Jaydon's Nike Regionals Cross Country Meet

JJ started talking about Nike Cross Regionals over the summer before school even began. He would tell me based on our times last year we were invited to Nike Regionals in Mesa Arizona. He ran hard all summer, hardly missed a run, then when school started he ran hard. His best two races were at the start of the season with his fastest time being the Hawk Invitational coming in at 17:03. I've been very proud of him.

JJ tends to push himself, but then not take care of himself afterward, so I started making it my mission to make sure he ate a great breakfast in the morning so he would have enough energy for those after school 8-12 mile runs.

I will say this kid gives it his all with running. He's that 1% of people who actually like to run. He's always telling me stats of the top runners he follows and I enjoy watching Runners Space Youtube videos with him. He's got some great goals, and the Cross Country kids he hangs out with are really good kids. I couldn't be happier with where he is at in school for his Junior year. Now of course his grades could be a little better, but they aren't terrible.

JJ was pumped to go to regionals and meet or at least stand within feet of some of his idols that he follows on social media.

He left with his team from his high school on a Wednesday morning. Some parents volunteered to drive, and Brennor's Mom, Ann was this year's top Cross Country mom. I remember the days when I could dedicate to being a mom like that.

They stayed their first night down in New Mexico and then drove over the next day to Arizona arriving one day before the meet so that they could run the course.

I didn't want to miss JJ's race. So I was able to get plane tickets for Braidy and I to fly out there through Southwest points. We arrived on Friday the day before JJ's race and picked him up right after breakfast to go to another breakfast with his half brother who lives in the area. This is the prime reason why I brought Braidy, so they could reunite as family.

I have to say the kids were cute with their little "nephews". It was a great breakfast and I'm glad we made time to spend with them.

After breakfast we went to meet up with JJ's team at an outlet mall nearby, then we met up with Lanny doing the same thing just so we could talk and see each other, even for a few moments.

That night we went to the rally and JJ got to exchange t-shirts with other athletes. It was a great way to get to know each other and meet some of the "best of the best" in his sport.

Braidy and I happened to be at the same hotel the team was at. I hadn't realized I booked at the same hotel until a few days before the trip, so it was a happy accident. The team moms and dads ordered in Olive Garden for the team to the hotel. (Spaghetti is a traditional Cross Country meal everyone has right before a big race) Parents that traveled with them were able to eat with them, we had so much left over food that we even gave some to a team that was visiting from New Mexico.

After the dinner the kids enjoyed time in the hotel pool and hot tub which I could see from my hotel window.

Braidy has been accepted as JJ's cute little brother among JJ's cross country friends, so I let him hang with the big guys while I worked on business stuff in the hotel room.

Of course when a group of high schoolers travel together the excitement of being together can trump what's best for you, so I image they didn't get the best sleep they could. They probably stayed up way too late and I think that effected how tired JJ probably was the next day.

They had to be up at 6:30, and I'm sure they went to bed after midnight. I guess it's all part of the experience though. If JJ is serious about getting a scholarship, I might go with next year and have him sleep in our hotel room so he can get adequate sleep.

The next morning we ate breakfast at the hotel and then drove over to the race about 30 minutes before it started, everyone was there, Randy Claire and the nephews, Rich and Mel, Lanny. It was great and probably the most support JJ has ever had at a cross country race. I was so happy for him to have that.

JJ ran his race and while he didn't do terrible he did not PR like we had hoped. We expected due to the elevation difference that he would PR by 20-30 seconds. He didn't PR, but I kept reminding him that he was there at Nike Regionals and he wasn't there last year and that "that alone" was a big deal and he needed to be proud of himself for that. I think it was still hard for him to accept, but I told him how proud I was for making it as far as he did this season and assured him next year, he'll have better times if he keeps putting in the dedication he did all year long, but made some slight changes mainly toward stretching, sleeping and eating better.

I am so proud of him!

JJ keep being you! You make me proud!