Personal Narrative: How Running Has Changed My Life

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I began the first mile with a mission: to run 24 miles in 24 hours. Each hour, my two other friends and I would walk from our tents set up in the backyard and run a mile around my neighborhood. Why are we doing this? My reason was not a simple one; completing this challenge was my attempt to solve an issue in my community that resonates with me deeply; Poverty, in all its forms, is an issue that many can't fathom. My home, Syracuse, is a city with one of the highest poverty rates in the nation, over 14,000 children live below the poverty line, and this substantially increased during COVID. During the pandemic, I felt closed off and yearned to connect with others. Moreover, I was determined to end the treadmill of pain people run on each day. …show more content…

Knowing that I aided people, filled me with jubilation. As I crossed the line of success, there was a crowd of people cheering for me. In 2019, this was the first time I had seen people expressing joy; slowly, loneliness in the community began to fade away. Running has changed my outlook and perspective on life. The discipline, endurance, and determination required in running can translate into being a strong leader. That being said, a good leader isn't only determined by their success, but how they handle their failures. 6 years of running has taught me that progress is linear; I'm not going to PR (hit a personal record) or win every race. Freshman year, after a bad race, I would probably cry, and compare myself to other runners. Now, instead of dwelling on my failures, I learn from them, work harder during mile repeats or hill workouts, and motivate my teammates to keep pushing forward. I yearn to have the same commitment Mike and Sam have to their families and others. Both my Grandmother and Grandfather are bilateral amputees and have no legs. In honor of all bilateral amputees, I plan to pursue a career in physical and occupational therapy, to run the distances for people who

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