Personal Narrative: 7 Things I Learned From My Short Half Marathon

“In running, it doesn’t matter whether you come in first, in the middle or last. You can say, ‘ I finished’ There is a lot of satisfaction in that” - Fred Lebow. I began cross country in eighth grade shortly after my brother joined the year before. He enjoyed it a lot, so I thought it would be fun. I’ve been on the team for two years. I would like to run for the rest of my life. Cross country changed my life positively forever. It taught me to push myself past what I thought was my limit. It revealed to me a great community of people and it taught me to leave my comfort zone.

I’ve always had a desire for running and when I heard Richland Center High had a Cross Country team, I knew I wanted to be on it! When I did start, it was tough. There were times my sanity would ask, “ WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU

Every runner wore a bib number with the time they start on it. As I was running people were passing me who had started after me, and I kept thinking I was going too slow and that I shouldn’t be taking this long to complete it. Through words of encouragement from my mom and decipline mentras from myself I finished the race, I crosses the fanish line and the feeling of triumph as I crossed it was something I’ll never forget.

Something I have always found interesting since a young age was the sport of running. Just the thought about how we had the ability to run, then using that skill and racing others with that same skill, it just amazed me. Then through elementary school they had field day when they had the 100 yard sprint and mini PVC pipe hurdles, it got me really interested in racing others. I was naturally competitive and really wanted to be the fastest girl out there. So when I came into high school, when track season came around I joined the track team. When I came to learn the ways of track I found that wind plays a significant part of running. But why so much?

There was a time in my life when participating in every sports was a requirement. From volleyball to golf I was determined to become MVP of all of them. I was dumb to think I would succeed in volleyball, golf, or even basketball because I was cursed with clumsiness. It only look one twisted ankle in warming up for volley ball and one hit in the head by a basketball to realize that sports with the word “ball” in them just weren’t for me. At the time, my 13 year old self believed my athletic career was over, until one childish punishment exposed me to my passion; running. After several punishments for climbing on top of the lockers I knew that running would become my best friend. Running was never my first choice, but it became something I grew

My 5k Run My 5k run was an experience. I had to give it my all. I started out with enough to stop a train. I had energy but it was dwindling into oblivion. By the time I had got to the long straight dirt road people started to pass me. When I turned around I saw lots more making me feel better. I again picked up my pace and continued. I learned that I was not alone. I know I wouldn’t be at the top so I stopped and started walking. Soon a man came and said “come on buddy only a quarter mile left.” I started to run again and I beat my last time.

The most challenging thing I have ever been through was when I broke my left collarbone. I was at the park after school last year with a couple of my friends and I saw an odd looking tree. I felt the need to sit on a weird curving branch so I started running towards the tree. Why I felt the need to run, I still don't know to this day. The park has a winding sidewalk that runs alongside the road. In between the two is a small decline of grass and ground. Whilst running, I tripped on my own two feet on that small slope and fell on my shoulder. I rolled over so my back was on the ground. At this point in time I couldn't feel any pain, I was in shock. As soon as I started to get up, pain shot through me and I had to lay back down. Once one of my

Almost everyone is aware that running is a great way to get in shape. Overall it’s a great addition to any workout regimen. For years’ people may have looked at runners as health nuts. Have you ever thought that the runner that you watched run past you while sitting on a park bench was fighting a severe case of depression? Running has a list of benefits that would motivate a non runner to go and shop for a new pair of running shoes. Running is more than just an exercise it’s the key to a better life on many levels. Running is an effective hobby because it can help with depression, stress, preventing diseases, and even confidence to name a few.

Running is my passion because I get to go anywhere I choose. I have developed a need for speed. I remember the first time I dashed through the finish line, and I will never forget it. I have improved dramatically in my running since I was born. Towards the end

I was determined to work harder every time I looked at my already worn-out running shoes. So I ran almost every day, always one upping myself and proving to myself that I can do today what I thought I couldn't do yesterday. By the end of summer, with a lot of help and practice, I participated in a 5k race (3.1 miles) it wasn't the training or the encouragement that got me though it, but me, myself, and whole a lot of ice. The whole experience was beyond amazing. I had a goal that I was determined to reach, and I made it, it's funny to think that a couple of weeks before training, I thought I couldn't do anything close to a 5K, which makes the reward that much better. By the way, what was not that fun was all the blood, sweat, and tears that got me there. Determination was my biggest ally on the journey and it still is with every challenge I take, reminding me to always tread on, and stay focused on my goal.

How was your weekend running? Another weekend, another twenty miler. i feel I’ve reached the purpose that, currently on marathon range six, I recognise as peak ‘why the hell do I try this to myself’ moment. Not shut enough to the race (just beneath seven weeks) to feel an effort of vasoconstrictive, and still a minimum of some of 20-plus runs to travel. Still, a minimum of there was consolation within the type of dish once yesterday’s hot and windy effort - and athletics to observe on the receiver.

It was a frigid and cloudy day at Calabasas High School when the cross-country team agreed to lift weights. During my visit to the weight room, my assistant coach and co-team captain informed me that they needed to accrue money for Team Something Yellow in order to compete in the 2017 Los Angeles Marathon. I exclaimed, “Should we put on a 5K run and walk on campus”? “Absolutely”, yelled my co-team captain Emily. Our assistant coach Claudia said, “However, how are we going to administrate the event in a sparse amount of time? There is an immense amount of assignments to complete and I fear we will not entice enough competitors”. I asserted to both Emily and Claudia that the 5K will be successful only if we have exemplary collaboration skills.

Running the mandatory mile in gym class, what an awful experience. Starting with all of the classmates, and trying to sprint to refrain from looking like a dork. I was that kid all the way in the back, huffing and puffing minutes after everyone else had finished. I was picked on. It wasn’t that I didn’t like running, I actually had loved the distance, I was just slow. Somehow my poor mile time had been humorous to all my classmates, every single elementary year up until after middle school. For the first two years of high school, I refused to run. The taunts of the over-confident sprinters played in my head during every attempt at running. I began to actually miss feeling the sensation of my feet hitting the pavement, experiencing the rush.

I remember the game winning point in Van Horn Iowa. We Bump, Set, Hit.... It was a kill!. The crowd goes viral. It's 2016 and the Sailor Nation 7th graders are on there way to state!

Effect of Having Cavus Feet in Running for Marathons Do you love running in marathons? Of course, you do! You love the feel of the wind as you run and there’s the uplifting cheering of the crowd. It feels like there’s nothing stopping you. But you only thought so.