30th Anniversary Navy Bay Bridge Run

Start Line (Showing our support with our Navy shirts)

I guess you can say race medals are the equivalent to ‘participation trophies’.  You didn’t win the race.  You didn’t come in first so when you cross the finish line, you are basically getting a participation trophy.  I still value it though because most races are a challenge, and each medal I receive has a unique experience and memory associated with it.   People can say what they want about it, but for me, my race medals are something I collect (like some collect stamps, coins, dolls, baseball cards), but it also something I take pride in.  Frankly, I won’t do a race without a medal.

This year was the Navy Bridge’s 30^th Annual Race, and it is a race that I had been wanting to do, but never did. Why? No medal. However, because it was the 30^th anniversary, they gave out medals, and I was very eager to sign up.  What makes this race unique was it offered an opportunity to run across the famous Coronado Bridge.  More importantly, it also benefited our service men.

It was a short four-mile run so I signed myself and all the kids as well as my nephew Jayson.  We drove down to San Diego at 5 a.m. Sunday morning.  Dylan was the one who actually drove us to/from San Diego.  He is a very good driver even though he drives like a grandma.  At 5 a.m., there was no traffic and Dylan was barely doing 60 mph. I’m not complaining.  I’d rather him be cautious.

I have been running with Mia for two years, and this was the first time this happened! I lost her shortly before we reached mile 1.  I made the mistake of allowing her to run with her IPod so she didn’t hear me tell her that we were going to stop at the upcoming water station.  She kept running, and I turned around to give her water, and I could not find her.  It was horrific.  I began to frantically look for her.  I stood up on a curb with my eyes searching through the crowds of thousands of runners.  I could not find her.  I immediately called Dylan, hoping and hoping he would answer his phone.  Dylan, Brandon, and Jayson ran ahead of us, and I estimated they must have been at least a half mile ahead of us.  Fortunately, Dylan answered the phone. I told him to stop running and stand with Brandon and Jayson on opposite sides of the bridge and watch for Mia. 

I was so scared, but I hoped Mia would continue to run towards the finish line.  About 5 – 7 minutes passed, and I finally received the call that they had found her.  What a relief!

When I had caught up with them at the finish line, I asked Mia if she was scared, and she didn’t respond, but gave me an acknowledging look.  I will never let her run with music again, and I also spoke to her about what I wanted her to do should this ever happened again (which it will not). 

The boys’ time was not their best as they spent a great deal of time looking for their sister.  Mia placed in the top 17 percent for her age group of 12 and under.  She averaged 11:46 min mile. 

One other side note----they posted our photo on their Facebook page.  I guess they liked our matching Navy shirts. 

Fountain Valley Pride

Mia with her "main" uniform and all start bat bag

Softball All Stars is I-N-T-E-N-S-E!!!!  There is no other word to describe how absolutely hardcore it is, and basically, your life, the life of your all-star, and the life of the entire family revolves around softball.  Please don’t think I’m complaining about it, because I am grateful that Mia has this opportunity, but I’m also grateful that it is only for two months.  I don’t think I could continue at this level of intensity all year around.

You see,  Mia practices four days a week for two hours.  She practices from Tuesday – Friday from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.  She doesn’t eat dinner with the family.  In fact, her dinners are consisting of quick, simple dinners.  Lance and I rotate on transporting her to/from practices.  In addition to the practices, there are tournaments every weekend, and the tournaments are basically an all-day event.   It involves traveling to different counties as well.  You want to do something on the weekend? Well, you can forget that.  I'm grateful though I have Jacob (her dad) to share in the responsibility of taking her on some weekends.  We are only into our third week of softball, and I am very, very tired.  Mia does not complain, which shows me, she is enjoying it.  She does seem tired, and basically, other than school and softball, she has no life.  Sometimes I wonder if the intensity is a bit much.  These are only 7,8, and 9 year old girls.

Fountain Valley has a reputation as being one of the best softball programs in Southern California so it was a bit surprising that we lost three of our four games at last weekend’s tournament.  Mia is one of the less skilled players on the team, but don't take that as saying she is not good. She is good, very good.   She made gold, and these are the best of the best, and for her to make the top team was and is a really big deal.  The Fountain Valley All-Star Gold Team name is "Fountain Valley Pride".

Mia with her teammates in her alternate uniform

Day 1 of her first tournament

Day 2 of her tournament

So if you wonder where we will be this weekend, it will be on a softball field.

