Sectionals: The Experience That Changed My Life

I had completed all my races the day before and was a spectator when the coach asked me to be a substitute in the relay. As the youngest runner, I was not as fast as the older girls, but I was determined to help in whatever way I could. The coach rearranged and built the team around me, placing each runner strategically according to her strength. I was good at getting out of the block and running the curve, the second leg runner had the

As the indoor track season came to a close you could say I ended on a bitter sweet note. My team and I went to states and during the finale days of the season i made the executive decision to run in the 4/800 meter relay rather an open event. My decision mainly revolved around trying to achieve the school record and seeing how the record is rather impressive. Though as the meet unraveled my team did not put forth great effort. Our team time was a 8:46, however my individual split was an 2:05 which for

I ran as fast as I could, I was tired but knew that I had to keep going. The sun shone down ferociously making it very bright and torrid. I felt sweat drip from just above my brow into my right eye. My eye began to get a burning sensation just as I turned the corner. My muscles ached, but I knew I had to shift into overdrive and pick up the pace. I started to run faster and faster. I began to get the feeling like I was about to throw up, but knew that I couldn’t stop now. I continued to sprint to the finish, and just as I crossed the finish line I looked to the clock and noticed that I set a new PR. The feeling of happiness that swelled up inside me took me back to the practice on the tuesday of the previous week: That day it was hot as fire

Ever since i’d moved to John McCrae Senior Public School in grade 5 it had been my dream to compete in the 100 meter sprint at Birchmount Stadium. So when the opportunity to qualify to go to Birchmount was approaching I didn’t leave it up to fate. I trained for a week to make sure that I was ready for the tryout.

The season was coming to a close, and at this thought, my chest contracted and my eyes fluttered. The Founders League Tournament was around the corner, and the coaches were beginning to assemble the all stars of each event. Although I was steadily improving my 100m time, the cutoff for running in Founders was at 11.2, and I was off by a tenth of a second. My shoulders slumped and the breeze from the wind hit the back of my neck as my head hung loose from my body. Although disheartened, I was chosen to be in the 4x100 relay team to run at Founders, bringing my head back up. This year, Taft would host Founders, giving us a home field edge. As the date came closer, practices intensified, but my legs felt looser and stronger than ever. Before

In the beginning I felt like I should just quit, but I thought, what was all that practice for then? So I kept running anyways. I passed a couple guys while we're going up and down, left and right. There were many people on the side cheering and even though they weren’t cheering for me, it helped me keep running. The run went by very quickly and the finish line came up in a flash. Many people around me started sprinting, but I felt like throwing up at that point. I slowed down, but then I heard my dad cheering on for me. I couldn't let him down, so I ignored the feeling of throwing up and sprinted. I kept on running passing a couple people, and it was over. I came in 19th place. I went to my dad disappointed for letting him

While I was in track we had practice every Monday through Friday five o’clock to seven thirty, Wednesday's was three to five and even on some holidays.Those two hours were filled were stretches, with gruesome drills and excruciating laps. There were plenty of times where I thought I could finish and just walk, but I remembered how it feels to loose in last and so I kept pushing and until I was drenched with sweat. Some of the worst practices were in the cold while it was windy, or in the hot, sweltering sun. I pushed until I could not push anymore. I would go home with my legs and screaming of and pain shin splints. My legs would be red

Before I knew it the Starter pointed his gun high and fired. Across the starting line from both sides I felt runners storming off, as did I. I wanted to take a smart approach as I planned I would. The first mile quickly came up and I was advancing my place further to put myself into a positive position to finish. A mile and a half into the race overall I felt relaxed  and was still moving up passing runners. Next the second mile came up and I was starting to struggle as were some runners close by. Additionally hills were to come in the next mile and a half and I wasn’t looking forward to it, but I knew If I stopped then slowed down, I wouldn’t satisfy myself. Eventually I made it through the hills along with other struggling runners. The last part of the race came and as soon as I made it to where I had about 400m left, overall I gave it all I had in the moment so that I finished in excellent standing with myself. As I gave it all I could I passed a few runners in the process and as a few passed by as well. Finally, after several minutes of trying to catch my breath I finally

It was the afternoon of the Tri-County League Championship, or, as Coach Harkins called it, TCLs. Despite the usual mixture of sweat, puke, and sulfur in the air of Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center, there was an air of exhilaration. Everyone was excited because we got to leave school at 12:45 and we had practiced all week on the new track for this. My event, the 55 meter dash, was one of the first events. As I was warming up with the other sprinter on my team, I couldn’t help but feel nervous. That day was my last chance to qualify for states, and I needed to shave almost a tenth of a second off of my time.

