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Nikon D700 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 160 mm — 1/1600 sec, f/6.3, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Anthony's Running Form
almost seven years old
After a week with a most unpleasant cold, I finally felt better this weekend, just in time for the sports festival at Anthony's school. Now that he's in first grade participating with 500 kids from K1-6, it's a much bigger event than when he was in kindergarten, and the emphasis has switched from the mere enjoyment of participation to teamwork.
First on the agenda of the all-day affair was one of the few non-teamwork events, a 60-meter dash for the first graders....
D700 + 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 200 mm, cropped — 1/1600 sec, f/6.3, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Out of the Blocks
staggered start
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 200 mm — 1/1000 sec, f/6.3, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
First Corner
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 200 mm — 1/1250 sec, f/6.3, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Breaking the Tape
winning his heat of six runners, scoring a point for the blue team
There was also a first-grade obstacle course, involving things like riding a tricycle and scooting a short distance on your butt with a skateboard. Anthony was leading his heat until the skateboard did him in, and so he was behind entering the hurdles...
Nikon D700 + Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 @ 160 mm — 1/1000 sec, f/6.3, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Steeplechase
The lead photo of the post is from when Anthony was accelerating away from the hurdles. His running form now is better than when he was three years old, of course, but he's still a kid. Each of the grades did their own sprints, and the difference from everyone else in some of the six-grade kids was absolutely shocking, because a few of them ran with the strength, efficiency, and natural grace of an adult sprinter (far faster and better, I'm sure, even in sixth grade, than I have ever been able to muster).
I spent all day running around with the camera, which perhaps isn't an ideal way to spend your first day of health after a protracted cold, so today every bone and muscle aches in the “you overdid it just a bit” way that seems to come more easily as the years go by. And I have more than a week's worth of email to check.... I can't recall a time in the last 25 years that I went for a week without checking email, so I'm sure it's not going to be fun. But watching Anthony yesterday was wonderful, and aches aside, it's great to be feeling healthy again.
It looks like it was a hot day. My children’s sports day (1st and 2nd grade) was the week before and it was really hot so it must have been tough for them sitting in the sun for a long time.
I am always impressed by the coordinated dance or gymnastic routines that they have the children perform as well as the more normal sports. Is this the same at Anthony’s school?
It was warm, but not oppressively hot, and was better than the rain the day before when it had been originally scheduled. The kids could sit in shade, which also helped. Yes, they also did group gymnastic routines, called マスゲーム, a name I couldn’t for the life of me figure out until I looked it up just now: Mass Game. The first graders did things like six-person pyramids and various formations and such… I was impressed by how long and complex a routine they memorized. The older kids’ big thing were 30-person pyramids, reaching almost three stories high(!) —Jeffrey
Oh wow! very nice post. Anthony looks so good in his running pose and no tongue sticking out too 🙂 I will show it to my first grader who is also a running enthusiast.
Typhoon Melor is headed in your direction, Jeffrey. It’s currently forecasted to fly right over Tokyo. Be safe, and good luck!
Joe
Being from the Midwest (Ohio), I actually enjoy a good brisk storm from time to time, but unfortunately, as you say, it’s heading for Tokyo, which is no where near me (Kyoto) 🙁 —Jeffrey
Jeffrey, some models forecast Melor’s landfall at just south of Kyoto. You might get more than a little taste of it! Anyway, stay safe, and good luck!
Joe