自分で競争についてです。
８月から学校でジョナはクロスカントリーを走っている。３回毎週学校の日後に練習をしている。毎土曜日に皆さんと外の国際の学生と集めて、走って、競争します。いろいろ理由にいい経験だと思います。
When Middle School started for Jonah in August, he decided to join the Cross Country team. They practice three days a week after school, and then have meets every Saturday with other international schools. It is always interesting to see the young athletes together.
Developing the habit of fitness at an early age will benefit them for life.
And, at this juncture of development, it helps them build their own character. 
The students are running with a group, so they are in competition with each other, but that part is just additional motivation, pacing. The true competition is within the individual athlete. Each week, he or she tries to better their own time. The coaches help them set goals during the practices and then remind them of these goals before the meet. The runners joke around with their friends, that's the group thing. But then a few words with the coach, talking seriously about attaining that personal goal, helps them bring out their best effort. You can see it in their faces at the finish line.
The students are running with a group, so they are in competition with each other, but that part is just additional motivation, pacing. The true competition is within the individual athlete. Each week, he or she tries to better their own time. The coaches help them set goals during the practices and then remind them of these goals before the meet. The runners joke around with their friends, that's the group thing. But then a few words with the coach, talking seriously about attaining that personal goal, helps them bring out their best effort. You can see it in their faces at the finish line.How can I translate this into a life lesson for myself?
Martin took all these pix at Saturday's meet.
Jonah's goal this week was to run the 2.1 mile course in under 21 minutes. His time: 20:40.
Martin's been bugging me to ride my bicycle, but it really puts a strain on the wrist, and I prefer to avoid pain. Finally this weekend I gave in and rode for the first time since my injury, 3 months ago. We rode by the Imperial Palace Moat, and ove
r to... yes, you guessed it... BIC Camera. ( where Martin goes to daydream and drool.) It went okay, the biking, I mean. I was careful, let the arm rest as much as possible, tried not to lean on it. I'd say I'm pretty well recovered now. Still can't do some yoga moves, like downward dog, but it will come with time. Not only have I been wearing my wrist guards since I started skating again, but I've been promoting them to my friends.Oh, look... in the background you can see the Diet where the newly elected prime minister will work. I'll miss Koizumi and his lovely hair, but maybe he'll get his own talk show or something.
Our route back from Yurakuchyo took us through Ginza and by some high end used camera shops. "This will only take a minute", he'd say, hopping off. 
I think you'll find this interesting. Pumpkins for sale in Tokyo. Let's see, 3150 yen is about $26.65.
What a great blog! Your text and Martin’s photos totally capture the spirit of cross country in the hearts of our middle school runners. The cross country feature in your blog could become our greatest recruiting resource.
At the race you highlighted, twenty-five of our fifty runners reached Personal Best times. Ten of the twenty-five who were on the team last year, also broke through their former Personal Best times (usually set at the final meet) and established new, personal records this year with three weeks of training and two meets still ahead of us. These young athletes are “on fire.”
The Kanji character on the back of out t-shirt means bravery and courage. Our middle school runners exhibit plenty of both at every practice and meet, including the uphill challenge at Tama Hills runners respectfully call, “Killer Hill.” Thank you for featuring our courageous runners. Coach M.S.
Posted by: Coach M. S. | October 05, 2006 at 07:45 AM
Coach M.S. Thanks for the note. I have recently heard the term "Personal Best" as it relates to skating events also. I'm glad I will be able to make it to the final Cross Country meet, as it really is celebration of achievement. We all have our own "Killer Hill" to climb.
I found some more pix from the meet. These were with the film camera, so took a little longer. It's Martin's camera, but I took some of these, there's a different perspective... also a couple of Coach K.C. doing her thing.
http://pamelask8s.smugmug.com/gallery/1978794/1/100800047
Posted by: Pamela | October 11, 2006 at 10:16 AM