Why I Run

Cross Country: My sport is your sport's punishment. I'm sure you've heard that one. You've probably seen the runners from your local school running past you at some point and you wonder, "How the heck do they just run so much?" There are the kids who lead the pack and then there are those that just can't seem to build up the endurance for running, taking up the back.

As a junior, this is my third year running cross country and by far my best year. I know what to expect at practices, the injuries to avoid, and the thrill of finishing the most challenging 5k course of the season. And now matter how much I complain about difficult practices or how much of a jerk my coach can be sometimes, I've realized this year the I absolutely love the sport.

After a bad day at school or having a crappy time in my 6th hour class which happens to be my worst subject, Algebra II, the best cure for a bad mood is 2 hours of cross country practice. I can just get out there and clear my mind...only focusing on beating the workout that day which could consist of twelve 400m loops, eight 800m loops, or even just a long distance run of 4 1/2 miles with a mile of sprints afterwards. Either way, I can just focus on getting through it and running the whole thing. By the end of practice, I can go get a long drink of water and say, "Yeah, I did get through that workout and it was nothing! So HA!" It truly is a great feeling. And by this time, I've completely forgotten about what put me in a bad mood because what I've just accomplished trumps everything else out.

Throughout these 3 years of cross country running, each one has been quite different from the last. I've dealt with new obstacles, overcome them, and felt satisfied in the end. Cross country is as much a team sport as it is an individual sport. I run with my boyfriend and a few of his friends to share a few laughs and also to push myself since boys tend to be faster runners. At the same time, right before the gun at the starting line, cross country becomes completely individual. You have to syke yourself out to get ready for what lies ahead: hills, water jumps, uneven terrain, and passing as many girls as you can just to move up a few spots and improve your time.

Total chaos breaks out as the gun is shot and hundreds of girls sprint out fall into place within the first mile. Our coach actually has a great analogy for what you feel like during the race: once the gun goes off, a vice is placed on your hips. As you run through the course, your vice is tightened. Only the best and most disciplined runners can make it through as their vice is tightened and the pain increases. Once you hit the 3 mile mark on the course, the vice is probably at its worst, but the race isn't over yet. With 1 meter to go, most runners begin to speed up, anticipating the chute and the finish line ahead. I love the adrenaline rush this creates and I'm always amazed at my sprint down the chute. I always get chills! But this is just the best part of the whole experience.


-Hannah :D