My Little All Star

The world is growing increasingly competitive.  When I was a kid, I played a multitude of sports, and as the seasons changed so did my sport.  I dabbled a little in basketball, soccer, and softball.  Back then, you could do that.  Times have changed, and I feel that the opportunity for kids to participate in varying sports is still there, but because of the intensity of competition, if you want to be able to comparably compete, you have to focus on one sport.  Kids start playing their ‘designated’ sport at such a young age too—starting at 3 and 4 year old.  They play it all-year round.  Additionally, parents pay for private lessons and camps.  When I was young, no one took private coaching lessons or went to camps centered around a specific sport.

Mia started softball at 6 ½ years old.  I spontaneously signed her up when I happened to be at the softball fields one day (maybe I was on a run).  She enjoyed it and never complained about it whereas when I had her in gymnastics and cheerleading, she would complain when it was time to go.  With softball, I heard no complaints.  As each softball season ended, I arbitrarily signed her up for the next one.  She began playing softball in both the fall and spring.  She made friends and was really enjoying the game as well as the social aspect of it.  When she first played, she sucked.  No question about it but then gradually, I saw the transformation.  She began to be able to hit off of a coach pitch, which led to her hitting off of a kid fastpitch, and let me tell you, these little kids can pitch FAST!!!!  Moreover, she quickly began catching balls with ease.  She was growing and her skills were developing, and it was very noticeable. 

Mia has speed on her side. 

In the spring, Fountain Valley selects two all-star teams to represent the city in local/regional tournaments.  Each year, Mia would see these players being announced at the closing ceremony.  I know she wanted to be an all-star.  At that time, I honestly didn’t know if she would ever get to that point.  My opinion changed though this past fall.  I started to believe, with a little hard work, that Mia had a good chance of making all-stars.  She was such a solid hitter in the fall.  I was ecstatic for her.  She rarely struck out.  Just maybe….maybe, if she continued, she would be an all-star in the spring?

The spring season came, and Mia’s fielding has been OUTSTANDING.  I cannot even begin to count how many balls she caught this season.  She even made an amazing double play.  She was put at third, and her throw was strong and fierce, and she was able to get runners out at first.  I was really hopeful that her dream of being an all-star would be realized, but then she was in a batting slump.  I couldn’t understand it.  Her batting sucked compared to last fall.  Yes, she would hit it sometimes, but she was not as dependable as she once was…..what happened?? She was in a bad batting slump. 

The season ended, and I hoped, with my fingers crossed, that my little Mia would make the Silver All Star team.  There are two teams—a gold and a silver.  I thought the chances of Mia making silver were good, but I was very, very wrong.  When I received the congratulatory email, I wanted to jump up and scream.  You see, Mia didn’t make silver.  She made “Gold”!!!!   I was so ecstatic and quite honestly, a little bit surprised.   I was so excited to share the news with her, but as soon as I arrived home, she was already beaming with the biggest smile.  She just had that “look”, and I knew she already knew, but how????!!!!  Well, she was told by someone at her school.  Wow.  News travels fast, but it also wasn’t completely accurate either.  Mia thought she made silver, but nooooooo, I told her she made, “Gold!!!!!!”  Her smile even got broader, if that was possible!

For the next few days until closing ceremonies where they announce the all-star teams, Mia was floating on a cloud and talked incessantly about softball and the all- star team.  I have never seen her this happy or excited about anything.  I was proud of her.  She worked hard, and it took 2.5 years, but she finally made all-stars.  This is truly a big deal, because Fountain Valley is competitive and has a very good reputation in softball and baseball.  It is not an easy feat to be able to make the all-star team.

She was getting ready for her the end of the season tournament game (Her team won first place in the playoffs.), and I looked at her and I told her, “You are better than me in everything.  You are smarter than me.  You are prettier than me and you are a better athlete than me.”  When I look at Mia, I see this absolutely amazing kid.  However, Mia's biggest problem is herself.  She has always doubted her capabilities and potential.  I wanted her to have the confidence to believe in herself. Self-confidence is so necessary to success. 

Immediately after winning the playoff tournament

The Green Machine

Mia made many good friends in softball

All-Star season starts today with the first practice.  The next two months are going to be INTENSE.  Practice for 2 hours, 5 days a week with tournaments every weekend. I’m already trying to balance the schedule and the conflicts.  Yes, I have races scheduled but right now, those are secondary, because my baby girl made all stars, and she will get the full experience.

I came home yesterday from work and Mia was standing in the dining room table with her softball mitt on.  I just smiled at her excitement.  She wanted to practice. 

2016 Fountain Valley Gold All-Star Team

Congrats Mia! I am so proud to be your mommy, and I’m happy to go on this ride with you.  Let's do this, girl!!

Mia with her end of the season well earned trophies.