Seven Things I Learned From Running

   I have learned many things through my years of running track and cross country. In this blog post I will be telling you some of those impact life lessons I have learned. Seven life lessons to be exact. You may be thinking "Why a weird number like seven?" That is the amount of years I have been running high school track and cross country. So lets begin...

1. It doesn't matter who you are surrounded by; you can always find success.

   I have ran with many different people and have been coached/mentored by many different idols too. I have always found a way to be successful with the people I have been with. Whether it is with teammates that I only ran with four times (My 2012-13 indoor team) or the Relay of Misfit Runners. I have always found success with my teammates. I also have three different coaches for three different seasons. This makes me always have to adjust to different coaching styles. And it will be no different in college. However, I have always found a way to keep accolades pouring in like All-State, All-Conference, and All-Regional. It just takes motivation and  continuation to do what you know how to do.

2. Always set goals and set them high but realistic.

   If you get them or you fall short... ALWAYS SET GOALS. Whether its an academic goal, athletics goal, or even a social goal. Always have a goal(s) and keep them in the back of your head. I personally set many goals. I have a note in my phone that is about 25 lines long with my goals for XC, Indoor Track, and Outdoor Track. Some goals I get and others I miss.

3. Never underestimate anyone...
   On many occasions I have been on the starting line and looked over and thought some other runner was part of the goon squad and he actually made it a close race with me! So, I have learned that everyone has potential of being good. Take no one for granted and treat everyone as a threat.

4. Always try to make someone elses life better around you.
   My final year of cross country I had a little freshman that I mentored. He was some little, skinny kid that had a lot of talent and a lot heart. I never realized how little he had until I actually personally talked to him. After he made varsity at our team time trial I bought him his first Dairy Queen EVER! Yeah, I know right?! He was fourteen years old and had never taken a bite from a blizzard. I also bought him a pair of Nike Matumbo Spikes. His eyes lit up like Christmas lights when I gave them to him. I had never seen someone so happy about a pair of shoes... They might as well have been two bricks of gold. I also freshened him up on current music and trends that us teenagers should know. But, he didn't know them because his resources at home. Making this kids life outside of home better was probably the most satisfying thing I have ever experienced.

5. Be confident not cocky.
   Be confident in your abilities but not too confident. I have caught myself on some occasions being too confident and having to step back a little. Being confident and cocky are two completely different things. If you are confident and know you can do something than just do it. Do not talk about it. For example: Be confident in your finishing kick abilities but don't gloat about it and be cocky about it at the starting line. Let your legs do the talking on the track or course.

6. School and religion come before sports.
   XC Regionals 2013 was a very big deal to me. However, I did not let it get in the way of my other activities. Every Friday morning I wake up very early and go to a Bible study at Blue Heron before school called Campaigners. Even though I needed the sleep, Regional week was no different. I still went to campaigners and skipped out on the extra hour of sleep. I still believe that is why I found success at Regionals and made it to the State Championship. Because I stuck to my routine and beliefs. Also school work and grades come before running and film study. Even if you have a tough track workout the next morning you need to finish your school work before you "get your extra sleep."

7. Running/Sports creates and strengthens special bonds.
   I probably would need more than all of my fingers and toes to count to the amount of friends I have met through running. Maybe even a calculator. So, lets begin... There is Trae Hill, Nate Fischer, and Charlend Howard who were my indoor teammates and post injury confidence boosters for the 2012-13 indoor season. There are state champions/superstars like Connor Mora, Clark Ruiz, and Nick Renberg who have mentored me and given me advice through the four years. There is people like Riley Norman, Trevor Holmes and Aaron Hodges who I have know since grade school but Track/XC strengthened the bond so we are like brothers now. Conference Rivalries have been started and crushed between myself and Kyle Dotterrer as we prepare to be teammates this coming 2013-14 indoor season. Finally two of my best friends, Matt Ritter and Josh Wojan who are also indoor teammates for this coming 2013-14 season. Us three also plan to potentially be college roommates if things workout because we get along and enjoy each other that much. Between laughing hysterically over text messages or running together and getting lost at the Crystal Lake Team Marathon warming up there is never a dull moment with us. Hanging out with two friends (John Alberts and Evan Lee) from my Relay of Misfit Runners are some of the greatest memories I have had and they continue to keep memories coming. Lastly, the one person that running has brought me is former Olympian, Paul McMullen. I don't know what I would do without Paul. He has showed me that running isn't all about competition. He once told me "If you are having fun and impacting others lives than you are being successful." However, he also makes sure I am staying competitive and chasing goals/records and like he says "kickin' ass and takin' names."
   Friendships are not the only bonds running has strengthened for me. The family bonds have strengthened as well. Out of seven years my Grandpa has never missed a race. He has driven all over Michigan to just watch me race track or cross country. I can't imagine a meet without him there. Also my parents have picked me up when I was down more than anyone I know. They have been there when I truly needed. They also praise me and keep my confidence up after a good race so I can keep the momentum rolling to the next race. My Mom has pretty much been my sports agent for when a college wants to contact me through text, call, or mail. To get to me, I guess you have to go through her first I guess... My Dad has given me tips to help improve my racing. Sometimes they help, sometimes they are awful. Thanks Dad. :) Lastly, my sister, Tori. She secretly looks up to me. She doesn't really like admitting it. Her looking up to me and attempting to follow in my footsteps makes me want to do better so she has more to look up to.

