Cross Country

Caleb is part of an amazing Cross Country team.  I love going to meets.  It really is fun to see them race.  The varsity is a nationally ranked team--moving from 34th in the pre-season up to 2nd as of last rankings. (See here; then here is the team blog.) The JV team is also very good--at regionals last week, that team had a perfect score (having the first 5 runners)--Caleb came in 2nd.   I love to see Caleb help his team be successful. All so exciting!

Caleb is in the white.  This picture is from
a race where the JV team ran in a varsity race.

That said, it has been a season of ups and downs for Caleb.  He started off the season strong, placing well enough in the pre-region race to qualify for the varsity team at the next meet.  During that week, he had a fairly major reaction to a medication and had to be put on a steroid to get the hives under control. The next meet was at the hardest course in Utah--Soldier Hollow.  It is all hills with very little level running the whole race.  Caleb was near the finish and had pretty good placement for this course and his first varsity race, when he hyperventilated and fell--twice (maybe 100 ft from the finish--but I'm terrible with length estimates).  It possibly was related to the medication, but it also could have been lack of hydration or gritting his teeth so he didn't get enough oxygen.  For whatever reason, (perhaps some mental) since then he has really struggled with his health.  He says his muscles have felt like jelly and has been very weak at the end of races and practices, where at the beginning of the season he felt much stronger.  So while he has still placed decently in the JV races, they have been quite disappointing because he has led the races until the last mile, then only being able to come up with a 2nd or 3rd placement.  We've tried some series of iron, multivitamins and protein and think we've finally come up with a combination that is making at least a bit of a difference for him.  (Hopefully!)

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Even with all of that, this Cross County--ing is a love-hate relationship for me. *Deep Sigh*  It takes so much time to be a nationally ranked team.  Mornings.  Nights.  Weekends.  Holidays. Day in and day out.  All year round.  It is so good for him.  I don't deny that.  The discipline. . .influence of a good coach. . .too busy to get in trouble (not that he would, but this commitment makes it near impossible). . . friendships with other disciplined kids. .  .health benefits. . . to name a few.  But our family really sacrifices every day so that he can be part of this team.  It changes dynamics significantly.  My day is often carved around his needs so I can help him be successful with XC and his school work (which is really my top priority).   I'm okay with sacrifices.  I really am.  The thing I struggle with is whether this is the best thing (you know, the good, better, best talk?).  He has had to miss YM's from time to time.  His school work suffers a bit.  He has little time for service in or out of the family (Elder Oaks calls service within the family: chores.).  On the day of service, he was at practice while many ward and stake members were cleaning a trail that they frequently run on.  Many kids have invited him to help with Eagle projects and been unable.  Meeting the request of Elder Bednar in the last conference is going to be quite a stretch for him, if even possible.  I'm convinced that service is necessary to produce an unselfish teenager.   Finding balance has been difficult. So I worry. He has my full support. And I've had a confirmation that this is what he should be doing.  That should be enough to put the worries in my heart to rest.  Elder Andersen says time and truth are on my side. Faith not fear.  Be still little worries. He'll still be a contributing, serving adult and a good husband and father.  Thanks for listening to my little self pep talk.