Partridge Race

The Partridge Race is both one of my favourite and one of my most nervewracking events of the school year.  This marked Ben's last year racing this event and my father got some great photos of him throughout the race as well as before and after.  For the sake of posterity:  Ben placed first in the 1600m, second in the 3000m; Joe placed second in the 1600m (different grade level than Ben) and fourth in the 3000m; Isaac was first in his 1600 m and fifth in the 3000m; Sarah was second in the 800m.  Dave paced most of the races on Jacob's bike.  (One of the side-effects of having so many kids is that one's own bikes tend to be coopted by one's children.  Dave and I have both lost our mountain bikes and share a road bike.)

 How I love that smile.  These photos are from October and, seeing this photo, I can see that Ben grew up over the winter.  Gone are any remnants of baby fat and his hands somehow became those of a man over the winter.  Subtle changes that can easily overwhelm a mother with sentiment.

 Joseph remained in second throughout most of the 3000 until shortly before the end when the boy immediately behind him took first place.  Joe was trying to wear the boy out so that Ben could remain in the lead.  I was very touched by Joe's willingness to sacrifice his race for his older brother and best friend.  In the final roundup, running is far more about character than it is about fitness.

 Ben slightly disappointed at missing out on the overall trophy.  Once again, character prevails.

 Joe whipping his school jersey off in an effort to cool down and find something to drink.

 Isaac looking intense as he preps for his race.  He is fourth from the right in the light blue shirt with the Bosco jersey.

 Some last-minute team building.

 Isaac's strategy is always to take the lead and gain more and more of a lead as the race proceeds.  He has the physical strength and mental toughness to stick with this strategy until the end.  He is also incredibly fit.  He never really stops moving the entire day and if he goes for a run with me, he runs up and down banks, backward and forwards until he runs an extra kilometre or two.

 Strategy in place.

 This is Isaac in the 3000 metre running against kids a few grades higher than his.

 Coming through the finishing chute.

 Ben keeps finding younger siblings to look after.

 Another favourite smile of mine.

 Our lone girl in the race, Sarah.  We really didn't know if Sarah had inherited the running gene.  She is a really laidback kid and we didn't think that she had the drive or the desire to pursue running.  We were wrong.

 Through the finishing chute.

 She's also got a great set of pins that propel her quite admirably.

 Another gorgeous smile.

 Three Afelskie brothers prepare to run the Open 3000 metre.

 Benjamin

 Joseph.  As I conclude this post, I realise that I am mysteriously missing photos of Joe's 1600 race.  Hmmm.  Must keep looking.  He's not a boy that can be missed out on!