlight. He made it though! 

Walla Walla Meet MCC #1

The cross country team had their first of two league meets in Walla Walla. Both had great races! Nathan was the first falcon home in the JV race. He was excited that he almost caught up with the huge Kamiakin pack in front of him. 

Purple swarm warming up

Pre race pep talk

They are off!

Elizabeth running alongside 2 of her best friends who run for the rival school. 

I like watching in this pretty area in the park on the other side of the creek. 

Some pictures taken by the yearbook photographer. 

Nathan's JV team warmup. 

Pre race pep talk. 

More warmups

And they are off! 

The cheer team. Auntie Laura was there too but I didn't get any pictures of her! 

Nathan and this Walla Walla guy went back and forth for a long time. 

Finally on the last hill, Nathan passed him and never looked back. 

Finish line sprint. His legs nearly gave out at the end! 

Yearbook picture