I could not be more proud! My Year Three son was chosen as the only person from his class to run a 1,300-meter cross-country competition at Lee Valley Athletic Park.
Now, he’s a decent football player, sure—but still, I was stunned when he was selected to run against Year 4 and 5 pupils. It was a big deal.
A Moment of Pride—Both for My Son and Myself
At the very same competition, I must blow my own trumpet—because something happened off the track that made me just as proud. Not just because my boy was running, but because of what unfolded before the girls’ race began.
One of the Year Four girls refused to even step onto the starting line. She was hysterical—crying, panicking—completely unwilling to run. Her parents, her coach, the teachers—nobody could get through to her. She kept saying she was scared, she didn’t want to do it.
Now, of course, in situations like this, it’s never just about one person. It’s about the school’s reputation , the teachers, and the team. If one runner drops out, the whole team feels it. The race changes. Maybe I’m pushing it a little here, but if six runners are meant to start, then six runners should be on that track.
She created such a scene that I felt uncomfortable just standing there watching. I’m a strict parent. I don’t tolerate this kind of thing with my own children. But I also respect that everyone raises their kids differently, so no judgment from me.
However… minutes passed, and still, nothing changed. The father didn’t seem too fazed, but the mother tried everything to convince her daughter. The coach gave up, the teachers failed, and by now, I was getting slightly agitated.
I thought quickly—but didn’t overthink it—and stepped forward. I approached the mother and asked, “May I have a word with her?”
She was incredibly kind and said, “Yes, of course. Please, go right ahead.”
The Turning Point
I didn’t even know the girl’s name. But that didn’t matter.
I led her a few feet away from the crowd, still within view of her parents, and looked her in the eyes. She was crying, shaking, overwhelmed.
I knelt down and said:
“Look, I completely respect that you’re scared. That’s fine. It’s understandable. But the problem you are creating is massive—not just for you, but for your parents, your school, and your team. That is not acceptable. You are a strong, athletic, beautiful girl. You can do this with ease. You will do this. You can do this. I believe in you. Run the race. Put your fear behind you. It’s not too late. You are a star—and you belong on that track.”
She looked down, paused… then looked up at me.
And she said, “I’ll do it.”
Without another word, she ran to her mother, grabbed her hand, and dragged her to the starting line—just 30 seconds before the race began.
The Race and the Result
She ran.
And not only did she finish—she placed 45th out of 90 runners, making her the best performer in her class. She even beat half the grid!
During the race, I noticed people whispering, putting their heads together, talking about what had just happened. I didn’t care. I stayed focused on my son, who was getting ready for his own moment.
The girl’s father said nothing to me—but that’s fine. I don’t need recognition. However, her mother approached me, looked me in the eye, and said:
“Thank you. Whatever you told her… it worked. Thank you.”
I just thought to myself, “Whatever I told her is beyond the point. The point is, she just needed someone to believe in her deeply. And in that moment, I was the right man for the job.”
My Son’s Big Moment
Now, it was the boys’ turn.
For preparation, I made sure my son had long trousers and a puffy jacket to stay warm. Now, I am not a sportsman—I don’t go to the gym, and I have zero education on athletic training. But before the race, I did some research.
I looked up what top athletes eat before competitions. I made sure he had the right food throughout the day. I also gave him tactical advice—common sense, physics, and tips I’d picked up from watching the Olympics for decades.
I told him:
Stay on the inner circle, close to the grass—that’s the shortest route.
Pick a strong, tall runner and run behind him—this reduces wind resistance.
Don’t burn yourself out early—stay steady but firm.
Watch for my signals—I’d tell him when to pick up speed and when to sprint.
The most important from all: If you get tripped—get up forget about it an keep running, keep working. It’s a long race everything is on the table and everything is possible throughout the race.
I even remembered an old trick from the tennis legends of the ‘80s—Ivan Lendl and Boris Becker. Before and during the match, I told him to eat a small banana—something I remembered from watching them on a black-and-white TV in an asylum seeker camp in Lower Austria.
Just before the race, I told him: “Take off your jacket and trousers. You’re ready.”
The Race of His Life
In my opinion, he ran a perfect race.
Unfortunately or thanks God, I couldn’t give him more advice during the run because it was extremely loud—and honestly, I don’t think he would’ve heard me anyway. But that didn’t matter.
He finished 26th out of 90 runners. Best from his school.
One of my proudest moments.
A Well-Earned Treat
Now, in our house, we eat quality food. No sodas, no fast food, no processed junk. We cook every day.
But on that day?
I took him to a fact food chain and bought him a meal. He earned it.
My Disappointment with the School
Here’s where I was slightly disappointed.
I believe he should have received huge recognition for being the best performer from his school. But nowhere on the school website was there a single picture of the team.
I get the whole social media issue with some parents, but honestly—if we can’t even post a team picture to celebrate the kids’ hard work, then we have a massive problem.
If I were the headmistress, I’d say:
“If you don’t want your child in the team photo, no problem—we’ll cover their face with the school logo. But if you want them in the race, they should be in the team picture.”
The Final Thought
I have no idea how much my preparation contributed to my son’s performance.
But I was shell-shocked when he outperformed 64 other runners and proved himself to be the best from his school.
It was a day I will never forget.