Mudslinging.

The last two cross country meets have been pretty ooey and gooey.

Two weeks ago the girls ran down in Brecksville/Broadview Heights. I was running getting drenched in Race for the Cure with Melissa and Jill, so I didn't get to see the girls race.  Yay for Glenn for snapping some pics of the damage.

Two good sports waiting for the race to start.

Leah at the finish line.  The times are all off because of the course conditions.  Leah finished at 19:09.  But that was still 60th place out of 227 girls!

Emma finishing.  Look at that stride!  Her time was 17:55, which was 32nd place.  She was supposed to run in the team race (top 7 girls from each team) rather than the open race (all the rest) but the coach made a controversial call (in my opinion) to sub in a girl who hadn't even run in race all year.  It really bugs, but Emma is still continuing to show how valuable she is to the team.

Got mud?

Today's meet was down in Lodi.  It wasn't raining, but it was cold and foggy, and since we've had a lot of rain this week...yep, you guessed it.  Mud and muck, and not just on the course!

My shoes looked as bad as the girls'!  Almost.

Again we had the two separate races, open and team.  Again, I think it is slightly controversial (and again in my own head) that Emma doesn't get to run in the team race, but she totally proved a little sumpin supmin in the open race.  I have a feeling that in two weeks when she gets back to our familiar home course, she is going to blow 'em all away.

Emma at the beginning of the race.  She was at the head of the pack the whole time!  She put in a great time, considering the conditions--finishing first for Westlake and 12th overall!  Her time was 15:41.

Leah at the beginning.  She put in a sweet performance today, finishing 3rd for Westlake and 30th overall at 16:26.

Emma at the end of the race.  She is about to run down a short but steep little hill.  I am so surprised more people don't just trip and roll down it.  And she ends up beating that girl in black!

Here's Leah at the hill, elbows out for balance!  Who was the brains behind this course, anyways?

Good thing I had blankets in the car...it kept the seats clean and helped warm up two cold and muddy runners. We have been keeping our washer and dryer in business today for sure.

THE END.