Notes
Dear Cross country,
Wow. I really can’t believe how fast 13 years flew by. That might not be the most poetic opener to this, but thats my gut reaction. It goes by too fast. Faster than your teammates running over to congratulate you after smashing a PR. Faster than Zillmer sprinting back and forth to give you your splits. Faster than Lake Park on a particular morning when you think to yourself ‘what if I just skip my PR ever being in the 19s’. It seems like yesterday I was lining up at Clark Park in my qr cougars tshirt that was white as oppose to the typical blue to distinguish the 4th graders from the 5th and 6th graders since we couldn’t score points. Who would’ve thought the slowest 9 year old in her class would be inspired this much by a webkinz song to join this crazy sport, and would be writing this thirteen years later. Now today, lining up for the last one with my backwards hat and orange and blue sunglasses, representing a team I took a chance on, repping that white tshirt during warmups as a tribute.
Something that has always stuck out to me throughout my career was a quote from Coach Szwed. Back before I had developed and started progressing with you. On a dreary and brisk Saturday morning in January, my mom forced 11 year old me out of bed to go to optional practice at Busse. I was the only one there. Coach said ‘you’ll be happy you did this someday, when your dedication pays off’. And man, did it ever. I stuck with you during the hardest times, and man was it all worth it.
Ill never forget getting off the bus on a cool September morning, while the sun is still rising and there is fresh dew on the grass. Ill never forget the crisp smell of fall paired with excitement and jitters of the competitors in the air. Ill never forget the feeling of cruising down the Busse hill on the 3rd lap, turning it over to finish. Ill never forget the ‘post meet eats’ as you celebrate the successes of your teammates and yourself. Ill never forget the hype music coming from someone’s Bluetooth speaker on the bus ride back. Ill never forget how everything about you made me feel.
Now the road wasn’t always easy with you. You gave me my share of trials and tribulations, but all of them have made me stronger and keep me crawling back for more. Every. Single. Time. You never let me forget where I came from. So thank you for that.
You have taught me so many lessons. About myself, about the sport, or just life in general. You have seen me through some good and bad. But you have made me the person I am today. You have helped me learn so much about life and myself.
A lot of people have asked me what I am going to do without you. Well first I want to thank all the teammates, and friends throughout the years who have believed in me and helped me throughout my career. I want to specifically thank Coach Caputo, Szwed, Sandeler, Smith, Josh, and Bingham for helping me develop. I’d like to especially thank Coach Zillmer for always being in my corner and help show me your lessons and help me maximize my potential. Most importantly, I’d like to thank my parents. They’ve been there since day 1 and the support they have given me along the way is unmatched. Now, I don’t know exactly know what I will be up to next fall. I don’t have it all figured out, but I think that’s part of the joy in the journey. So, if I had to give you an idea, I will be finding another adventure.
“When a wave crashes into the shore, it’s gone. But the water is still there. The wave was just a different way for the water to be for a little while. When the water is returned to the sea, you don’t know what it will be next, but thats part of the adventure” -Chidi Anagonye
Thank you cross country,
MJ out ✌🏻,
Mikeelie Jensen <3