Personal Narrative: My Time On Track

Most people are all grown up when they finally figure out what they want to do with their life. I was 4. I realized what I wanted to be when I attended my very first Rodeo. Even though it was so long ago I can remember that day like it was yesturday. That day got me on the path to my future.

There were many people in my life that got me to who I am today. My family and friends were the main people that influenced who I am. There were many events that influenced me but the most recent one is picking early college.

When I started training for cross-country in the summer before my freshman year, I had a specific routine I had to follow in order to obtain the results I wanted. My schedule was organized in a certain way; the practice would begin at 6:30 in the morning, we would run miles and after that like at 8:00 we would work out our legs or arms, depending on what day it was. It was challenging but not impossible, I like to be good at what I do, so I knew that it would take plenty of hard work and dedication. Even though, I was just a freshman, by the beginning of July I had already caught up with the varsity. We had to run different amount of miles each day, we had hard day; 8 miles, medium day; 6 miles, and easy day;

While diets like South Beach, helped me to eventually start becoming more healthy, they were not comprehensive enough and still had elements that would not allow me to preform my best or continue to feel sick.

VROOM! The bus goes when the engine starts and drives to school. Ugh! The thought of going to school again and beginning the 2nd grade in Maurice Hawk School. EH. I wasn’t so nervous because I had the same class as my friends. I know my teacher was so nice to me in 2nd grade, because basically all elementary school teachers are really nice to kids like me. Her name was Mrs. Ramirez. I had to run to different classes during that class like speech or just different subjects because I hate the thought of being late. When is was time for speech, my teacher picked my classmate and I up because we forgot to come to class. I know I just said that I hate the thought of being late, but hold your horses! It was only the first day! Give me a break! But anyways, while we were walking slowly and calmly in the hall, we started

The summer, a time of warm weather, long weekends, friends and holidays. It is also the time where many of us put down the junk food, get off the couch and come out of winter hibernation to enjoy the outdoors. It’s often not long after playing your first game of beach volleyball or running to catch the bus when you realise that your heart is racing, sweat is pouring down your face and you are breathing heavily. As you look up and watch everyone still running around you or as your stepping onto the bus only one thought is running through your mind “WOW I am out of shape!”. Now I am not here today to try and convince you to get into better shape. Starting a fitness routine is a commitment that an individual needs to decide on for

Working out has been a pleasant surprise to me. It changed who I was and it made me a better person. It changed the way I think, my work ethic, and most of all a much improved healthy lifestyle. Working out has been a great benefit as I only got positive results from it. There's only one negative result though, and that is the fact that I must now purchase larger

There I was on the block next to the High Bar. It was about 5:00 at night when my coach told me to do a Kip. As I got up on the bar my nose filled with the smell of chalk. I started to swing, and as I came out of my half turn I looked good. Everything seemed fine but as I came to the part of the Kip where I have to pull my legs up to the bar, I slammed my shins into the bar. My momentum was stopped and I dropped on to the mat, missing the Kip. I felt like I had let down my coach and I had let down myself too. That day I experienced failure. That failure made me want my Kip even more so I worked harder and had support from my teammates.

As a lay person I needed something to bring energy back into my life seeing that High school drains you, also wanted to give my body the care tht it deserves without trying to hurt myself. I know that going to the gym is time consuming and a trier for e to suddenly be self-conscious so I needed a workout which I could do in the comfort of my own home and which fits into my daily

I knew what I was doing was super unhealthy, expensive, and bad for my overall well being. I knew I had to change so I started forcing myself to go to the WRC and work out. This was the start of my preparation and action stage. The first couple of times was hell, I haven’t done much physical activity in a while, and it wasn’t getting any easier.

After a class discussion about making working out more creative, I made a change in my plan. Rather than doing the same workout each week, I decided to adjust my new behavior to three or more 30-60 minute workouts with a cardio element. The second phase of this experience was faced with challenges, but the update in my plan was helpful. The fourth week I still did not meet my goal, but I did complete one run and another cardio workout. Having my sponsor checking up on me was what helped me over this lag, I did not like telling her I was failing, so her accountability encouraged me to do better going forward. I also begin incorporating friends into my workouts. By the fifth week I was recommitted. I worked out well over thirty minutes three times, two of which were with friends. This week was positive for me, as it showed me that working out could be fun. I believe this shift in thinking was the most valuable lesson during this experience. I needed this new way of thinking because in high school I only ran because I belonged to the cross country and track teams. I felt pressure form my teammates, coaches, parents, and myself to workout. Although it was fun at times, I was doing it because I felt I had to. Now that I am in college, nobody tells me to workout and I am accountable to nobody but myself. Realizing working out can be fun, and adding in my friends, is what propelled my last three weeks. I successfully met my

When I was in seventh grade I fell in love. Not with a person, but a sport. I fell in love with track. I enjoyed the workouts, the races, the team, the events, the meets, but most of all I had found a passion for sprinting. I worked everyday during practice to prepare for the meets. I pushed myself as hard as I could and never gave up. I couldn’t get enough of it. I was mad for the feeling of your lungs bursting for air and your legs burning with pain. The long, exhausting workouts, the freezing practices, and the crazy memories you can make. There was nothing about it that I found unlikeable. Track was consuming my thoughts, I couldn’t stop. I was in love with it in every single way.

The way I workout is swimming, it may not seem like much but it is. I go about 6 days a week every week for two hours each day. We go to meets when we can usually about five a year.

The next summer I decided for sure that I was going to do it, Mr. Saylor might have convinced me a little. I ran all summer and joined the team. It was one of the best decisions I had ever made even though I still don’t love running. I love the team, family as we call it, even after cross season is over we talk and plan things to do together. We support each other and work hard/die (because I die everytime I run)

Are you tired of the same old exercise routine? Maybe you bought a gym membership as a New Year’s Resolution to get in better shape, but have used it only a handful of times, or not at all. (Haven’t we all?)