Kids are so wonderful. Ive been going to the velodrome a bit lately. The training and racing is reserved to people 8 years old over but often there are little brothers and sisters there. A little while back it was decided that the littlies should get their time on the track so they come along with their bikes, nothing like the light weight track bikes of the bigger kids and they have brakes and other things that track bikes dont but training wheels arent allowed, the kids must be able to ride on their own. The other day was race day. There are 5 grades for the 8s and over (up to those in their late 60s) - A, B, C, D and E and then there are the littlies. A call went out for the littlies race and a person next to me who had come to watch and hadnt been to the velodrome before made it very clear that it disgusted them that parents would teach children of such a young age to be so competitive. He didnt know what was about to happen. The kids were placed around the track in order of height. Biggest on the start line to smallest almost all they way around the track. The kids were told it was 2 laps, so twice past the start line. The start whistle went and the kids were off in their big race. As they rode around they waved at their parents, slowed for photos, caught up with their friends and chatted. One boy who was very fast, about to turn 8 and had a proper track bike whizzed around the track and then about 20 or so metres from the finish he slowed down and began giving advise to a girl of 5. As they got to the line he willed her on and called, Go for it, today you get to win the race! She went over the line with him in hot pursuit and as the came to a stop he raced over to her and patted her on the back and told her how brilliantly shed raced and how he tried but he couldnt catch her. She was the smallest child, the one who started just behind the start line, shed only done just over one lap to his 2 although technically she had passed the start line twice. It brought a tear to my eye. The person beside me said That wasnt a race, and that kid cheated. He let that girl win! I smiled and said That was a kids race and in kids races no one cheats and everyone wins. Its about learning to be YOUR best, not THE best, thats what the kids are taught here and we could all learn a lot from them! It was a good day!
Posted on: Wed, 19 Mar 2014 05:03:40 +0000
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