Running Club Research Paper

“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 remember going to sleep at 1:30 am, because I was working on my posters, and I remember spending 7 hours on a Saturday to brainstorm and write my speech. Eventually my hard work and dedication paid off when I won. On the other hand I remember that training for my 5k was much worse. On the side of being trained by the “Devil” himself (Coach Acuna) I was also training on my separate time with my dad. I wanted to quit every day and I didn’t want to run twice, but eventually I started to improve and I began to feel good. I realized that I could accomplish everything and anything I wanted to.

Although I had only participated in the school Cross Country team for two years, I felt very connected to the team and wish I had participated my sophomore and freshmen year as well. Over the two seasons, I have made many great friends and learned the importance of working hard to achieve my goals. Throughout my life, my parents have pushed me academically, but never really encouraged me to try hard in sports or physical activities. Cross country filled that void for me and helped me become a more well-rounded person.

After every race, you can vaguely expect what you will see up on the clock. I know, now, how much I put in, is only as much as I can expect to get out. Running has helped me form some ideas that are still fresh in my brain but will hopefully help me become a better version of myself. Just remember, someone may have a lifetime ahead of them, but they need to make the last bit just as good as the

I wasn’t always a runner. Some kids are born into the running cult, but not me. We have a treadmill in our basement that my parents occasionally use when they got on a health kick, but neither of them pushed me to be a runner. During the summer of sixth grade, my mother was talking to our neighbor in our driveway. While they were standing on the blistering pavement, the subject of Cross Country came up. My neighbor’s son was on the high school team and it was doing a

I had no experience as a runner nor did I have the form. This did not phase me however. That year I promised myself to push through all the six mile runs, sore legs, gnarly blisters, and at times, lack of oxygen. At every meet and speed workout practice I pushed myself further and further. I set a goal every time I kicked off from the starting line and never let myself get discouraged when I failed. By my senior year, I was the fourth fastest runner on varsity. That year our varsity team won the district meet, which qualified us to run in the 2016 state meet in Oregon. The transformation over the years were evident. My determination to accomplish my goal of becoming a faster runner was complete. If I had simply just given up that first day of practice, I wouldn't have ran along side of the fastest runners in Oregon or have met the multitude of people that are now my closest friends. Having a goal sets one up for a challenge, whether it being physically or mentally, goals keep us active and thinking in more ways than one. Still, if someone has self-control, confidence, and a goal, they are still not complete.

In physical education we were put to do the mile I was always second to last if not last I wasnt made fun of but I didnt really good about myself. As the years went on I was still fat couldn’t do anything until sophomore year of high school is where it all changed. I remember it quite clearly as if it was yesterday I was sitting in my math class when one of classmates had large number pinned to his bag and a uniform on that hadn’t seen before. That's when I got curious and asked what sport was all this for he then explained it was for cross country and that I should join it would be fun. It turns out that the season was about to end so it was to late to join so I had to wait for next year so I did. I went my junior in the summer since that's when they practiced and ran for the first time. After this first run I thought I was going to literally die and didn't want to this any more and to top it off all the guy runners who I thought that were slow beat one by one. This is where I decided I wasn't going to be last or lose a race to anyone. I practiced the whole year and did track top it off. Now the summer of my senior year was very motivational since I got up early ran and did this everyday till school started to be the best of my high school. Well the season would begin and I was breaking my school records and receiving medals from invitationals and

I want to accomplish this goal in my twenties before I have a family. I want to backpack around Europe to become closer to nature and appreciate the different cultures. I want to explore beyond small-town Iowa.

The Boston Marathon has always been one of the most popular event that goes on in Boston, now it is also the most remember able event because of the bombing on April 15, 2013. The wounded turned their tragedy into inspiration to tell others. Mayor J. Walsh says they will not be afraid. They will continue having this marathon for this marathon is special to the citizens of Boston.

“Jovanie, I’m going to have to let you go,” my coach said to me in a nonchalant voice. My stomach started twisting in a million knots and I felt my eyes watering, but I was not going to let them fall… yet. “Not here, not now” I reassured myself. I slowly walked off the bus trying to act unbothered, but I was. Everybody that knew me understood what track was to me. However, starting off in a different school as a freshman, where nobody knew me was hard. I had to prove to them that I was a good runner, but I have failed.

During my time in High School I ran on the cross country team for 3 seasons. The coach, Mark Snead is known for his sense of humor, teaching skills, and leadership abilities. This coach and teacher was committed to bringing out the best in his students. In the class, he didn’t waste time or try to overload you with pointless busy work. Instead he would teach what was necessary and appropriate to understand the subject and excel in the class. At practice, he would never yell at runners if he knew they weren't trying their best, instead he would gather up the team and explain to everyone why we run. He would proclaim something along the lines of, "Each day we come out here and practice, we work to improve ourselves, you don't want to end up regretting

Running was a part of my life between 2014 and 2016, when I was still a young middle school kid. I tried out for the track team, and I ran for my first time in March. Track and Field was a new experience for me, I had

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.

When I enrolled as a freshman in San Gabriel, I always liked running, that’s why I joined our school’s Cross Country Team and I loved it. I didn’t like the running part but I loved the part when I can run with my friends and make new friends. I always thought that cross country is a boring sport, but when you are in the team it is like a family. We worked together to win the CIF competition. During my first meet I did not race yet, largely because I didn't feel confident. Some of my friends like Carlos and William created a social circle called “The San Gabriel Matadors Always Win!!!!!,” When I was running for my very first race, I was expecting a very long run. However, it turned out that I was doing very decent. I talked to myself, “I had finally finished it already!” At the end of the season, in Cross Country, the whole team had a banquet to celebrate the closing of the season. We also had a memorable award assembly.

For my Internal Assessment, I am going to investigate the characteristics of elite runners. As a high school track and field and cross country athlete, I am amazed by the abilities of elite runners, who seem to glide through the air effortlessly. By researching the characteristics of their running, I believe that I can become a better runner by implementing some of their mechanics. In theory, running may seem like a simple motion. However, maintaining proper form while physically exerting every muscle in your lower body is no simple task. Every four years, the best athletes from around the globe come together to compete in the Summer Olympic Games. Earlier this year, athletes from just under 200 countries competed in track and