   These seven experiences has really made me grow as an individual. Now I am passing these seven life lessons to you, the reader. You may have never realized how much running truly means and impacts a runners life until you actually think about it...
 
 

The Nike Oregon Project

   A big craze taking the running community's attention is The Nike Oregon Project. Nike's Oregon Project is a group created by the athletic shoe company Nike, in 2001, to promote American long distance running. The athletes that partake in this program are of a high caliber, which can be attributed to their elite coaching, revolutionary training and use of air thinning technology. The runners live and train in Portland, Oregon near Nike's headquarters. Some of the runners in this group live in a specially designed house where filters are used to remove oxygen from the air to simulate that the athlete is living at high elevation. Numerous studies have shown that living at altitude causes the athlete to develop more red blood cells, increasing athletic performance. In addition to this, special software is used to monitor electrodes attached to the athletes, determining what condition they are in and how far or fast they can train. They use underwater and low-gravity treadmills. They also have a collaboration with Colorado Altitude Training (CAT) for their hypoxic training equipment.
   The project has gained great success at the International level at meets like The World Championships and the Olympics. The athletes in the project are Galen Rupp, Dathan Ritzenhein, Matthew Centrowitz, Mo Farah, and many other runners that live in the United States. Galen Rupp won silver in the 10000m in the London 2012 Olympics while Mo Farah got gold in both the 10000m and 5000m. Matt Centrowitz medaled in the 1500m at the Monoco World Championships in 2013. Dathan Ritzenhein is from Rockford, Michigan and has held many American records. The Oregon Project is coached by Alberto Salazar who won the NY Marathon three years in a row from 1980-82.
   The Oregon Project has taken a lot of criticism from National Agencies and other athletes. The WADA has accused the team of doping because of the air thinning houses but those allegations were dropped because of the natural effects of oxygen. They also received criticism because of the recruitment process of Galen Rupp. They were critcised by college track coaches for recruiting Galen Rupp directly out of high school to go live at the Oregon house and forgo attending University of Oregon for his first year.
   I personally love The Nike Oregon Project because it is putting American Distance running back on the world map. I support all of the runners and think it is great what Nike and Alberto Salazar has done with the team and athletes.

   

   

