Overcoming Pain: My First Half Marathon Experience

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I distracted myself from the pain in my lungs, my knees, my feet, and my hips by focusing on my surroundings. I noticed the airy blanket of fog that bundled the victorian houses and lush trees; I listened to the soothing clash of small waves from the ocean; and I smelled the sweet aroma that radiated from the pink roses lining the rustic stone walls. The beauty of the scenery lifted my spirits and though with each step I took my knees ached a little more and my breathing became heavier, I knew that I was inching closer to my goal.
On June 5th, 2016, I completed my first half marathon. At 5:00am that day, I woke up to prepare myself and make the commute to Gloucester, Massachusetts to run a 13.1-mile race alongside my best friend. At 8:30 am, we set off from the start and 2 hours later, we returned to the finish.
As someone who walked almost the entirety of the timed 1-mile in middle and elementary school, I never thought I would run 3 miles nevertheless an entire 13.1 miles. To get in shape, I decided to join cross country freshman year. While I did get in shape, cross country rewarded me with so much more. Because of cross country, I discovered a passion for …show more content…

Cross country and track have taught me more about the essence of dedication, perseverance, and support than any other high school activity. Being a runner has shaped me into an independent individual who pushes through hardships and stops at nothing to achieve ambitions. Having been a part of a close knit distance running team all of high school, I have learned how to cheer on my teammates and how important support is to myself and others while on the pursuit of success. With all the knowledge and positive qualities that running has equipped me with, I feel more than ready to keep pushing myself to my limits and to face new milestones that I have yet to

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