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.