When the season ended and my senior year was slowly approaching I knew I had to get better no doubt about it, over those three months of summer I ran harder than i had ever ran with and without hurdles becoming faster and having improved stamina. When it came time for my first senior indoor practice I knew I was a better athlete it even felt like I was better than before.Coach not being sure about how I would preform the only thing left to do was prove myself to him.Durring this indoor season all I had to run was the 55 meter hurdles so itwasno reason why I shouldnt excell in it.At the first meet coach expected me to run at least a 8.50 after I finished the race I immediety looked at the looked at the clock finishing seconf I knew my time had to be decent. I had ran a 8.45 running faster than the time expected of me I was very proud of myself but knew I could go faster.When the conference meet came I still haven't ran any faster but I knew i could at the finish line i wanted and before I knew it the gun was shot POW! getting out of my blocks even faster than i ever had I knew this was the race where I would run my fastest

Suddenly, with no warning, two runners of the grade below me pulled ahead. I couldn’t believe it! They were a year younger than me, yet they were faster. However, I knew I wouldn’t be able to catch up even at my best. As I neared the 100 meter line, I started to convert into a jogging pace and got my bearings. I allowed myself to breathe again and relax but still trying to run my best. I was in 3rd place with the two kids in front of me about 50 meters away. I cleared my mind and just concentrated on breathing; taking a deep breath in through my nose, and letting it all out of my mouth. I was starting to feel the fatigue in my muscles and my legs are crying for rest, but I refused. I started hearing heavy breathing noises and loud footsteps behind me, steadily catching up. I risked a peek to my left and was horrified and yet surprised that my chubby classmate was right on my heels. I was not going to be beaten again and into 4th place. I pushed myself harder and pumped my legs and arms with renewed energy. All my blood rushed to my head and I felt like a locomotive cutting through the cold air. As we ran around the bend, we were head to head and trying to outdo each other. He

At this meet, instead of a gun, they fire a cannon. The cannon fired and we were off. I felt super slow this meet. I was mad I thought I was going to get a worse time than Bob Schul again. I ran through the race passing people, letting the energy from the crowd keep me going because hearing someone yell for me when I’m running I feel so much better. Eventually I got down this small hill and I saw the finish line about 200 meters ahead. The clock was in the 17’s and I got really excited because for me, this was really good. I was sprinting as fast as my legs could go. I thought I was going to fall on my face because I couldn’t control my legs anymore. I ended up with a time of 18:08. A PR by a minute and a half, that would stand most of the season. No matter how slow I was, and how much my speed was made fun of at practice, I still got high-fives and congratulations after a meet. The rest of the meet was fun because we all hung out, waiting for the award and eating the really good buttered parmesan pasta. Greenville was not death, it was the best.

Before the run, we walked. We gathered in our teams, lined up in neat columns on the one hundred meter start, and stared down the distance between ourselves and the starting line. Every runner was shaking out his limbs, getting the blood flowing, the already tense muscles ready to explode at the crack of the starting gun or the passing of the baton. The sun’s cruel glare beat down on my team’s black jerseys; the sweat-wicking material wasn’t helping much today. Everyone tried to amplify that nervous energy that runs through every bulging artery, every electrified synapse, and transform it into unbridled power. The intensity in the air was palpable. This was the four by eight hundred meter relay: in teams of four, we would run two lightning

The rest of that season leading up to the Class MM State Championship and the State Open Championship went very smoothly. Confidence-wise, this team was unlike any other Tech School team that I had dealt with. They were, as I referred to them, ‘a blue-color team’ and openly welcomed competition. Because, they were so tough, both mentally as well as physically, I felt I could put them through a workout two weeks before the Championship race that would hopefully give them the added self-confidence to climb one more step on the ladder of success. The workout that I designed was similar to one that I had created and done myself in preparation for an upcoming race. Entitled, “The State Meet Won’t Hurt This Much”, it involved initially running

By the time the winter of my junior year came around, I became determined to finally qualify for State. Placing first or second at State would enable me to attend Nationals which was held in Orlando. Nevertheless, my ultimate goal was to compete at the State level. I studied and practiced more than I ever had in the past. I rummaged through an abundance of resources and asked my business teacher a plethora of questions to ensure that I understood the material well. When the time had come in February, I worked on my contest diligently and I revised it multiple times before submitting it. I was sanguine about my final product, but I also didn’t want to get my hopes up too much in case the outcome was not what I was wishing for.