The Flowers on the Backpack (A Story from NXR)
New venues create new challenges.
I love showing up to a course with a partial plan in tow—scouting a unique shot I’ve never tried, finding a different vantage point, or testing a new angle on the starting line. But showing up to a city and a course I have never been to can be daunting.
Nici Holt Cline, Ruby’s mother snaps a photo as she meets with her sister and teammates.
When my cameras are hanging off me, I am usually in "shooting mode." Tunnel vision. Head to the spot, get the shot, move on. But that was not the case when I arrived in Spokane at the Polo Grounds for NXR Northwest.
I was wandering the course, trying to find my bearings in the brown, dusty landscape, when something caught my eye.
Squatted down between two parallel sections of the course, bathed in the morning golden hour sun, was a woman wearing a backpack with fresh flowers strapped to the exterior. In a sea of nylon team tents and mud, the flowers stood out like a beacon.
I kept finding myself wanting to take a photo. But rather than snipping a sneaky candid from afar, I walked over.
I asked about the flowers. I snapped a photo. And we started to chat.
The Flowers in the Backpack.
I introduced myself and learned about Nici, Margot, and Ruby. Ruby is a sophomore from Montana who was running in one of the open races. Margot was the sister. Nici was the mom. And as it turned out, they weren't just spectators—they were a surprise. Ruby didn't know they were coming.
I didn’t know a single runner in this race, so I made a decision right then. I asked them how to spot Ruby and decided to stick near them. When they screamed her name, I would be able to hone in on her and capture the moment.
This is the exact reason why I take photos. It’s not just about the action; it’s about capturing people in unique moments of their lives and being able to share it with them.
Once I figured out who Ruby was, I made it my mission to run around and capture as many photos of her and her teammates as I could, shuffling through the sea of people with Nici and Margot.
At the finish line, I hung around until I saw her cross. I walked over as she recovered, told her I had promised her mom I would get photos, and snapped a few more frames of the exhaustion and triumph. Then, I stepped back and waited for the real moment.
Ruby Cline recovers after her race at NXR Northwest
She left the finishing area and met her mom and sister—and that is where the magic happened.
All the emotions of a kid making it to NXR collided with the shock of seeing her mom and sister on the sidelines. Not only did Ruby make it to this prestigious point in her season, but she was able to share it with her loved ones who—in her mind—were hundreds of miles away.
Ruby hugs her mother after finishing her race at NXR Northwest.
The cherry on top? She PR’d at one of the biggest races of her life.
I’d like to think it was the fast course conditions, but I know what happens when you see your people cheering for you. When that adrenaline hits the roof, you find another gear.
Shortly after NXR Northwest, I saw that Nici had written a blog post about their adventure from Montana to Spokane. It’s not often that I hear from parents after races, but to read her full story, see my photos through her eyes, and feel that emotion again was special.
I know what it’s like on both sides of the coin—whether running in the race or cheering on your kid. It’s a lot to wrap your head around. But moments like this make it all worth it.
If you want a good emotional rush to start your year, please go read Nici’s story: Read "You Could Be My Luck" by Nici Holt Cline
Don't Just Spectate.
Participate.
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