my son thinks I am a jinx

[Tiggeroo]

My son is a distance runner. He's currently a freshman at UMBC on a xc and track scholarship. I'm very proud of him and love to see him race. However he truly believes I jinx him. If I am there he thinks he blows races. He was bad with this in hs but it got better as he began to have a really good season and gained some confidence. I went to his opening race at his request because he needed me to bring some things to school. He did badly. I wanted to go today to the naval academy to see him run but didn't because I"m a jinx. He did really well, got a varsity spot on his team, record time for a frosh.
Alot of parents go to the races. They grow up so fast. I don't want to miss all his college races. He has told me to go but not to tell him. I'm afraid he'd see me and then it would be over.
Any thoughts or tips?

 

[Aidensmom]

That would be hard. I wonder if maybe some one could videotape them for you? Then you could see them even if you weren't there.

 

[ksjayhawks]

Go and hang to the back until the race starts. You can always walk up just as the race starts--he will be concentrating so hard on the race he won't notice you.

A parent of a kid my daughter ran with in hs had to do this, too.

Videotaping xc races is hard to do, especially on most courses. Track races are easier.

 

[Tiggeroo]

For some reason he never got so nervous during track meets. I think it's because the crowds are bigger and being in the stands, more removed. It's mainly xc, which is his favorite sport. Nope, taping couldn't happen in xc.

 

[itsagloomyday]

You could always wear a disguise...Glasses with a fake nose, trench coat, etc. That way he'd never know it was you

Superstitious athletes. I used to drive my mother crazy. I still have my lucky socks

 

[Tiggeroo]

Superstitious athletes. I used to drive my mother crazy. I still have my lucky socks

This is how superstitious he is. He needs spaghetti the night before a race with three cheese sauce. He always had a red bull, a bagel, a certain brand of water before the race. Also breathright strips and he shaves his legs the night before the race.
I imagine college put a big crimp in alot of this stuff. That had to be a big problem for him. Yep I think I'll get the fuzzy moustach glasses and the trench coat. Did anybody see that new show with George from Seinfeld. He's hiding behind a rock watching his dd's soccer game.