Cross Fell

Liliana Guzman English-121 7 September 2014 Running Subculture There is a saying that goes, “Every journey begins with a single step”- Maya Angelou. Similarly, that is how I started as a runner. Many people form part of this group or subculture, because is more than just a sport. Runners typically say that running is who they are and the sport has changed their lives. Although running for some may be just a way to stay fit. Conversely, running for some has become more than that, a life style that

“Cross country and track are the same thing right?” This is the recurring question I am asked every fall and spring. Most non-runners assume that they are the same and are just in different seasons. Although, both are associated with running and are quite similar in various ways, to runners, they are complete opposites. The training, preparations, running style, and mental strength are very different. Running is a sport that anyone can train hard every day to be successful at. There is no denying

complete” (Kochhar). Kochhar’s quote applies in our society today since every person has his or her unique journey but a true adventure is not always realized immediately. During my high school career, I ran cross-country and track, and this mission gradually took off in 11th grade. The 3rd cross-country season took off rapidly and this season I achieved excellent marks. I wiggled my way down into the 18-minute range for the 3-mile run after giving it 110% in all of the workouts. As a result of my

because his work highlights a notable successor in the realm of running and athletic achievement. McDougall reports the achievements of Stanford University head coach Vin Lananna, whose track and cross-country teams won five NCAA team championships and twenty-two individual titles, and being named NCAA Cross Country Coach of the Year (169). McDougall strategically profiles the laudable reputation of coach Lananna’s success in coaching by discussing his experiences. Coach Lananna knew of the Nike mythos

"We all have dreams. In order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline and effort." Running has been a part of my life for four years now and in my short involvement in the sport, it has completely changed the kind of person I am, and the kind of person I want to be. Throughout the past few years, people always ask me "why do you run? What motivates you? And to be honest, I have a variety of reasons for why I am 100% committed and dedicated

I hate running. I hate the way my face gets all red and the way my shoulders ache from my bad form and the desperate panting. Despite my hatred for exercise, I have developed a passion for reading about exercise. This is solely because of Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. This book has given me a spark of interest in running, and is slowly convincing me to reevaluate my values of physical activity. McDougall has successfully convinced me to do so because of his utilization of rhetorical devices

My first year of track was one of the most humbling experiences of my life. Each step I took as I ran, I felt was an accomplishment. I felt proud of myself and really committed to track. Through off season work, track practice and meets I became a better, stronger athlete. I actually felt as though I was apart of a team. One of my teammates and I began our offseason lifting and running a while before track started. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday we would lift. At first I wasn’t used to it

I had one of the best opportunities my freshman year. Throughout the whole track season I trained to make it to state track. This is a huge event in the state of Iowa for some of the top athletes who are involved in track and field. I was lucky enough to make it. Personally, I think my best event is hurdles. That is also what event I ran in during state. It was a team effort to qualify. I was apart of the shuttle hurdle team along with Avriel Miller, Livia Miller, and Johanna Vaske. All season

Near the end of August, I tuned in to watch the last event of the Summer Olympics: the marathon. The mere strength and endurance required for this final event left me with nothing but respect and awe for the competing athletes. As a runner myself, I knew that distance running was not only a physical challenge, but a mental challenge as well. What were they thinking as they ran? What kept them from giving up and stopping? All of the runners certainly had the perseverance to be considered gritty as

“Instant Gratification Activities.” In any other athletic activity, when you or a teammate get tired, injured, or sick, they call a timeout. When was the last time, you got to call a timeout with four hundred meters to go in a five thousand meter cross country race?