Sebastian recently participated in his school’s Turkey Trot, a one-mile run that brought together students, teachers, and families for an afternoon of fitness and fun. Only the school’s two older grades (third and fourth) are allowed to run, and the rest of the students get to watch. Sebastian has been watching the Turkey Trot since he was in kindergarten; he saw his brother run it twice.
Initially, Sebastian wasn’t sure he wanted to race. He was worried he might get lost on the course or feel too tired to finish. The idea of running a mile seemed daunting to him, and he was concerned about making mistakes along the way.
Then, one day earlier in the fall, Sebastian came home from school and told me that he qualified for the Turkey Trot. I made a big deal about it, telling him how proud of him I was. He still said he didn’t want to do it. The great thing about the event is that he gets to practice it twice during gym class. The course can be challenging to follow, so the gym teachers want to make sure the kids feel comfortable before the actual race.
After the first practice, Sebastian recreated the Turkey Trot in our yard and had me and my husband practice running it. It was fun to see how his teacher explained it to him because he knew exactly how to teach us. After we ran the mock course a few times with him, we told him that he understood the course and would be fine. It took a little encouragement and reassurance to help him overcome his fears. We reminded him that the event was all about having fun and doing his best, not being perfect.
To prepare him for the race, I wrote him a social story about expected behavior and coping strategies he could use if he became overwhelmed or needed help. We were all still a little nervous that he might have a meltdown since he’s never run a mile before. He ran track last year and was very fast, but the longest distance he’d ever run was a 200-meter sprint.
On the day of the Turkey Trot, Sebastian was ready to go. My husband and I were able to get time off from work to attend the event. As the race unfolded, Sebastian surprised us all by leading from the very start, staying in first place for nearly the entire mile. With each stride, his confidence grew, and he pushed through any doubts he had about finishing strong. It wasn’t until the very last stretch that another runner made a final burst of speed, edging him out in a photo finish.
He placed second, and we couldn’t help but be proud of him. Not only did he push his limits, but he also demonstrated perseverance, sportsmanship, and resilience. It was a great learning experience for him, showing that even when things don’t go exactly as planned, the effort he put into the race was what truly mattered. Whether Sebastian finished second or second to last, he embraced the Turkey Trot with such a positive attitude, and that’s what I’ll remember most.