States: The Finale

    It is the biggest stage Michigan has to offer. Take the best of the best from each regional and put them into one race and you get this monster. The MHSAA State Finals. States is something I trained for since early June. However, it did not go how I wanted...
   500 miles of summer running, biking until I felt like my legs were going to just shrivel up and fall off, and core until my body could not handle the pain anymore all led up to the meet on November 2nd 2013. My season up to Regionals was sub par up to my standards. However, qualifying for the State meet made the work all worth it. My goal since freshman year was to achieve All State honors in cross country. After being injured my junior year I was finally given the opportunity to achieve my dream.
   The trip down to states was very long. States is held at the NASCAR track, Michigan International Speedway, in Brooklyn. Which was a very long six hour round trip. When we arrived in Brooklyn we stayed at a house on a 1000 acre YMCA resort. When we were there we moved around the beds to create one gigantic one. We also played Apples to Apples. Coach O'malley was very good at the game. Somehow he had a word for every single category. I personally think he was cheating because he had the whole deck next to him... For dinner we went to Outback. The perks of being an individual state qualifier is the school buys your food. So, I ordered a $22.00 steak and desert. Thanks CHS! :) After dinner it was relaxing time. The biggest race of my life was quickly approaching...
   The next morning we did our usual thing like shower and eat breakfast then it was off to MIS. Michigan International Speedway is huge! If you have never been there I will attempt to briefly explain it. As you approach the stadium there is billboards everywhere to let you know you are approaching. After you drive under the third billboard you see this enormous stadium. As you enter the stadium you drive through this 400m tunnel that goes under the race track. Then it opens up and you see the beauty. Bleachers colored yellow and red. And thousands of cars and ten thousand runners. This is the mother of all races. The course starts on the infield of the track and runs from one end of it to the other. You then cut across the track and run outside of the stadium for majority of the race. However, the last 1200m are all along the edge of the track and into the finish.
   The actual race is even more of a monster than the race set up. Like every cross country meet you or your team is assigned a "box" on the starting line. At states every team that qualifies has their own box but, individuals share boxes with runners from other teams. I had runners from Adrian, Mason, Gaylord, and Gull Lake all in my box. Once the referee shoots the gun everything is different. Its like a charge goes through every single runner at the same time to make them take off the speed of a bullet. The noise from the spectators is like no other... I describe it as being right next to the speaker at a concert. You cannot comprehend anything anyone is saying. The noise is just there and you cannot escape it. There is spectators lined up shoulder to shoulder the whole way except the last 1200m on the 3.1 mile course. The competition is the most competition anyone will ever race. Everyone that is there deserves to be there because they put the work in to make it. If you try to settle into a pace or slow down ten people pass you. It is a constant pushing the pace the whole time. Plus the course was all mud and water because the rain we had nights before. That really took energy out of your legs.
   I felt like a deer in head lights. I had never raced anything remotely that big. I ran what I describe as the worst race of my life. My legs felt like they were stuck in cement and did not want to move. The most important part of running is your mind and I was psychologically off of my game. All State is Top 30 and I was not even close. My dream of standing on that podium had evaporated...
   Standing on the All State podium and looking out into the crowd with 29 other runners by my side is something I had always wanted. I literally had dreams of doing. To think I did not do it and will never do it is demoralizing. I was in a very rough place emotionally after the race and even more later that night when I opened up the notes in my phone. I keep all of my running goals in my phone and when I opened it I saw "XC All State" in it. Right there I threw my phone without any hesitation because I was disgusted. I feel like I failed myself not achieving my goal...
   After a lot of thought I should not be disappointed. I had one of the best XC careers in CHS history. I was the second runner in school history to score in every single meet from freshman year to senior year. I earned four varsity letters and was a two time captain. I also medaled at more than 90% of the races I competed in. I also did what many runners have never done and that was actually run in a XC State Meet. And best of all I had fun. I could not be more thankful to be given the opportunity to succeed in the Cadillac blue and gold.
   I am also going to try to turn this sense of "failure" into a positive. I am going to use it as motivation to make indoor and outdoor track very special and work harder than ever. All in all, states was an amazing experience that I will never forget.

   


 
 

Relays

   The Fab Four, Elite Track, Witness The Fitness, and Northern Michigan Distance Project. These are just some of the great relays that I have been a part of. Being on a relay takes teamwork, hard work, flexibility, dedication, and stamina. For the people that do not think track is a team sport obviously have never been on a relay. Relays grow a very special bond because of the trust you put into each other. But, before I get into that I will tell you about the one relay that I have grown very close to.
   We called ourselves the Relay of Misfit runners when we first found out we were going to be running together. Out of the four of us only one was on a varsity relay before. And that was me. We were replacing a relay that got All-State, won the Big North Conference, and was Regional runner up. So, we had big shoes to fill. Now, lets go into more detail with the runners on the relay. I am the first leg. I was the only one with prior experience on a relay. I was the leader and motivator behind us. Our second runner is Johnny Alberts. He was a sophomore at the time. His freshman year John was only a 2:20 800m runner. But, somehow this kid developed into a 2:02 runner. The third runner is Philip Merrell. However, Phil bounced on and off the relay all year because of consistency of his running and injuries. The final runner AKA anchor leg was Evan Lee. Evan was also a sophomore at the time. Evan his freshman year had never run an 800m before. But, dang was this kid good. He is just a pure competitor.
   Our relay saw consistent improvement all year. Our season started out at the Gaylord vs TC West vs Cadillac Tri meet in Gaylord. We ran pretty good for our first time racing together. We won with a time of 8:48. The second meet was the Ogemaw Heights Falcon Invitational. We won again but this time our overall time was 8:46. Our third meet was the Cedar Springs Red Hawk Invite. This time we did not win. We came in second with a time of 8:25. This was the race that we knew we had something special. We made more than a twenty second improvement. I also ran a personal best split with a 1:59. From there we won at the Hemlock Invite with a time of 8:21 and then ran an 8:20 at Regionals and just barely missed making it to states. It was heart breaking for us. However, it did not hold us down. The next race we got All Conference only behind Traverse City Central. The final race of the year was our best. We definitely saved the best for last. It was the Cadillac News Meet. We came into it seeded third behind Evart and Pine River. We knew we could blow this guys out of the water. We ran a personal best time which was 8:14 and won.
   This upcoming season we have very high goals because none of us graduated so it will be the same. We are going to train and work together all winter and run indoor track together. We want to achieve All-State honors in indoor and then achieve so much more in outdoor. In outdoor we want to win state, win regionals, win conference, break the school record of 8:03, and qualify for New Balance Outdoor Nationals. All of these goals are very achievable.
   Now I will tell you why relays grow very special bonds like The Relay of Misfit runners did. As a relay runner you push it everything you have in your portion of the race and then you are trusting that the next runner will carry on what you started when you hand the baton off. In workouts, relays train together and push each other to achieve your relay goals and individual goals. You feel the same pain of racing and training so you can relate to each other. Most of all, you are supportive of each other. You support each others individual running goals and school goals. Relays grow very special bonds and sometimes it cannot be broken.
   The Relay of Misfit runners started from the bottom of the totem pole and will soon be at the top.

