Not just a fascinating newsletter, but also a great inspirational piece. Betsy's performance and struggles are very respectable and her continuous perseverance in improving her results are the type of motivation I needed lately. Hats off to you both and thanks for sharing that tale!
I think this is the most excited you have ever come across for anything you have written about your daughters. I could fell "proud dad" coming through from about half way through.
What a wonderful story of true grit (alluding also to the famous John Wayne movie)! Blessings to Betsy to keep maturing in grit and wisdom - to see beyond the immediate and strive for the best in herself! Proud mom and dad to raise such a daughter of sterling character!
Way to go Betsy! My daughter ran cross country in high school. Junior year she was fast. Next year Betsy will be faster with her training and determination.
Yay for Betsy!! Sheer determination is an important skill for life, too.
As for you, James, don't feel too bad about the whole "panic and mentally give up" thing. Every time I got assigned a choir solo in secondary school, I ended up losing my voice from anxiety sometime in the 48 hours preceding the concert, and having to hand it off to someone else.
They eventually stopped letting me have solos at all as a result. You'd think the kind thing would have been to push me repeatedly while also planning backup just in case, but neither of my secondary school music teachers were kind people.
The first one? He not only let my class sing a song with my name in it when I had begged him not to do that song, he encouraged them in spite of my distress. I walked out in tears when they started - it was a song my grandad had always sung to me as a toddler, and he had died the previous week. The second, well, she was the one who quit letting me sing.
I feel you on panicking for those solos. Doing cardio under pressure was my kryptonite. I like my oxygen and use even more of it when I'm worked up. I did better under pressure for school. If it was for a grade, I always came through. If it was for the cross country conference meet, I'd start wheezing and jog the last half.
I admire the heck out of marathoners, but I hope Betsy stays away from those longer races. I did them myself for a stretch, and my knees never forgave me. There's a good chance she has my cartilage genetics.
Congrats to Betsy. Went to a lot of xc meets for my son. He was a "top 5" runner for his team and had a great kick at the end. He was "meh" about the sport but loved to pass someone down the stretch and not let anyone pass him there. He had a similar moment to Betsy's against an older teammate and I remember his excitement at finally besting him by a second or two in a race.
Lovely story. Your daughter is lucky to have such a loving and supportive dad!
Not just a fascinating newsletter, but also a great inspirational piece. Betsy's performance and struggles are very respectable and her continuous perseverance in improving her results are the type of motivation I needed lately. Hats off to you both and thanks for sharing that tale!
Wonderful! I bet having a dad who supports like you is awesome for her. Congratulations Betsy!
huge congratulations to Betsy! That is awesome! Good for her!
I think this is the most excited you have ever come across for anything you have written about your daughters. I could fell "proud dad" coming through from about half way through.
PS: A "sticky wicket" is a cricket term.
I just like how it sounds. Someday, I'll learn how cricket works. For now, I assume it's a mix of soccer and quidditch.
Good luck and lots of patience trying to figure cricket out. You’re talking about a game that can take five days to play!
Writing this article about her, will be a reward for all her effort for many years.
If only she read them. It's like she's busy living her own life and I'm just a background character in it. Maybe someday.
What a wonderful story of true grit (alluding also to the famous John Wayne movie)! Blessings to Betsy to keep maturing in grit and wisdom - to see beyond the immediate and strive for the best in herself! Proud mom and dad to raise such a daughter of sterling character!
Way to go Betsy! My daughter ran cross country in high school. Junior year she was fast. Next year Betsy will be faster with her training and determination.
Here's hoping. If she works hard, there's no reason her times can't keep dropping.
Congrats to Betsy!!!
Congrats to Betsy!! Everyone should have such a proud, involved father.
Awesome ! Congratulations to your daughter.
Yay for Betsy!! Sheer determination is an important skill for life, too.
As for you, James, don't feel too bad about the whole "panic and mentally give up" thing. Every time I got assigned a choir solo in secondary school, I ended up losing my voice from anxiety sometime in the 48 hours preceding the concert, and having to hand it off to someone else.
They eventually stopped letting me have solos at all as a result. You'd think the kind thing would have been to push me repeatedly while also planning backup just in case, but neither of my secondary school music teachers were kind people.
The first one? He not only let my class sing a song with my name in it when I had begged him not to do that song, he encouraged them in spite of my distress. I walked out in tears when they started - it was a song my grandad had always sung to me as a toddler, and he had died the previous week. The second, well, she was the one who quit letting me sing.
I feel you on panicking for those solos. Doing cardio under pressure was my kryptonite. I like my oxygen and use even more of it when I'm worked up. I did better under pressure for school. If it was for a grade, I always came through. If it was for the cross country conference meet, I'd start wheezing and jog the last half.
Yay Betsy!!
Proud Dad moment 🏃🏼♀️🤗
Your daughter would/will rock the Chicago Marathon!
I was a "cheerleader" for my son's, fiancés sister, yesterday...I admire these runners. I don't think i could WALK 26 miles, let alone run.
I admire the heck out of marathoners, but I hope Betsy stays away from those longer races. I did them myself for a stretch, and my knees never forgave me. There's a good chance she has my cartilage genetics.
I agree about the marathons, hence, I'd rather be the cheerleader!
Congrats to Betsy. Went to a lot of xc meets for my son. He was a "top 5" runner for his team and had a great kick at the end. He was "meh" about the sport but loved to pass someone down the stretch and not let anyone pass him there. He had a similar moment to Betsy's against an older teammate and I remember his excitement at finally besting him by a second or two in a race.
Those individual battles are what it's all about! It didn't matter to anyone but the two of them. I bet your son still looks back on that day fondly.