He's Figured it Out

Okay, so there was this race a few weeks ago; 3.1 miles, 5K.  It's an annual event in New Milford, called "Moonlight Run."  I thought it would be cool to run the race with Miles last year.  He was 6 then, I was 60.  More than just cool, it would have been down right poetic; maybe even newspaper worthy.
   "Sixty year old grandpa runs with 6 year old grandson."
I could have sold it.  Last year.

"Sixty one year old grandpa runs with seven year old grandson" just doesn't roll off the tongue.
No symetry.

But Miles wasn't at all interested last year.  His interest this year was merely luke warm.
We practiced a few times; he never ran more than a mile without stopping to walk.  My training was interrupted by poorly timed knee pain that required surgery.

It was raining the afternoon of the race, but Miles unenthusiastically decided we should give it a go.
Miles, Pop, Mommy, and Daddy would run the race.

Okay.  No symetry, no poetry, but still a memory in the making.

Landon would not be participating.  Nor Geeg, though she was prepared to step in for me if I couldn't handle the excruciating pain, a mere 4 weeks after surgery..  No problem, I thought, we'll be walking most of this race.

We got to the field where the race was to begin, and I smiled as Miles played with friends, wasting valuable energy.  Yeah, we'll be walking most of the time.

The plan was for Mommy and Daddy to run at their own paces; Miles and I would hang back.
Way back.
That was the plan.

So the race starts and Mommy is off an running.  Miles is running faster than I had planned; Daddy hangs with him at the start.  I'm further behind, smiling as Miles sways from the left to right, not taking the most direct route.  Use up that energy; we'll be walking soon.
We reach the Mile marker.  Miles is still running, Daddy at his side.
I'm still running further behind.  I can see Miles, but I can't catch him.

We didn't see Mommy until she was on her way back to the finish line.  Go Mommy!

We reach the half way mark.  Miles and Daddy slow down to drink a cup of water.  I catch up!
Miles and Daddy quickly resume their pace and leave me in there dust.

We pass the two mile marker.  Miles is seemingly exhausted, but he is still running.
So am I, but with my familiar view of Miles' back.

After about two and a half miles, Miles stops to walk for a bit.  He walks for about 20 seconds.  Then, apparently spurred by my catching up with him, Miles takes off again, leaving me with my familiar view.

Yada, yada, yada......................Miles finishes the race in an amayzing 31 minutes and 30 seconds!
I unofficially finished in about 32 minutes; my best ever.  
Wow.
Props to Mommy for finishing at her targeted time of 24 minutes.
Props to Daddy for hanging back with Miles when it became painfully clear that I couldn't keep up.
Props to Pop for finishing the race.
Props to Geeg for being prepared to pinch hit.
Props to Miles for finishing the race and doing it much faster than a whole bunch of kids and adults.

And props to Landon.
He's figured it out.
And he's only five and a half.

Landon has figured out that he just can't yet compete with Miles in some areas.  A 2 year difference is huge at their ages, regarding sports and academics.  Landon is simply not as athletic or smart as Miles; not yet anyway.  So he doesn't compete, but he does participate and he does learn.

What he has figured out is that he can beat Miles at something.
Miles is seven and a half years old, with 2 years of school bus experience.
He's a wonderful little boy, but he's not always charming.

He's seven and half years old, and not reluctant to behave as one.  That behavior is sometimes less than adorable.

Landon has figured out that he can be much more charming, much more adorable, than his big brother.  And, it's easy for him.  He wakes up happy, for heaven's sake!

Landon is silly, polite, respectful, and downright fun to be with.
Not that Miles isn't all those things; it's just that Landon is better at it.

If Miles is not around, it's even possible to spend quality time with Landon without hearing armpit phart noises!

We all know that both are very special boys; they just have different talents.  Landon will get stronger and smarter, and maybe catch up to Miles someday.  Of course he might become less adorable, but I'm sure that will only be temporary.
He's figured it out.

As daddy was leaving for work this morning, he remarked, "eleven years."
"What happens in eleven years?" asked Geeg.
"Miles will be eighteen."

Daddy has figured it out too.

I'm sure both boys will provide a plethora of charming moments in the years ahead.

Enjoy.

And Yet, there's more...

Check out that swing, that classic swing.  Eyes on the ball, arms extended, weight shifting forward. That swing turned into a double.  But, I'm getting ahead of myself.

The Little League season ended two weeks ago; I've been too emotionally drained to blog about it until now.

  Landon's game was first.  He plays the game the way it should be played; he is attentive and unselfish.  He shows the game the respect it deserves, but with the apparent nonchalance he shows for everything he's not quite comfortable with.  I think Landon's motto for life is  "never let them 

 see you sweat."

Landon had a good game; he fielded his positions well, he got on base every time up, and he slid into home.  Attaboy, Landon!





Miles' game was next, and, at the risk of being understated, he was spectacular!  He played first base one inning and got all three outs.  In another inning, he got the batter out from short stop.  He hit with his typical efficiency.
Late in the game, he hit a ground ball single up the middle.  The next batter hit a ground ball that stayed in the infield.  Miles dashed to second and slid, to avoid being out.
The next batter hit another ground ball that stayed in the infield.  Once again, Miles (the Natural) dashed and slid into third.  Safe!
Miles likes to slide.  He always slides into home, generally unneccessarily.  But his slides into second and third were totally necessary.  I'm tellin' ya, he's a natural.
The next batter singled.  Miles crossed the plate standing up, like he's been there before.

At this point, I was thinking that was a nice way to end the season.
But to my dismay, there was time for another inning.  I'm ashamed to admit I didn't want Miles to get up again; I liked the storybook ending as it was.

Boy, was I wrong.  There was more to come.

That swing, that classic swing pictured above,  occurred during Miles' last at bat of the season.  After taking several pitches, Miles picked one he liked; low and on the outside corner of the plate.  Eyes on the ball, arms extended, wight shifting forward; the crack of the bat was sweet music to my ears, as a viscious line drive whistled into centerfield.  The first base coach told Miles to dig for two.  He practically skipped into second base.  A double; almost unheard of at the Rookie League level.

Now, that's the way to end the season!

Yet, amaysingly, there was more.

Miles played centerfield for the last half of the last inning.  With two outs and runners on first and second, the batter hits an apparent single up the middle.  But wait!  There's Miles playing a shallow center.  He fields the ball flawlessly, catching it before trying to throw it or run with it.  He runs to second base and records the inning ending, season ending out!

Now that's really the way to end the season..............but, you guessed it; there was still more.

After the game, the coach rallied his team together  to congratulate them on a great season, and to hand out the game ball.  I heard some of the players calling out Miles' name.  They thought he was going to get the ball.
They wanted him to get the ball.
The coach talked about a player who always tries his best, always knows what base to cover, what base to throw to.
He talked about a player who always hustles.

Now, I gotta tell you, "hustle" is all about what kind of person you are.  If you are hustling, you are giving  your best effort, you are striving to be the best that you can be.  Baseball skills are taught on the ballfield, giving your best effort is taught at home.
Good parenting, and maybe a dash of good grand parenting.

Miles got the game ball.  The day was clearly his.

But, Landon will no doubt get his turn.  He has a huge advantage.
He has a big brother.