 

The Injury

   500 miles of running, weight lifting, bike training, swim training, and camp after camp all gone to waste... Why? A hole. A simple hole. Less than a foot deep and less than a foot in width and length. Let's go back a little bit though.

   My junior year of cross country I was coming into the season in great shape and coming off of a fantastic sophomore year of track where I achieved All-State honors and nearly broke a school record. I was confident and ready to take down the 2012 cross country season and the competition that stood in the way. I run great at the first meet and get a medal at the very competitive Benzie Central Invitational. Then the second meet is here. The Charlevoix Mud Run. I knew coming into it that the course was very rough. It had uneven groud, hay bails to jump over, and two giant mud pits to run through. It also had multiple hills to conquer. I ended up coming in second that race only behind my indoor teammate from Gaylord with a time that was very close to the course record. I was estatic after the race to say the least.
   Every athlete knows that you have to cool down and stretch after you compete. So, I did just that. I always run bare foot on my cool downs because it is better for the muscle recovery process. So as I am jogging with my teammates my left foot steps in a hole. My left knee shot backwards just below the knee cap. It was the worst pain I have ever felt. However, I just play it off like nothing happened because I am someone that does not like showing my weaknesses.
    The third meet comes around. The Sparta Spartan Invitational. The year prior I ran under 17:00 for the first time ever on this course. So, I was excited to race here again. But, there was a little problem. My knee. I try running the race and it hurts so much. More than anything I have ever felt. I come across the finish line limping like a 3 legged dog.
   Four days later I run at the first BNC meet of the year at TCW. Once again I come across the finish line limping. I was predicted to get top 5 in the conference. I was in the 40th place rage. That is when I knew something was wrong. My knee was purple and swelled up to the size of a softball. I took a week off from running and came back to race again. And the same result. Limping across the finish line.
   My mom finally scheduled a MRI and Bone scan so we could find out what was wrong. Laying in that MRI tube was very scary. All I could think is "Will I ever run the same again?" Will I ever run again? Will I come back this year?" The MRI result came back. I had a torn meniscus, which is the cardilage in your knees. I had a strained MCL, and a stress fracture in my upper shin.
   After hearing the results from the MRI I knew my Junior year of cross country was done. I watched the rest of the season as a spectator thinking to myself "I could've won that race." "I could've gotten All State." and so on. But, I was lucky enough to run at the regionals to help my team out. I placed awful but at least I gave it a shot.
   I had one goal on my mind once XC was done. Comeback. In the offseason I let my knee recover and went back to training. All winter I trained harder than I ever have with the motivation of my knee and blown chances on my mind. In indoor track season I ended up getting All-State on my relay with my teammates from Gaylord. I couldn't thank my indoor teammates and coaches enough for giving me the chance to run with them. They took a chance with a runner coming off a very serious injury and put me on a potential All State relay. Because of them I got my confidence in my running back.
   When the 2013 outdoor track season came around I felt like a beast. I was faster than ever. I ran personal bests in all of my events and shocked many people. Everyone had counted me out, even my coaches. It was the most satisfying feeling in the world to come back and prove to everyone that I could still do.
   "Run like you have something to prove."

