Personal Narrative Essay: The Sovereign Takapuna Thron

Since sophomore year, I have tried a diversity of races, each providing their own unique lessons. The major event that seems, like the NBA championship to track runners overseas is FAR EAST. I started when the veterans was aiming for what they called “2peat” in bringing home the banners. In order to succeed, I had to be dedicated to put my heart and soul into my events. Dedication comes easier to have when you have not only your team support, but also the others

The Tough Mountain Challenge is a 5K up and down Sunday River with physically challenging obstacles. My first year doing the race I did it with my mom and her friend, but the second year it was just my mom and I. There were certain parts of the course that were hard on all of us, but we never left each other. I was taught

In May of 2015, I ran a Spartan race. A Spartan race is an obstacle course where you try your hardest to finish and push yourself to your limit. My friend, Jess, decided to do one with her brother and wanted to take me. My sister also wanted to join since she already ran two of these races. Since I had my sister by my side, I decided to try it. It was one of the most treacherous and exhilarating times in my life and it all started with climbing over a six foot wall with a giant hill behind it.

Susan began competing in triathlons when he was 36 years old after his eldest child, Babe became involved in them at school. To this day he has competed in around 60 triathlons. He continues to do so because he enjoys the challenge of the races and how they keep him fit. These days he plans to fly to Port Macquarie and race in the Ironman occurring there during May next year. He hopes that he will place high enough in this race that he will be qualified to compete in the world championships in Hawaii. Susan has also participated in Sour Christian College’s ‘Run 4

Early last spring the mail about the annual Donner Lake triathlon. When I set the school I was fearless and excited lying in bed that night I knew the preparation would be both physically challenging and mentally drained but I had a month to prepare myself. And I was determined the week after school was out on May 21, 2016 my family and I went up to our family cabin which we affectionately call the lake house. Driving up to Donner Lake I was filled with excitement knowing that this summer I was going to prepare for a triathlon as we descended down from the top of the summit I could see the sun shining on the Bluewater making it sparkle and the beautiful tall mountains filled with cream for a good smelling Pinetree's as we approached our small little brown cozy Lakehouse.

I originally wasn’t going to do a Spartan race in Canada this year, but I was hearing mixed reviews from friends and fellow racers and decided I needed to see for myself. I actually was very

NAPERVILLE, Ill. - The Centenary triathlon team completed its first meet of the season Monday, September 4, at the Central Regional Qualifier hosted by North Central College. The Ladies finished seventh overall and second among teams from NCAA Division III institutions.

This made four years in a row that participated in the Tri-State NJ Tough Mudder. Tough Mudder has never hidden that fact this race weekend in the Tri-State area is very important to them and they always bring their A game. I raced both days, Saturday I showed up just in time to run the last wave of the day because this was OCR # 3 on the day. I started out in the early AM in Hoboken NJ and then drove to Philadelphia and then double timed it back to NJ to run the full Tough Mudder course.

I watched people who had been riding their whole life ace the course, and then there was me. I had been riding for two years when I fell off and sprained my back. It hurt to jump let alone ride, I was terrified i would never ride again. My back healed and I was able to ride again, but my confidence was replaced with fear. That's why I was competing to prove I was not afraid. So there I was on the starting line when, "TWEET!" goes the whistle and I'm off. I weave through poles, circled barrels, and dodged obstacles.

Wow! When we ride around on dirt roads every weekend, we always see people with nice and exciting fourwheelers or golfcarts going to the sand pit.Sometimes people will take their fourwheeler to the sand pit in Axson, even a new fourwheeler.They will go in deep water with it. If I had one I would not go in water with it, at first anyway.But in Axson now, there is water over the roads, because the Satilla River is out of the banks.The water is so much out of the banks, you can not go under the bridge at Axson.

"BEEEEEP!" Turning off the familiar but annoying sound of the alarm, lying in bed until the last possible second, I admit: this is the big day. All those practices and early mornings will be rewarded today. Finally crawling out of bed to get ready for the meet, I grab my goggles, a towel, water, and a quick breakfast on the way out the door. Checking in with the coach before finding the rest of the team as the pool area becomes louder with every passing minute while more and more people arrive at the big event. Sitting and resting, I try to save all my energy for the race. I put my headphones in and turn music on as I try to begin to focus. Talking to friends to try to calm nerves. It is time.

This will help me in the future to remind me to be happy, and grateful for the opportunity to run as I do in my life. This race changed my point of view of “opportunity” to try and do things right the first time, and if I don’t, then forget about it because I can’t change it. Before this race, I felt as if I failed, everything was over, and the disappointment would never leave. For example, if I ran a terrible race, with a terrible time, I couldn't stop thinking about it for WEEKS. Now, I let it go and forget it ever happened. This also keeps me humble, by not letting me think about my accomplishments for too long, because there’s always a new opportunity. Walt Disney once

The race had already been postponed from a previous date, and after having to wait an extra week for our highly anticipated home invite, our entire team was stirring by the time the day finally befell us. It was a reassuring feeling to be able to warm up on the course knowing that every step of the 3.11 mile course had been imprinted into from the time I had started running on it the summer before. Granted the weather wasn’t perfect by any means and the course’s condition was already less than stellar, but I could make do, to be honest I was too excited to even let it

Never running in muddy and cold weather like this, I became even more nervous, hoping I would not fall. Only thirty minutes before the race, I began stretching. After stretching, I found my chute and realized I would be sharing it with three other girls. We talked until the official came over to talk to all the girls. “Girls who participating in the 1A race, you have 1 minute until the race starts,” the official explained. Quickly I took off my outer garments until I was in my shorts and jersey tank.

I am grateful for this race and what it has meant for me. This was just the first of many fun and challenging races that shaped who I have become over the