R's First EVER Track & Field Meet! #SpecialOlympics

If you ever want to be inspired, motivated or are just looking for a reason to smile…attend a Special Olympics event. Any event. It doesn’t matter. The feeling you walk away with will be the same.

Yesterday was Riley’s first ever Special Olympics Track and Field Meet. Now if you know R, you know the idea of racing or competition is not a part of Riley World.

There were three field events (shot put, standing and running long jump) and 9 track events (50m, 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 3000m, 5000m) including a 10,000m race! That’s 25 laps!! Are you kidding me!!! I don’t think I could walk 25 laps in one go.  

Riley participated in 5 events (shot put, running long jump and the 100m, 200m and 400m races). We were there for 6 hours! This most certainly is a new Riley World Record!! AND we both came home smiling...HUGE!!! I know. SO proud of him!

Since you weren’t able to be there with us, I am going to treat you to a play-by-play of yesterday’s events and lucky you…I have pics AND video for your viewing pleasure.

When we first arrived the group warm-up was in full swing. I was shocked thrilled when Riley was willing to jump right in BY HIMSELF when we spotted some team mates. He even went right to the front of the pack. I have never seen this happen before.

He slipped on the team jersey no problem but preferred to wear his own shorts.  :)

His first event was the 200m race. 

If you can't see the video, click here to watch.

Ummmm…okay, so I may have forgotten to tell him when to stop running or as G commented “Just like a horse race where they take half a lap to slow down and turn around.”  :P

Next came the 100m race. Riley is in the middle lane (wearing sunglasses).

Same as the last time...if you can't see the video, click here.

This time he knew what he was doing. Well…sorta. Notice he looked around before continuing stopping. He makes me smile.  :P

The running long jump was R’s first field event. Note the concentration. Lucky for you the battery started to run low so I only got his first attempt. 

Watch R's first attempt at the running long jump here.

His last running event of the day…the 400m (R's in lane 7 - second from the outside). The video camera’s battery died so I had to use my phone.  :(   It became apparent that Riley prefers to “keep pace” with someone as opposed to run ahead. Such a polite young man.  ;) 

Click here to watch him run the 400m race.

One last event before heading home…the shot put. Just enough battery life to get one last throw. 

Finally....the last video to watch.  :)

Everybody cheers for EVERYBODY! No matter if you finish in front, at the back or somewhere in the middle. No matter how long it takes. No matter what team you are on. Special Olympics is a place where EVERYBODY is a WINNER!!