Results from Regionals! My Kids are Awesome!

WOW! What a whirlwind weekend!  The kids skated awesome!  Enjoyed time with the team and family, though this is how it all started out. 

First off, my car is in the shop.  Now normally this would not be so bad, but, my car is the traveling car. So, we took my husband’s car.  Which is cool and all, ‘cause it’s a 2010 Camaro and looks sleek and fast.  But, for room in the back seat, that would be nada!  Now the trunk was a different story.  I had two skate bags, case of Diet Coke, black medical bag, extra wheels, air mattress for Mikayla, air mattress pump, our overnight bag packed for 4 for 2 nights, my box of necklaces (more about those soon), Mikayla’s blanket and pillow, and a lap top.  That all fight nice and snug in the trunk!  With a little room to spare (I took care of those areas later).  Now, in the back seat it was Mikayla and I, the cooler in between us, my purse (which I am rethinking the size on) and snacks for everyone.  Then my husband and son in the front.  Oh, did I mention my knees were to my ears during the drive up to and back from Regionals! Thank goodness it was only 2 ½ hour drive.  

Now a little pet peeve about my husband.  I love him dearly, but, he does not like to use the GPS with the sound on, so it can instruct you (oh so politely) on where to go.  Needless to say, we do miss a few turns.  So as we travel the rest of us watch the GPS and are constantly telling him, you need to turn here or you just missed your turn.  

So we arrive safe and sound, and check into the hotel.  It is on the okay side, not sure if I would stay there again.  Went to practice at Skatin’ Station II, met old and new friends.  Kids rolled several times on the floor, floor felt great, and then off to carb up and rest for the races on Saturday.  

I swear that the parents of kids in sports go through more stress about the sports event than the kids.  We are up and moving early Saturday, check in at the rink and getting the kids ready to race.  They warm up, we have to remind them to stretch and drink water.  My son competed in Senior Man (18-25) Novice he had 3 races: 5000 meter (5 laps), 15000 meter (15 laps), and a 30000 meter (30 laps).  My daughter competed in Freshman Girls (12-13) Novice she had 3 races: 3000 (3 laps), 5000 (5 laps), and 10000 (10 laps).  Both kids skated really well.  The only problem that my son has is he seems to defeat himself mentally on the 30 lap race before he even hits the floor.  So during the last 15 laps of that race he really struggles.  This has been an ongoing battle for him.  He builds up so much anxiety that I think he quick burns through his energy at the beginning of the race causing his legs to “lock up”.  I hope that he can find what will help calm him and allow him to get past this hurdle.  I know he can win the 30 lap, he has the skills and the ability, he just lacks the self-confidence.  Both kids ended up taking 2^nd in their divisions, and now we are home training hard for Nationals in July.  

And thank goodness I got my car back; at least we won’t be traveling 10 hours to Nationals in a Camaro.  I think the 2 ½ hour drive was long enough!