I had never run competitively in
anything more than a quick foot race before I started high school. I
was a decent athlete, but I never tried distance running until my
mother suggested that I join the cross country team. She wanted me
to get involved in extra-curricular activities and she heard good
things about this team. Someone I knew was going to join also so I
thought I would give it a try.
I showed up on the first day, nervous,
in my new shorts, shirt, and running shoes. Most of the kids looked
older, but I found a few kids I knew from jr. high and hung around
them. The coach introduced himself and talked a little bit about the
sport.
Next thing I know, we are running a
mile warm up. A mile for warm up? As far as I was concerned, a mile
was a long way to run. I was in good shape, so I was able to do it
and finished somewhere in the middle of the pack, but it wasn't easy.
After that, we stretched and then did our workout which consisted of
running various distances at various speeds. Overall I thought it
was ok, but not something I wanted to do on a daily basis.
In the days to follow, my mom really
had to push to get me to stick with it. I was sore and didn't want to
keep running, but for whatever reason, I stuck with it. After a few
weeks it got easier. I started meeting new people and it actually
became fun. I kept training with the team each day and got better
each week.
By the end of the season, I was one of
the top runners on the freshman team. The problem was, I had become
injured. I could run, but it was painful, and I really needed time
to heal. This was unfortunate because the conference race was upon
us and it was the most important race of the season. All the teams
would be there.
I told my coach I was injured, but he
really wanted me to run because it would help the team. I thought to
my self, I could run, but it might make the injury worse. Then I
thought, well, it was the last race so even if I was injured more, I
would have plenty of time to heal after the season was over.
So, after weighing the options, I
decided to run. On race day I prepared myself mentally as best I
could. When the gun went off, I sprinted out fast, but at the same
time, tried to be relaxed and conserve energy. It was a 2 mile run.
Throughout the race I kept advancing and passing people slowly, one
by one. Up until this point in the season, I was getting good, but I
was not the best on my team, or the conference for that matter.
As we got to the last 400 meters, in
the open field, I realized that I was at the front with just 2 other
people. I couldn't believe it. Even with the injury, this was my
best race yet. Now I was not the best sprinter, so I knew if I was
neck and neck at the end, I might get passed. So at that moment,
with about 300 meters left, I just took off.
I pulled into first and didn't look
back. I went all out and just focused on the finish line. It was a
blur, but the next thing I knew I was across the finish line and
there was no one in front of me. I heard other runners pile in
behind me huffing and puffing.
I was in shock. I had just won the
freshman conference race! I was actually a bit frightened because
this was the first time anything like this had happened to me and I
didn't know what to expect. Then my teammates and the spectators
started crowding me and congratulating me. I was exhausted, but
relieved and happy at the same time. It was one of my greatest
accomplishments growing up.
I still look back in disbelief on how I
started out having never done any kind of distance running and ended
up the season winning the freshman conference race. It shows if you
are focused and work hard you can achieve goals that may seem impossible at first, but are in fact attainable.
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