Personal Narrative: Cross Country

The season begins now. The official practices for Cross Country started months ago; everyone has been training since the beginning of the summer. Everyone except me. One injury and my senior year of running was thrown away like a new pair of ASICS shoes. A pair of shoes that were perfectly good but will now go to waste while their final chance of making it to State rushes by. That’s what we thought at least; however, my IT band seems to have made a sudden, quick recovery. Sure, Districts is only two weeks away, but this means I have a chance. I haven’t had a real practice in over two months. If I want to be competitive I’m going to have to train harder than ever. The thought is intimidating, but I know if there is anything I know how to do, …show more content…
My legs have gone from one problem to the next since Freshman year and I’ve never let it stop me. The older runners on the team were always so quick to quit. They seemed anxious to be injured so that they could get a week or two, or even a few days, off of practice. Weak. This agitated me. I couldn’t stand to see seniors with that mindset just throw away everything they had worked for since eighth grade. I had to be stronger than them. So I ignored it. It could hurt during the day, all week, or the past few months but once I put my running shoes on it couldn’t be there anymore. I ignored the times when I twisted my ankle and every step brought sharp pains. I ignored the races when I could feel the muscles in my hip being torn again and again. I ignored the limp that wanted to take over at the beginning of every practice. I ignored the nineteen stitches in my hand last year at Sectionals even though when my blood started pumping faster it throbbed as if it had just been cut open again. I ignored the searing pains extended from my knee to hip on both legs during District’s and Sectionals my senior year. That was the reason I made it to State.
That won’t work anymore though. Do I still need to push through the pain? Of course, but that’s exactly what I need to do: push through the pain. I can’t ignore it anymore. It’s too strong. State senior year. This can’t just be another race. I can’t just run and try to push …show more content…
My first full 5k race as a freshman. That was my best. I remember the seniors talked about this course the entire week before the race. It was called the Man-Maker. I was warned not to exhaust myself up the gargantuan hill that introduced the first mile of the race then welcomed itself back at the start of the three mile. That’s what all the other Junior Varsity runners do apparently. So I played it safe. I held back. At the top of the first hill I was in the last 50 spots of a 200 man race, but I had energy. The hill was quickly followed by a downhill slope, so I bolted. I flew past the back ranks of the race and made my way to the front of a pack by the end of the first mile. Over the next mile I was sent through a series of long hills and found my initial enthusiasm diminishing quickly. My legs were searing, my throat too dry to even gasp for breath. I could barely see in front of me due to my eyes trying to force themselves closed. But I can pass one more guy can’t I? He was right there in front of me, no more than 200 meters. I looked ahead of me and saw Man Maker approaching. Okay, he doesn’t know I’m here. i’m going to push up Man Maker as quickly as i can to pass him and coast the rest of the way in. It seemed like a good plan. I had every intention of following it through until I heard Coach Phillips yell at me at the bottom of the hill. “Take the hill easy! Don’t wear yourself out, son, you can get him at the top. You’re in second place, now

Show More