The Most Influential Run Of My Life

Our footfalls crunched along the gravel path as the four of us finished our first run at altitude. We breathed in the crisp mountain air, trying to force oxygen into our lungs. Slowly, we walked to the football field, where we played Ultimate Frisbee before eating dinner, showering, and going to bed. This is how we spent our first day at Jim Ryun Running Camp, hosted by Colorado College in Colorado Springs. Former Olympian Jim Ryun organized the camp with the help of his wife, son, and other coaches. Going to running camp gave me an opportunity to strengthen both my ability to compete in cross-country and my faith in God.

Corey Nelson, a son, father, coach, role model, and mentor have shown exquisite will and heart in his still young life. Nelson is currently a Sprints coach for Track and Field at Mesa Community College. He has lived a very decorated life so far with a boat load of accomplishments and success that dates back to his high school days at Rancho Cotate High School in Rohnert Park, California to coaching success with three of his sprint athletes posting national qualifying times. Most athletes can only dream of the success Corey Nelson has achieved, but with the knowledge he’s decided to pass down and teach, he can make dreams come true.

As a casual reader of the sports section of this newspaper, you come across many articles depicting the triumphs of local athletes. However, very rarely do these articles describe the actual athlete behind the success. Athletes come in all sorts of sizes and shapes. They range from the incredibly talented to the horribly uncoordinated. Some are great teammates while others would rather be a one man team. Certain athletes seek out attention from the people around them while others are modest and stay in the background. The fact of the matter is that there is a wide spectrum of different types of athletes that exist in this world and no two athletes are exactly the same. However, each can be put

As I finish the 15th lap my coach calls us over. We all group up around our coach who was also for most of us our history teacher. Mr. Lervic, who was a tall athletically toned man with a bald head. That day he wore one of the shirts from the high school with maroon fabric the white demon face of the highschool's mascot embroidered over the left chest area. He wore blue jeans with a brown belt as well as black and white

My name is Walter Vlahakis, I was born in Africa, but I now live in Cibolo,Texas. There is no words to describe my love for track, if I have an opportunity to be a collegiate athlete, I will take it. Thank you for reaching out to me, I really appreciate it, and hope to hear from you soon.

Track represents the major skills needed in my life; leadership, talent and comfort. Track was introduced to me from my basketball coach. The situation was mostly an eye for an eye, but instead it was he coached, I ran. The diversity of races and field events was extremely new to me.

America is the place of unlimited potential; anyone can be whatever they set their mind to. Everyone has the ability to become wealthy. From rags to riches, a poor young child can become the greatest in the world, and this is what happened to Jim Thorpe.With his endowed abilities, Jim Thorpe became the greatest, most well rounded athlete in the world. Even though Jim Thorpe’s childhood was rough, he rose above it to become the greatest athlete of the twentieth century, and he left a legacy still being felt today.

He even recounted his own meetings with famous athletes as a high schooler, and the feeling of gratitude and motivation he felt upon hearing them talk. These interactions have made him want to continue the cycle – he is successful today partially because of the impact made upon him by his own idols, and he would like to be that idol to others now. In addition to his advice on hard work, Ware had a final piece of advice: “Don’t let perception kill your dream,” he said, adding that young athletes are often faced with cookie-cutter standards. “Use what you have to get to where you need to be,” he

By the age of around 15, Pete Zamperini convinced the troubled youth to run. Pete would ride his bike and Louie would run, and eventually he got better dramatically. Louie really has a passion for the sport of track and field. He broke high school records, and finally had his life together. In 1936 he went to the Berlin Olympics. Although he did not win, his last lap of the mile was a world record lap. His devotion to running makes him train harder and harder for his goal: breaking the 4 minute mile.

On January 25, 1951, one of America’s greatest runners was born, Steve Prefontaine. He was a very determined young man. His free time was almost always spent running on the beach, dunes, golf courses, pretty much everywhere. He ran four to eight miles a day. His hard work finally payed off when he won the Oregon State title, during his junior year. This shows you can accomplish anything as long as you work your hardest and set your mind to it.

Steve Prefontaine-Running Legend “Some People create with words or with music or with a brush and paints. I like to make people stop and say, ‘I’ve never seen anyone run like that before.’ Its more than a race, it’s a style, its doing something better than anyone else. It’s being creative.”

This technique shows a curved approach, back arched, while throwing yourself over a fiberglass pole onto bags. Richard Douglas "Dick" Fosbury is a retired American now a retired athlete and is considered one of the most influential athletes in the history of track and field (“ISPORT”). Track and field lives or dies by its popularity. It is all about that one big super star, and as of right now that is Usain Bolt, but lets save him for last. First, Jesse Owens was the first African American to receive a sponsorship from Adidas; they provided him shoes. James Cleveland "Jesse" Owens was an American track and field athlete and four-time Olympic gold medalist. Jesse Owens, also known as "The Buckeye Bullet,”(“ISPORT”). Next, Usain Bolt is the fastest man that has ever walked the face of the earth as of rite

Jackie Joyner is an amazing track and field runner, she inspired so many kids and women to keep doing what they dreamed of. For example Jackie didn’t have much growing up, was diagnosed with asthma and also dealt with injuries from her hamstring during the heptathlon, but none of these situations ever stopped her from achieving her

I'm about to write about is Derek Redmond, he was a runner in the October 2011 summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. It was a warm summer day there and derek was getting ready to run the men's 400m race and then they pulled up to the line in there spots.

When I was only ten, my greatest accomplishment in life was struck: the capturing of all 490 pokemon. That’s right, I spent hundreds of hours over many games and attended special real-world events in order to legally possess every pokemon at the time on to my copy of Heart-gold. I have hiked and backpacked one hundred and fifty miles over the vast land of New Mexico with nine other lads to explore the halls of giants and the great views that God created, just two summers ago. They call me “Speedy Gonzales”, but not to make me confused with a Mexican background, but rather of my undeniable speed. I joined cross country my freshman year, timid by those who were older than me, but right away, I realized I needed to be not unwilling to rise up as I vanquished the competition of my teammates and enemies, becoming the fastest on the team. I have yet to go a year without getting an MVP plaque for cross country and also have them from track. I lead the sports of cross country, indoor track,