Personal Narrative: Running Cross-Country

Sports are not for everyone. I tried a variety of sports throughout my childhood but I was never really athlete material. I am as slow as a turtle and I have little to no hand-eye coordination, but I gave each sport a try. It was truly a shock when I decided to run cross-country since I had no speed whatsoever.

I enjoy running but I am definitely not a runner. I’m the girl that’s loudly gasping for air after running just 1 lap around the track in gym class. So why did I decide to run cross-country? Honestly, I just wanted to get in shape. I wanted to feel like an athlete. I am always up for a challenge and this was definitely one. Running 5 miles a day became the new normal for me. It was agonizing. I was used to running 1 slow mile and nothing

more. Like most teenagers, I love to sleep. So you can guess how ecstatic I was to find out that practice begins at 7 a.m. sharp every morning for the entire summer. I was terrified to show up on the first day. Nobody would have expected me, the slow chubby girl, to show up for cross-country practice. These girls were hardcore runners; they dedicated their lives to running. It was just a hobby for me. On the first day of practice we were told to run a mile on the track. There is nothing I hate more than running on a track, that’s why I joined cross-country, not track! I was so out of shape I couldn’t even get through the first mile. The other girls were lapping me as I gulped for air. I had to stop after 3 laps. It was so embarrassing, oh what a great start to the season! I debated on quitting after the first week because I was so disheartened but each day I came back, determined to improve.
I was by far the slowest girl on the team. I was always lingering miles behind the rest of the pack. I even got lost at practice one time because I was so far behind on a new course. Meets were the same, I was always in the back and I never came close to winning. At first, I was so disappointed in myself. I wanted to quit and never look back. I felt like an enormous failure and it took me a long time to realize I wasn’t. I knew that I was trying my best but I wanted to be better. I continued to push through each race and I always gave it my all. I loved the feeling of finishing a race, even if I was in last place. I learned that it was okay not to win. I began to stop comparing myself to others because I am my own person. I am not a runner and I am not fast but that’s okay. My accomplishments throughout the season were amazing for me. I had more determination than anybody else and that’s what really pushed me. By the end of the season, I was in the greatest shape of my life. I was able to run 5 miles without feeling like I was about to die. I improved my mile times drastically. I even earned a varsity letter. But most importantly, I learned to be happy with just being me.
Although I experienced more failure than success, deciding to run cross-country was one of the best decisions I ever made. It led me to self-improve tremendously. I gained loads of confidence and I obtained a can-do attitude that allows me to believe I can do anything I set my mind to. My passion will continue to drive me towards my goals in the future. Cross-country has taught me to always follow my heart and to always take risks.