PJXC "BUILDING TRADITION" 2014
I write this reflection with mixed emotions. As I have now had some time to reflect back upon our first season of PJXC, too many memories to count begin coming back into focus. Yet, it all is so easily summed up with two words that guided us along our 3.5 month journey, "Building Tradition."
On June 30th, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth graders from all over Pekin met up at the Pekin Park Pavilion to begin a journey towards the month of October, together. Throughout the month of July, runners from all over the city of Pekin and beyond joined us for our Summer Run Club. Our friends from St. Josephs, South Pekin, Rankin and Faith Baptist joined our future PJXC Dragons from Broadmoor and Edison learning what it means to "Run for Fun and Personal Bests." From the games we played to the miles we logged, the friendships began to strengthen from day one.
As the calendar turned from July to August we said goodbye to our Run Club and our friends from the other feeder schools while 33 students in District 108 began our first year of PJXC, not as a Co-Op of Edison and Broadmoor, but as ONE TEAM that became known as Pekin Junior Cross Country!
I don't think anyone could have predicted the incredible season that was to follow. From the scorching heat in the early weeks of August to the rainy and cold Saturday mornings in October, our team only grew stronger each and every step of the way. Literally thousands of trips running up Dragon Hill, to those never ending repeats and miles and miles that we ran along the way, it was because of each and every one encouraging their teammates to continually strive on, that we were able to achieve our personal bests!
There are just too many fun and lasting memories to possibly list them all, yet I can't help but make reference to our Friday Fun activities, the mud race at East Peoria, catching our leaves, our team challenges, race walking around the Lagoon and racing like dogs at the Dog Park. I'm sure no one will ever forget dumping a bucket of freezing water over our heads to help raise money for ALS research! We continued building traditions each and every day in our own memorable ways.
As I mentioned above, it is with mixed emotion that I reflect back upon our first season of PJXC. As I sat back at Olive Garden as our team enjoyed our Pre-State meal, I began to come to the realization that our season was coming to an end. That meant we would be saying goodbye to a group of 8th graders that I will forever be in debt to for what they have meant to our program. Without their dedication to this program every step of the way, we would not be where we are today. They are an extremely special group of hard working and dedicated individuals who demonstrated how to come together as one team and truly be there for one another. It is my hope, to see many from this group, continue their running careers at PCHS.
Yet, I look forward to our seasons to come, especially next season, with our seventh graders returning! They are an amazing group of kids that I can't wait to see continually get better and better over the course of this upcoming year! They already understand and have continually demonstrated what our program is all about and are ready to take us forward into the future leading a new group of PJXC team members on another unforgettable journey! Two words have guided us throughout our first season of PJXC and now I am so proud to say, The Tradition has been Built!
PJXC...... "Taking The Next Stride"....... Summer of 2015
I write this reflection with mixed emotions. As I have now had some time to reflect back upon our first season of PJXC, too many memories to count begin coming back into focus. Yet, it all is so easily summed up with two words that guided us along our 3.5 month journey, "Building Tradition."
On June 30th, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth graders from all over Pekin met up at the Pekin Park Pavilion to begin a journey towards the month of October, together. Throughout the month of July, runners from all over the city of Pekin and beyond joined us for our Summer Run Club. Our friends from St. Josephs, South Pekin, Rankin and Faith Baptist joined our future PJXC Dragons from Broadmoor and Edison learning what it means to "Run for Fun and Personal Bests." From the games we played to the miles we logged, the friendships began to strengthen from day one.
As the calendar turned from July to August we said goodbye to our Run Club and our friends from the other feeder schools while 33 students in District 108 began our first year of PJXC, not as a Co-Op of Edison and Broadmoor, but as ONE TEAM that became known as Pekin Junior Cross Country!
I don't think anyone could have predicted the incredible season that was to follow. From the scorching heat in the early weeks of August to the rainy and cold Saturday mornings in October, our team only grew stronger each and every step of the way. Literally thousands of trips running up Dragon Hill, to those never ending repeats and miles and miles that we ran along the way, it was because of each and every one encouraging their teammates to continually strive on, that we were able to achieve our personal bests!
There are just too many fun and lasting memories to possibly list them all, yet I can't help but make reference to our Friday Fun activities, the mud race at East Peoria, catching our leaves, our team challenges, race walking around the Lagoon and racing like dogs at the Dog Park. I'm sure no one will ever forget dumping a bucket of freezing water over our heads to help raise money for ALS research! We continued building traditions each and every day in our own memorable ways.
As I mentioned above, it is with mixed emotion that I reflect back upon our first season of PJXC. As I sat back at Olive Garden as our team enjoyed our Pre-State meal, I began to come to the realization that our season was coming to an end. That meant we would be saying goodbye to a group of 8th graders that I will forever be in debt to for what they have meant to our program. Without their dedication to this program every step of the way, we would not be where we are today. They are an extremely special group of hard working and dedicated individuals who demonstrated how to come together as one team and truly be there for one another. It is my hope, to see many from this group, continue their running careers at PCHS.
Yet, I look forward to our seasons to come, especially next season, with our seventh graders returning! They are an amazing group of kids that I can't wait to see continually get better and better over the course of this upcoming year! They already understand and have continually demonstrated what our program is all about and are ready to take us forward into the future leading a new group of PJXC team members on another unforgettable journey! Two words have guided us throughout our first season of PJXC and now I am so proud to say, The Tradition has been Built!
PJXC...... "Taking The Next Stride"....... Summer of 2015