Personal Narrative: Running Fast

I went out for the track team when I was in seventh grade. I enjoyed track because I enjoy running, jumping, and spending time with my friends. The track season was amazing because I learned to do the high jump. I had to learn how to time my steps and jump backwards. Did you know that long ago they would jump forward over the bar. Then a man named Dick Fosbury tried a different way, go over backwards, now this is called the “Fosbury flop” Which I think sounds like an ice cream cone of some sort but. I also had to learn the lingo. “Up” means it’s your turn to jump. “On deck” means you are next in line. “In the hole” means you are third to jump. It is important to stay in order, once at the Metamora track meet I thought they had called my name, I jumped and made it over the bar. but It was not actually my turn so I had to jump again, I wanted to give him a Well-that-was-your-fault-not-mine kind of look. Luckily, I made it over the second time also. Another meet I remember was when I jumped 4 feet 11in. I had no idea I was going to jump that high that day because it was cold and rainy. I was very surprised and I ended up winning that event that day. Since Micah was hurt and he normally beats me, I got first so I was happy. I participated in sectionals. I had to jump 5ft

“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

For the past three years I’ve been a part of a team that has shaped me into the person I am today. The John Hay cross country team has given me qualities that genuinely made me a better person such as being confident, disciplined, motivated, and a leader. Not only did running help me express these attributes, it also saved my life.

The conference meet was upon us. I was as nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs. The tension between the runners soared as we lined up at the starting line. I took a few deep breaths, anticipating the gun. I had a nerve racking deep inside. Bang! The gun went off and I took off stumbling over people, shoving, fighting for space. I was breathing hard already, pushing up the first hill. There was a straight away after the hill. I was afraid to get passed, so I kept my pace with the first pack. Michael, who had tripped over the back of my shoe before the first hill, had caught back up. As the first mile came around, I heard determined coaches exclaiming our mile splits.

Last year I started a new sport, cross country. I only did it because my lacrosse coach said that it might help me get better for lacrosse. So I went to the first late summer practice last year to see what this was like, so then we did warm-ups and a lap around the track. Then it was the first time I met coach Chase, My first impression of him was going to be very strict, But soon realized that this was false because of one of the first things he said. He said “I know there are a lot of nerves here right now, but cross country isn’t about winning every race, that comes later” then continued with “Cross country is about showing what you can do to yourself.” This struck me very hard because I was not that fast and was near the back. Through that fall the team did very well, I also made some progress myself. After the season was over I made a decision.

We quickly received a summer training schedule and I started training. I soon came to the realization that this sport was just what I needed. Cross-country was the key that unlocked my jail cell, and I started dropping times – fast. As my freshman season came to a close, I ran a personal record (PR) of 19:49, somewhat rare among brand new runners. At around the same time, my dad received orders to move back to Pace, Florida, where I had spent part of my elementary school days. I joined my new team but unfortunately could not perform well. I didn’t run very much after my freshman season, so I basically had to start from scratch with a 25:05 time trial. As a result of hard work, I PR’d in my last race with a 19:36, but that wasn’t the highlight of the season. I had people helping me through this struggle the whole

During the fall of senior year, I joined the cross country team to help prepare and condition me for the track season, in the spring. Skeptical at first, I knew that I didn't have any endurance since I only sprint over hurdles during the track season, but little did I know that the weeks were passing and the end of the cross country season arrived. Though I was one of the inexperienced long distance runners, I knew that I ran the fastest I could because when I crossed the finish line I had an overwhelming nauseous feeling. As someone who runs a short distance, I was proud of myself for making it to the end of the season without quitting, especially since cross country is running for a long distance, which other sports make their athletes do

The most remarkable thing about the success of the boys who made up the McFarland High School Cross-Country Team is the hard work the boys put in to be a part of the team. The boys wake up before school at 4:00 in the morning to go straight to work in the fields and pick crops. After school they run 8 miles everyday on large and steap hills. They then come home to an old broken-down home with little money to get by. The boys have to watch their parents sacrifice everything they have to give their children the best education possible. However, despite all the the boys’ setbacks and challenges they managed to run on the school’s cross-country team and win first place in the California state championship.

“Cross Country? What do you do, run from South Carolina to California?” I remember asking my brother this when he told me what sport he participated in. I was in seventh grade, but it was past the time I could sign up for it that year; however, the next year I decided to give it a shot. This one decision in middle school shaped the next five years of my life.

Between sixth and eighth grades, I tried out for the dance team three times and color guard once. I did not make it onto any of these teams. It baffled me that I could not do it even after six years of dancing. Was I not trying hard enough? This was a rough time for me for I could not comprehend what was happening. However, each time I learned to get back up and work harder. I never did make the dance or Color Guard teams, but my failures set me on my path to finding something that I could do and be proud of. On this path, I found Cross Country. This team did not require a try-out; it was all about gradual improvement. I had never run before, but if my failures taught me anything, it was that I should never give up. My teammates and I pushed

“Run your own race,” that’s what my coach told me before every race. My freshman year I was blessed to get the opportunity to run the 800 meter in Jefferson City at the 2014, Class 2, state track meet. This was my first year ever going to state so you can imagine my excitement. Although I was super duper eager, my nerves were on edge. I had never been so nervous in my entire life!

“Hey, Chase, do you have any cash I can borrow? I promise I’ll pay you back as soon as I can.”

This was my first time running long distance since 7th grade and now it was sophomore year. I did not play any sports during my freshman year because I tried out for the soccer team that year too, but I did not make it. It took a lot of time for me to decide on a participating in a fall sport, but I finally settled on cross country. I started the season as one of the slowest guys. I only expected to get a little better during the season. I promised myself I would try my absolute hardest. In order to earn my letter in the sport I would have to hit a certain time in my 5k. I had no intention of earning it though. Throughout the season I gradually got faster and was happy with myself.

I knew at that moment that it was time to go, time to kick. As I heard people screaming, telling me to run faster.