Max, the Big Race, and the Power of Support and Recognition
Max loved to run around the playground with his friends, but when his teacher, Mrs. Lee, announced a school Fun Run, he wasn’t so sure. “I’ve never run in a race before,” Max thought. “What if I’m too slow?”
At home, Max told his mom about the race. She smiled and said, “You don’t have to be the fastest. The Fun Run is about trying your best and having fun. Let’s practice together!” The next day, Max and his mom went to the park. Max started running as fast as he could, but after a minute, he was out of breath. “Running is hard,” he said, sitting down.
His mom knelt beside him and said, “You’re doing great, Max! Let’s try again, but this time, go a little slower so you can run longer.” Max tried again. This time, his mom ran beside him, cheering, “Look at you go!” By the end of their practice, Max was smiling. “I ran all the way to the bench!” he said proudly.
At school, Max’s best friend Ruby asked, “Are you running in the Fun Run?”
“I think so,” Max said. “My mom has been helping me practice.”
“That’s awesome! You’re going to do great!” Ruby said. Hearing his friend say that made Max feel good inside. It was like Ruby believed in him, and now Max believed in himself a little more too.
Finally, the day of the Fun Run arrived. Max felt nervous as he lined up at the starting line with all the other kids. “What if I get tired and can’t finish?” he thought.
When the whistle blew, Max started running. He remembered what his mom had said: “Go slow and steady.” Halfway through the race, Max started to feel tired. “I can’t do this,” he thought. But then he heard Ruby shout, “You’ve got this, Max! Keep going!”
Max looked up and saw his mom waving and cheering from the sidelines. “You’re almost there!” she called. With their encouragement, Max kept running. He crossed the finish line and smiled as his teacher gave him a high five. “Great job, Max!” Mrs. Lee said.
Max felt proud. He didn’t win the race, but he finished—and that was a big deal! His mom and Ruby told him how amazing he did, and that made him want to try even harder next time. When someone cheers for you or helps you practice, it gives you confidence and makes you want to keep going, even when things are tough.
After the Fun Run, Max realized something else: running made him feel great! He had more energy to play at recess and felt strong when he ran to catch the ball during soccer games. Being active and having support from others helped Max stay healthy and happy.
Can you think of a time someone cheered for you or helped you with something? How did it make you feel? Just like Max, you can try your best, have fun, and feel proud when you’re active—and maybe inspire someone else along the way!