Last Friday, we left rainy Disneyland and drove about 4 hours to sunny Fresno, California. Parker had done a little training while we were on vacation. He walked a lot (which probably wasn't the best training for the biggest race of your life, but oh well!), he ran stairs and hills in the parking garage one afternoon, and he did a five mile run with Trav one afternoon as well.
We were in contact with Parker's Cross Country coach as we were driving and met him at Woodward Park so they could walk the course, take pictures on the finishers platform, and buy some cool state cross country gear.
Here is the finishers platform. (It took Parker telling me that the time is actually the year. I wondered why they would choose such a high time when most everyone would definitely finish before 20 minutes and 13 seconds. I'm quick, I know!)
Here is where the vendors were set up selling things. We bought tickets for the race the next day and Parker got a sweatshirt and a long-sleeved running shirt. The cross country team picked up the tab. There were thousands of people there the next day. So glad we bought most of our things the day before!
Conner and Calissa hanging out while we waited for Parker.
Coach Cardenas and Parker. He was so proud of Parker and so excited that he qualified and was there at the state meet!
Parker, a champion!
One more picture with mom and dad. There were a lot of teams that were there and very few individual runners. It was intimidating to be there with teams warming up, etc., but he did great on his own. Wish some of his teammates could have come to cheer him on though.
One of Parker's friends texted him this notice in the sports section of the Contra Costa Times on Friday. Pretty Cool! After Parker was done at the course, we headed to our hotel to check in. I guess hotels book up pretty early in the year because of the race. There were about 2,000 runners competing the next day. The Northgate coach had reserved 5 rooms earlier in the year and none of his kids qualified. He gave up two of his rooms for our family, and Coach Cardenas. The CHS Athletic Boosters paid for our room, our gas, and Parker's meals for the trip. When the coach sent in the request for the funds for the trip, he got back some great responses from the other coaches and booster members at CHS. He's only the 2nd male runner to qualify for the state meet from Concord High.
That night we went out to dinner with my parents (who had driven down that day) and my dad's aunt and uncle, and his cousin (and wife). After going back for dessert at another cousins's house, we left Calissa to spend the night with Grandma and Grandpa and then headed back to the hotel to get some sleep.
The next morning after breakfast, we drove over to Woodward Park to watch the races and wait for Parker's race at 12:20 that afternoon. We had a great spot right at the starting line and enjoyed the craziness of the other races.
Once it was getting closer, Parker put on his timing chips on his shoes,
attached his numbers on his chest and hip, and then did a little warm up.
Parker and Coach Cardenas ready to go!
When it was time to warm up in the starting area Coach Cardenas and Parker went in to do a little warm up and pep talk before the race started.
Coaches were then asked to leave and the runners were given last minute instructions about the course.
On your mark! Get Set!
Go!
(196 runners took off).
After they took off, we took off running to get a good spot along the course.
When he passed us for the first mile, his split time was 4:42. He was flying!
They were filming and live streaming the event, so they had this golf cart that went before the runners with a camera on the back. The poor people in first just ate a lot of dust as they were running.
The entire course was dusty!
Parker finished this course in 16:51.2, with a 5:26 pace. He finished 88th out of 196 runners and in the top 45% His heat was the fastest of the day and 191 of the runners in his heat finished within 3:00 minutes of each other! It was crazy how fast everyone was. He came in 446 overall out of 969 runners and in the top 46%.
Catching a breath at the finish line.
He was pretty tired at the end (surprise) and he was COVERED in dust and dirt. His teeth were brown and he was sweating dirt. We are so proud of him and his coach was too! He did his very best and gave it his all. Only problem is, our cruise next year is leaving the day of the state cross country meet. Guess we'll have to change it in case he qualifies again next year!
Here is his massive patch for his letterman jacket.
Congratulations Parker! (Now I guess we need to order him a jacket?)
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