Welen Glen Essay

As I stumble past the finish line, I am numb to my surroundings. I am numb to the other racers in the chute, the overjoyed parents, and the intrusive volunteers who shove me down the line to keep it moving. I am numb to the sweltering heat and the stench of two hundred overworked, sweaty racers. I am not even bothered by the girl vomiting beside me, because all I can feel is happiness. The first thing I want to do is share this literally breath-taking moment with my teammates, because they are the only ones who truly appreciate this feeling. Once we locate each other within the swarm of spectators, we share our times and experiences from the race, and even though it is a short exchange, it makes me realize how grateful I am to share the same passion for the same hobby with so many wonderful people. In this moment, I suddenly realize that I have never appreciated a sport so much, and I have finally become part of a team that makes me feel like I belong to a family.

When I first joined cross country I was not fast nor a runner. I was one of the slowest people on the team, but I wanted to get faster and I was determined to improve. Some days we would do a hills workout and I would get to the top of the longest hill and think, “I could just run back to Armstrong right now and be done”. But then, I thought about how if I did another hill, I would get better and some time during a race when there was a big hill I would look at it like it’s nothing. I could go up the hill easily and pass a couple girls. So I would do another hill. Then the next time we did hills I rememberd how many I did the last time and pushed myself to do one more. Through that cross country showed me that I could be faster and tougher than I thought I was if I put in the effort and want it

Every elite athlete makes it look easy. Splashing through the water or striding gracefully down the track making it look effortless. Some people assume they are “naturals,” that their perfect DNA sequence is what has brought them to this level. Others argue that hard work and drive is what has made the difference, separating the elite from the average. These thoughts are the ones that give rise to the age-old nature vs. nurture debate. Countless hours of studies and research has concluded: it’s both. High performance sports consultant Ross Tucker puts it this way, “The science of success is about the coming together of dozens, perhaps hundreds of factors” (1). The relationship of such factors, including genetics, types and lengths of

In all my life, I’ve never had a commitment that required so much of me as track and field, both physically and mentally. Towards the end of my high school career, track and field for me meant having to push through a difficult physical condition known as tarsal coalition, a condition that causes inflammation in my feet. With help from my coaches, I had to learn to endure past physical limitation and strengthen my faith in my abilities. By doing so, I became more confident in myself and I was able to help lead other team members to do the same. Not only did track and field teach me to lead, but it also taught me how to be a part of a team. I learned the value of teamwork through building relay race teams. In all relay races, I was either the

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.

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.

Yet life is strange. Once again, almost expected, I successfully became the tailender in my first track meet. It was a cloudy afternoon, I lied on the central lawn of the asphalt sport ground with my throat full of stifling anxiety and the taste of bitter blood. The soft grasses under me turns into a blanket of pins and needles when I heard other teammates passed by talking about their places in events, and I started to remorse bitterly about why would I humiliate myself one more time with the practical experience, covered my face with my blanket to hide my Buffoonery, till the coach

However, I learned very quickly that I could not rely only on my natural talent. Although, I did achieve my goal, I was not satisfied with the end result. Determined to be successful in the activity I loved, I came to understand that the amount of effort I invested in this activity should correspond with my natural ability. The next year, I worked relentlessly on researching and memorizing. Free time was spent on practicing in my room for hours. Ultimately, my efforts resulted in two state medals and hopefully I will be able to return to the state tournament later this year as a senior and be awarded, yet again, a state champion title.

For 2 years I was a member of the Central Toronto Athletic Club. CTAC is a competitive middle distance running club that trains its athletes to compete in track and field and cross country events. It is a year round athletic club that is a platform for talented people of almost all ages to train and to focus on their self-progress as an athlete. At CTAC I was encouraged to push myself to test the limits of my speed, endurance and strength and to discover what my body is truly capable of. Running was a very satisfying sport because my achievements were directly proportional to the amount of work that I put in. At CTAC, I learned discipline, dedication and perseverance. I had to balance my schoolwork with daily practices or workouts, I ran six

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

“Good Job keep going, you can do it, run run faster, you got this!” These were the words coming from the audience as I was finishing my last 100 meters in the cold, pouring, rain during sectionals. I was in second place in my heat and my heart was thumping and I couldn't see through the water stains on my glasses, but I heard someone someone breathing hard and their spikes hitting the track as they ran behind me and I knew I had to push even harder.I remembered the rough trading I had in practice and knew I could do it.

As a track runner, it is a necessity to be relaxed yet focused and determined. When I participate in track meets or even at practices, I receive a comforting warmth just by stepping onto the track. I feel as though burdens and worries temporarily lift from my shoulders. One may wonder how this can make someone content with their surroundings instead of nervous and uneasy based upon their environment and luckily for me this is an uncomplicated notion to explain. Unlike particular people, the track calms me and gives me a place to clear my head. I work relentlessly to achieve my goals, nevertheless it also gives me the clearance and space I need to effectively work my hardest whether it be a physical goal I am working to achieve

Sports have helped shape me into the person I am today. Both cross country and track have increased my knack for supportiveness and taught me the importance of hard work. Furthermore, I value the dedication I have learned from cross country and the self control and perseverance I have learned from track. These acquired skills, which I will continually strive to apply to all areas of my life, are beneficial not only to me, but to those around me whom I effect and, consequently,

The day she was set to leave Atlanta was so much fun she felt as if it was a vacation having days of not doing anything but running. On the bus and hours of driving feel so long sleeping most of the way, once everyone arrived to the rooms, off to sleep for the whole team pre limes tomorrow. Early the next morning as everybody was getting ready for their race; she got nervous feeling butterflies in her stomach, not knowing what to really expect today while consequently the race. Once we got to the track, everything that was a thought changed, she didn’t know what was going to happen now when starting the 300 hurdles race.

“6:28,” the clock read as I was pulling into the parking lot, “6:29”. I exited the truck, grabbing my track bag as fast as possible. My phone fell out of my pocket. I paid no attention out of haste. I bent down with my track bag in my hand. I felt the glass lightly cutting my hand as I picked up my phone. I felt like Usain Bolt as I sped walk to the bus at what felt like at least thirty miles per hour. Sweaty and Tired I entered the bus. Why must we wake up so early? The meet starts at 9:00 and it’s only an hour drive away. Regardless, I strolled onto the buss. Horrified, I received the soul-penetrating stares of every single member of the Trojan Track team, athlete and student alike. Earlier that morning, having assumed that at least a few