Ski Season Begins

Well before I get into the first ski race of the year, we have to talk about Halloween. The girls had no school on Halloween due to parent/teacher conferences so dress up day at Lathrop was on Wednesday the 29th (Happy Birthday Uncle Matthew!!) Tuesday night we were all at the end of year potluck for the Lathrop Cross Country Running team. It was my first confirmation that Heather is in her senior year and now when events/seasons come to an end it's final as far as her high school years. The end of season video was wonderful as her coaches had taken pictures of the seniors when they were freshman and had included them in their wrap up video of 2008. Heather was so cute talking about what she expected during her first High School race..........she had no idea about her running ability!


So after the potluck, Megan had her friends Mattie and Annie spend the night so they could get ready together in the morning. Heather also had her friend Hannah spend the night so they get ready together. When I left early that morning the girls were tasked to take photos of each other. Well, only Snap, Crackle and Pop had a photo shoot. The seniors dressed as "toddlers" somehow got away without a photo. No pumpkins were carved or painted this year either.





The first ski race of the year for High School is a relay with two person teams each doing a 1.3 kilometer lap three times. It's a fun race and the racers are encouraged to dress up. Heather and Megan teamed up as the Ninja skiiers. Heather is wearing bib #2 below.

Heather on her first lap........being followed by her friend Rachel who was wearing a spoon.

Ninja Megan's first lap............

Coming in after Lap 1 for the exchange.

Heather.......

Megan...........

Heather Lap 3...........

Heather finishing her final lap ready to tag Megan........

By the way, the race started at 11:00 and was partly cloudy......I didn't realize how dark it really was until uploading these pictures. Winter time in Fairbanks.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MEGAN!!!!!!!!!!!

2008 Alaska State Championships in Palmer

Once again a road trip to Palmer to watch the girls race in the State Championships. Heather has a good chance to be in the top 10 finishers. This time not only were Kristin and Jill there as the fan club but appearances from Gary and Steve as well. Nanna happened to be in the area that weekend and "skipped" some UMW time to come watch. And we had a surprise with Matthew and Christopher driving up from Homer in time to watch the race. Most of us met at Jill's and walked to the High School. (Okay so I failed in that I didn't get a group picture with the girls guess Mom was too excited....)

The race begins............Heather (#472) is behind the girl with bib #463 and Megan (#475) is behind the girl with bib #466.

1st Lap photos..... (this group is the lead pack as the 1st place girl Leah Francis has quite the gap on this group already.)

Approaching the end of Lap 1...........

Coming through on Lap 2..........

Approaching end of Lap 2...........

On Lap 3...........

Coming in for the finish...............

Heather places 6th overall in a time of 19:17.













Megan places 35th in a time of 20:33.

Some happy girls with their #1 fan club..........

At state, as the top 10 girls were called to the podium, the officals let the parents give out the medals. Dave and I looking pretty proud of Heather's achievement in placing in the top 10.

Heather congratulating Leah the winner.

The Top 10 Placers - 2008 Alaska State Championships

Since 1981 Lathrop has been keeping some very good data for their record books. Both Heather and Megan throughout the season continued to make their place in history. Finishing this season, Heather had moved up on the 25 top overall time to become the 3rd fastest girl for Lathrop with a time of 19:17 while Megan had moved her way up to tie for the 13th fastest girl for Lathrop with a time of 20.32.

Thanks to all the support from family and friends. If interested Steve has great video once again.

2008 Region VI Cross Country Championships

The stage for the Region VI Cross Country Running was set on a very cold morning September 27th. Not much breakfast was eaten as the nerves were running high and warmer clothes were being sought after. The JV teams had run the previous day so there was not much waiting around time, just warm up and go. Despite the cold, we even got Steve out there for some suberb video taping.

And they are off..........

Pics from Lap 1...........

Coming through on Lap 2...........

More of Lap 2..........

The below picture is towards the end of the race, Heather is in the lead and only has to circle the field to the finish line.

Heather coming in for the finish where she collapses in tears.......happy tears.

Heather wins Regionals in a time of 20:27 and is also the first Lathrop individual champion since 1995! How cool is that??? And......for the first time since 1994 the girls team are the Region VI Champions! How totally cool for both Heather and Megan to be on the 2008 Championship Team!!!!

Below are the top 10 girls.

The 2008 Regional Champs..........

And that night it snowed............

The Girls September of Running - Part 2

September 18th, the girls headed to Salcha and Heather won her first High School cross country running race in 19:45. Megan also had a great race and placed 5th overall in 20:32 and 2nd for Lathrop.

Heather and the lead pack.........

Megan and her pack.......

This I believe is towards the beginning of the 3rd lap.........

Heather coming in for the finish and the win!!

Some happy girls and a Mom, too.

The Girls September of Running - Part 1

Well, I didn't make my goal of at least two posts a month for September or October and now trying to go back through the busy cross country season seems somewhat anti-climatic as by now everyone knows the results of the entire season but here's some highlights:

On August 29th, at the Interior Invitational Birch Hill, Heather came in 2nd with a time of 21:14 (1st for Lathrop) with Megan coming in 11th with a time of 22:26 (3rd for Lathrop.)

On September 4th, the team (and Mom on her own road trip) headed to Palmer for the Palmer Invitational the next day. I stayed with Kristin, Gary and of course Lupine and Gus.

Kristin, Jill and I had gone for a run in the morning before the girls race, had a great lunch at the Red Turkey and are primed to be spectators.

The race begins..................

Lap 1 of 3.........

Lap 2.........

Last Lap coming in for the finish.....

Heather was the 6th overall finisher, 1st for Lathrop, in a time of 20:00. Megan came in 41st overall and 3rd for Lathrop in a time of 21:03. Great job Megan for her first crowded and very competitive High School race!! Both girls broke more records in the Lathrop History books. Heather becomes the 7th overall fastest girl in recorded history at LHS while Megan breaks into the TOP 25 placing 24th overall fastest girl. Heather moves up to the 6th fastest senior and Megan the 5th fastest freshman passing Heather in the freshman history books.

The Fan Club below......thanks Wises for letting Michael watch...check out Karen's new boots below!