Member of the team

Cross country season is now in full swing. Like track this past spring, I'm a volunteer coach twice a week. Track was a blast even though I hadn't ever worked with youngsters prior. The distance kids got used to seeing me around by the end of the season. And I connected with a couple of the throwers.

As much fun as I had with track, cross country has been an awesome experience. The team is a lot smaller and I coached most of the kids earlier this year. But the absolute best part is the fact the elementary and middle school runners practice with the older kids. I've spent most of my practice time running with kids who weren't born until after I graduated from high school.

Our boys and girls high school teams are actually quite good. One senior boy should challenge for the Class A state title, while a freshman on the girls' side won the state title as an eighth grader last year.

The younger kids, on the other hand, are just learning how to run and to have fun while doing it. I guess I shouldn't be so amazed the younger kids actually listen to and value the pointers I have to offer. About halfway into running a mile-long loop with three boys who recently joined the team, I heard a lot of feet shuffling along the pavement. I stopped them for a moment to demonstrate the difference in sound when I lifted my own feet off the street compared to when I didn't. Not only did they get it, but immediately made their adjustments. There wasn't a shuffle the rest of the way.

Back at the track, Coach Tonya talked about setting goals. The kids and coaches took turns announcing their short- and long-term goals. One of the boys from the earlier run said, while pointing at me, "I want to be like him!"

But the most fulfilling moments of today's practice came from one of the girls. She's awfully shy, but I've tried to make conversation with her (and the other kids, for that matter). Today, she asked me for a hug. And then, right after we concluded our goal-setting conversation, she asked if I could quit my job so I could come to practice more often.

My primary intent with coaching track (and now cross country) was to help out in the community outside of my VISTA work with Habitat. Plus, I love to run, and figured I'd be of some general assistance to the teams. But now it's so much more than that.

The one thing kids around here need, however, is consistency. I not only worry about practicing with them only twice a week, but me eventually leaving Mission. I know it's going to happen and it's something I've thought a lot about. It's hard.

For now though, I'm a member of the team. Today was photo day. The kids were all told yesterday to come to practice today wearing their uniforms. I didn't think anything of it. That is, until Tonya gave me a Todd County sweatshirt to wear in the photo.