Look Who Ran His Second Race

The Bleasdale Clan has a reputation for being amazing athletes. I’ve blogged about the fact that I hope Landon get’s the Bleasdale athletic genes, because oh my, I’m no athlete.

Don excelled in every sport he touched growing up, and his mother was a great athlete and still walks for an hour on many days. Don’s sister and her husband are talented runners and some of the best in their age group in the U.S., L’s cousins are all amazing athletes — you get the idea.

And after L came in second place in his first little race in May, we think he might just have some talent as well. It’s not soccer, I can tell you that as of now, but it could be tennis, and he likes running.

Don was going to take him to a local Columbus Day race today, but he had to work. So I got up early with L this morning and drove to Peekskill for his second race.

He was so serious, but also so proud and so excited.

We had to wait 20 minutes before L’s race, and I was getting nervous for him. He wasn’t.

After the girls raced, all the first-grade boys were called.

And then it was finally time. The whistle sounded and L took off, quickly taking the lead.

He held that lead until halfway through the race, one lap around the track, and then came in third!

I was so thrilled for him. And thrilled that he didn’t mind not being first or second, he never even mentioned it. I want him to have fun at sports and not stress about the result, and he can sometimes be a perfectionist.

There was quite a crowd to cheer on the kids, which must have made him feel even more special. I didn’t like competitions as a kid, still don’t, but I’m glad that L embraces them.

To celebrate his little accomplishment, I took him to get pizza (his favorite food) on the way home — at 11 AM. And now he’s talking about wanting to join the track team. My little athlete.