The Best of the Best

Yesterday afternoon the final race was conducted at Holland Christian Middle School. This was your last stand after an awesome year of running Cross-Country, and out of everyone in the region - you finished in the Top 5! My little diesel engine plowed her way through the thunderstorm, and proved that she can hold her own against the best of the best!

About an hour before the race, the unpredictable Michigan weather turned for the worse. Dark skies turned angry, and wind blasted the colors from the trees. Leaves dropped in submission, and rain soaked the backroads leading to a crowded parking lot. 

You were huddled with your team, and when I approached you - I could see the shivering shoulders and trembling lips. "I'm sO cold dad!" I hugged you and told you to do jumping jacks to warm up. "Who is the fasted girl in the universe? You rolled your eyes and said, "We're about to see..."

When the gun shot rang out, you all bolted in unison. Elbowing and shoving your way to the front... Two girls from Holland Christian would eventually pull away ahead of everyone, following by a lone Zeeland Dux. Then you came flying around the corner, side by side with Emma (because, of course!), and charging through the rain-drenched woods. The energy of the surrounding crowd was contagious. Your had friends and family from all around, screaming, "Go Ambria! You got this!" 

The crowd would scurry from one location to the other, just to catch a close up glimpse and cheer you on. I kept counting... "Five! You're running five right now! Don't let anyone pass you from here on out!" 

And you didn't. You charged forward like a bat out of hell! You didn't look back, and although the rain would slow your personal record by 13 seconds, you finished 5th overall and proved to the world that Ambria Freakin' DePoy is her daddy's child!

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