cold, wet, windy happiness

 
The finish line with the two Eureka girls that I ran with the whole time. (Shaking hands with girl who beat me).

The Humboldt-Del Norte County Championships were yesterday with a real Fall storm upon us. The temperature, with wind chill, was high 30s, low 40s, with plenty of wet air.  The Varsity Girls ran at 2, turning into 2:20, so I had a lot of the day to think and ponder the race ahead of me.  Following, Coach Amber's request I refused to have any negative thoughts come into my mind.  The only real thoughts going through my mind, was "You have nothing to lose." Meaning, there is NO reason to not put everything I had out there for the race.  I wanted to redemption from last year.  It was my last chance.

First mile, I started fast, 6:52.  I knew it was fast, but I felt good, and I continued needing to pass people on the horrible, one-lane path. I was jumping into the wet grass to get around girls.  I felt like a jerk, but I needed to get by.  During the 2nd mile, a pack of three formed. Two Eureka girls and I were working together, an experience I haven't done a lot.  Many races I've had I am mostly running alone in the second and third mile.  Occasionally with some passing, but no working off each other! I've seen the guys do that many times, so it was very exciting to try out. Because that is what racing is about, right?! The Eureka girls, did not try to pass me or mess up theirs or my pace at all... We merely just worked together. I don't remember breathing hard.  2nd mile I was at 14:14, I slowed some, but still felt strong.  

At the last 400M, the path full of slippery mud, one of the Eureka girls passed me, I held off Hannah, my continuous rival of the season.  This was only the 2nd time me beating her though! I finished 11th place, the best I have done all season. My goal last year, was to get top 7, I got 11th and was unhappy.  My goal this year was to get top 15, I got 11th and was EXTREMELY happy. The competition this year was a lot harder, and I PR'ed the 3.2 mile course by just over 30 seconds.

Something I would like to share with you.

My cross-country coach, John Zinselmeir, once told me, “Setbacks can serve as fuel to fire you up and motivate you to be relentless in pursuit of your next running goal.  Success does breed success.  It motivates you to go for more.  Setbacks do, too.  Sometimes more so than successes.”  In school, one may learn how to solve a quadratic equation, analyze literature and how to dissect a pig.  However, distance running has educated, formed, and aided in the person I am today by giving me a method to approach my life.

            Running is an incredibly energy-consuming sport, which motivates me every day, using as much mental energy as physical.  I consider myself a mentally strong person, yet running has given me another opportunity to test that strength and continue to build my character, elevating my goals and expectations.  Many use life as a chance to race to the finish line, to accomplish as much as possible, or to be better than others.  Athletes choose to run cross-country as a way to display their competitive life-style and finish ahead of others.  Running has shown me a technique to improve my speed, physical strength and become the best runner I can be, but it also has shown me a way to live my life in such a way that does not always get me first place.

            Stress builds as I live a life of competition with the pressure to succeed in school and my personal expectations and standards.  As my senior year approached, I could not focus on what was in front of me, and I continued putting energy into thinking about everything that must be accomplished and how I could succeed at the top instead of the task in front of me.  Frustration set in as I saw the future as a big disappointment and I could not focus on the “now”.  As a runner, energy is needed.  As a runner eating and sleeping habits affects the way you run.  As a runner, the way I live is with the dedication and commitment for each race.  I am also a student.  I am also a musician.  Energy must be focused in order to be efficient, and as my senior year began, my energy was spread out in all directions, causing inefficiency.  As my running times slowed, disappointment crept into my daily life.  I took a step back and realized what was stopping me; focus.  Expectations and responsibilities were placed on my shoulders, but trying to balance that during a cross-country race only weighed me down. Becoming a competitive runner showed how living in the moment is the most successful tool to being efficient and getting the most out of every activity.  Winning does not always help you improve or succeed.  The end result does not have to be pretty.  What matters is where it takes you.  Setbacks show me techniques to improve and fuel the drive to excel, eliminating what held me back.