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."