~:[CH2 - Day 320]:~ Ends and Beginnings

~:[CH2 - Day 320]:~ Ends and Beginnings

The last day of cross country is always a sad day. You see a group that has worked with you for so many months together for the last time. While there is always next year, there will always be seniors who graduate, some who do not return, and new athletes to create new bonds with. This group has been polar opposites, with the girls being a fairly inexperienced group who progressed their way through the season and ran to the third fastest CIF time in school history. To give you an idea, this team ran a 110 minute team time in September and worked their way down to a 102 this past weekend. The boys have been together for four to five years, as some of them ran together on their junior high teams. Five guys being four year athletes and two first year varsity athletes. We had two guys injured during the race and yet still finished with the second fastest CIF time in school history and  a gap of 1:07 from our 1-7. While it was the end of our season, we now begin our focus on our new season in 2014. Unfortunately, my plans had me in rush to head out to another event directly after CIF. I had to change plans due to this and found someone at the last minute who lived in LA to go with me to meet Clara C before her concert (Thanks Melody). We were able to eat a light dinner at a cool Beer Garden near Hotel Cafe with Clara C and it was cool just to sit and chat. We also go to sit at the front table and enjoy with the best view. With her support of World Vision, I was able to have a new beginning with another child in the Philippines to replace my former sponsor child who was too old for the program. It was great to be able to find a replacement and also help a child in desperate need in an area hard hit with disaster. After saying our goodbyes, we also had a little additional time with our new friends we met, as we hit up Thaitown before calling it a night. It was a bittersweet day, but I could not be more proud of team for their efforts today, yesterday, and all the days that came before that.

PHOTO CREDITS - Jessie Lee is an amazing artist who is still training but has already created some amazing work! Look at this piece she drew of me and Clara that Clara signed!