Sent: Wed, Jul 11, 2012 8:57 am
Subject: Re: Marco and Luca
This was the nicest surprise to get on a busy day at work. A beautifully written account of a very momentous day in our boys lives. Thank you so much. It made me cry. In a good way of course. We have been more than happy with the camp and will be looking forward to next year. We have 5 boys so you can look forward to more Byrnes boys in the future. Again thanks so much. Elena Byrnes
On Jul 10, 2012, at 02:53 PM, Camp Chikopi <campchikopi@aol.com> wrote:
Coach Zureida asked us to share her thoughts on yesterday's 12K run. Then to top off week 2 Marco swam the Chikopi mile this morning, a huge accomplishment for a seven year old non comp camper. We are all so proud of him, he is one tough cookie.
Colette and Bob
From Coach Zureida:
Hi Collette
Luca and Marco's mom and Dad would like to know they have some strong kids.
I inadvertently participated in a 12 kilometer run today. I went about 9 k. I was at the first water station when our smallest camper passed. He is seven, his brother 9. They were with another boy about 11 or 12. They were last. The director came by and was going to bring them in. I said no I would go with them. He's a gutsy little guy and given a chance I was sure he'd finish.
So off we go. The four of us. So the boys tell me they have decided that Marco would cross the line first then Lucas and then Evan. Youngest to oldest. I said that would be fine then I would cross last. So we are walking, and walking and walking. Then up the hill we see two other kids. A boy from our camp and a girl from the girl’s camp. I said let’s see if we can catch up. So on the downhill we would relax our hips and arms and let the hill push us downhill. We got pretty close to catching them they started looking back. They tried to run. I said lets walk but faster. We caught up to them. I said let’s not slow down yet let’s try to keep the advantage. So we did. Then we saw a group of girl’s two hills ahead. We did the same thing. Except now we could see a few hills at a time so we took turns keeping our pace. Marco would walk then run to catch up. This little guy is tough.
Then I said to Evan, can you see which way the road turns, he said to the right. I said make a beeline straight to the next hill. So instead of following the curves of the road we darted in straight lines. We got within half a hill from the girls. They started running. We kept walking. The girls got a full hill ahead again. I said to the guys we are only going to have one shot at taking the lead. Joe said there was one big hill before the end. When we hit the big hill start to run and go as far as you can. The girls stopped and bent over to rest. We got within a half hill. I told Evan and Lucas to go I would stay with Marco and they could catch the girls. They took off. When Marco and I got to the top of the hill I could see the boys almost up to the girls going up the next hill. We never saw them after that. Marco and I kept walking. He would ask me if we were there yet. I just said sorry this is the first time I was doing this I didn't know but it a bit to go still. We kept walking. Then he would run, so I would run. Then he would walk so I would walk. We walked allot. We passed a house with allot of flowers. The bees were buzzing around us. I had a cup from the last water station. It had the drops of Marco's gatorade. I said I bet the bees are following me because they smell the sugar from your cup. He stops walking swatting at the bees and says then why are they bothering me? This is one cool cat. We keep walking. Every once in a while he asks how much further, I have the same answer, I don't know. Then we heard voices, it was some of the campers who had finished by the entrance of the girls camp. I said remember Joe said it was 300 meters from the entrance, we can run Marco we can do this. Of course this was pure delirium on my part.
But the kid starts running, so I start running. There has to some sense of pride, and I figured he would stop. But he didn't. So I didn't. And the road just kept going and going. I figured surely he would stop but he didn't. Then we heard voices. Then I saw a flag. Marco keep going I can see the flag. When we turned the corner there was the girl’s camp. I yelled go Marco go and gave him a little push. He started running ahead then everyone started yelling go Marco go and he did. Before it was over we passed up three people. Evan and Lucas finished ahead of one of the girls from the hill. There was a lady taking a picture as Marco crossed the finish line. I was in the background.
Never would have been there if three little kids hadn't made a plan to cross the finish line. Thank you guys, I really couldn't thank you enough.
It was wild. And now it’s not so bad I really feel ok. Maybe I will do this from the beginning next time!
Got to make sure some little kid is doing it though!
Take care
Z