The birth of a natural born runner

   Well since I have told you why my sport is a sport and why I love it; I think it is time to tell you how my running experience all started.
   Memorial day in 5th grade. The first time I ever ran competitively and really ever ran at all. At the time I was a soccer player on a travel team that eventually went on to win states. My sister was doing the 5k for Girls On The Run. I show up there and many of my very close friends at the time were running it as well. They were all in there nice athletic shorts and running shoes. Me? I was in plaid cargo shorts, an Abercrombie shirt, and old tennis shoes. I was just not planning on running at all and was going to just watch. After a lot of peer pressure and bugging my mom to let me sign up; I ran it.
   I show up to the starting line. I was some little kid just under 5 feet in height wearing casual clothes. Yes, I did get funny looks from the try hard adults. Did I care? No, because I had no clue what I was getting myself into. The starter fires the gun and the runners go off. I start running as fast as I can. But, the thing is I did not slow down. I kept trucking along the beautiful Lake Cadillac. After the 3.1 miles, I crossed the finish line which was by the Cadillac Pavilion. I finished ahead all of my friends that made me do it and won my age group. Some little kid in cargo shorts and old, beat up tennis shoes surprised everyone.
   My parents and grandparents came up to me after the race and congratulated me and told me that cross country and track just became my new sports. When 7th grade hits I was out with my new team, the Cadillac Cross Country team. I was still a soccer player too. At the time cross country was not the only thing I did. I played soccer, ran cross country, played basketball, I skied, played baseball, and ran track. In 8th grade I trained with the varsity cross country and track teams because apparently I was "An important prospect for the future." I did not see myself as that. I was just some ordinary kid who went out and ran and sometimes won.
   The summer going into my freshman year I had the most important decision of my life to make. Yeah, that's right a 14 year old making big "life time" decision. After lots of thought and talking to both the cross country coaches and soccer coaches. I trained and practiced with both teams. In August 2010 I decided to run cross country. My coach made me sign a contract because he worried about losing me to soccer within my four years of high school. Does he realize I was only 14 at the time and barely knew what a contract was?
   Now, I am a senior and still do cross country. It was the best decision I have ever made. I have made lifelong friends, won championships, broke records, and helped lead people to achieve their own goals as well. I consider my coaches as "second parents" and my current/past teammates as brothers and sisters. I have made memories that will last forever. Whether it is at practice, a meet, or XC Camp at Camp Torenta there is never a dull moment with the infamous Cadillac Cross Country Team.

It is a sport...

   Running. It is something we all have been doing for years. Many people I have talked to say "Running is not a sport because it is too easy and anyone can do it." Yes we can all run. However, can everyone run at a competitive level? I personally say no. Running at a competitive level takes psychological strength, emotional strength, and physical strength. In this blog post I will be telling you why Track and XC are sports, the great runners that have walked the same halls I have that would argue the topic too, and why running is special to me.
   The definition of a sport is an activity that takes physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team attempts to score points and beat their opponents. Track and cross country takes endurance, speed, jumping ability, coordination, and strength. All that combined is extreme physical exertion and skill. Cross country is scored a lot like golf. The lowest score wins. The place that you finish in a race equals the amount of points. So first place is one point, second place is two points, and so on. Track on the other hand is the exact opposite. The highest score wins. The place you finish equals a certain amount of points. First place is ten points, second place is eight points, third place is six points, fourth is five points, fifth is four points, sixth is three points, seventh is two points, and eighth is one point. From ninth place to last place get no points in traditionally scored track meets. However, in some track meets everyone scores. Everything I just explained are the qualities of a "sport." XC and Track takes physical exertion, it has a points total, and you attempt to beat your opponents.
   There has been many great runners that have gone through CHS. Runners that have went on to run in college, be Olympians, or even coach. All three of these runners that I am telling you about would stand on a soap box and preach how track and XC are sports. I look up to all three of these runners. The first one is Mark Smith. He currently holds the 1600m, 3200m, and 5k records for CHS. He went on to run for Eastern Michigan and be a steeplechase alternate for the US Olympic team. The second one is Kris Eggle. He never held any records. Never had a lot of glory. However, he is considered one of the greats because of his attitude and leadership. He still achieved all state honors and was a conference champion. The biggest thing Kris is known for is being the most positive runner. He went on to run for the University of Michigan and then was killed defending our country on the border. Kris is the runner I try basing my running off of because of his great leadership and attitude and then also being a fantastic runner. The final runner is Paul McMullen. Paul is the one I have grown closest to. Paul has mentored me through all four years of my running career. He has given me tips and helped a lot through the way. We went biking weekly over the summer, he runs with me in the winter, and he is there to watch me on the biggest meet days.
   And finally. Why running is so special to me. Running is my escape from real life. I could be having the worst day ever and right when I get to practice it is a new day. My team is like family and no other sport is as close as we are. Winning awards like All State and All Conference is great but the close bond I have with my teammates and coaches is what I will take from running the most. Cross country and track deserve the same respect main stream sports like football and volleyball get. We put in the same amount of work as a team and some individuals on the team like myself put in so much more.