Notes
Okay, it took me a long time to write this log because really there's a lot to say but I don't know how to say it.
The 1st thing I want to say is the race and my thank yous. The race seemed to go by real quick like it only took a couple of seconds. It was strange because I got to a point this year where my races felt like that, I think it was because I was starting to have fun racing and was enjoying it. Like the saying goes time flies while you are having fun. During the race, I wish I went with that front pack because I could hang on to those guys and kick them down because no one in that field has as good of a kick as me. Chapman and Spitz agree with me and it's nice to know that all three of us still believe I can be a national champ. Overall though I can't be upset I All American and that took me forever to do and you know what it was a fun time. Thank you to my coaches for believing in me and always being there for me and thank you to my team for being the best support group anyone can ask for.
2nd thing is a message to the young people. When I came here freshman year I was a 4:57 miler and if you saw what I looked like at camp I had no right being an All American. I was weak, my longest run was 4 miles, I hunched over like I need to protect something, and there was no confidence. However, I worked my tail off every day in the first couple of months of cross country. I wish that I logged back then because I put so much effort into this craft during that time. I would wake up early before classes with Frosty go on a morning run, then in between classes I xt, and come practice time I would do the milage coach gave me. However, nothing really clicked, it honestly started to click this year. I was always a dumb emotional runner which helped me a lot my sophomore year and hurt me a lot my junior year. It took me this year indoors to truly start to believe in myself and understand that I am a good runner where if I have a bad race it doesn't define who I am a runner or a person. We invest so much time in this sport it does feel like running defines if we are worthy, but it took me a lot my junior to realize that no it actually doesn't. Running doesn't make you a good person, a great teammate, a friend that people can count on, or whoever you are. Running is simply just something that we enjoy doing because of dumb little reasons that are unique to all of us. I enjoy running because it's freeing I feel like my worries or things that bother shake off when I get my legs going on a run. I have been racing cars down my street since I was 5 years old, I enjoy this sport, and no race can take something like that from me. Overall what I am trying to say is the two main key points on how I grew up and developed to be the person I am today is hard work (like LOTS of hard work) but more importantly belief in oneself. You are all amazing people, Chapman would have kicked us off the team if he didn't see something right... so please just look in the mirror and see what we see because I want everyone who is reading this to know that you are amazing. To say my favorite quote Chapman tells me before races "I love you" and I do love you all. Thank you for everything and yeah we finally all American.