Personal Essay On Cross Country Practice

This is best exemplified with my transition into being a runner. For some miraculous reason unbeknownst to me, I decided to begin a running program. This program entailed practice that started at 6:30 a.m. and continued from June until the end of July. My first day there, I was assigned was a mere .75 miles. With the burning sun scorching the back of my neck, I heaved my legs, coaxing myself to take another step.

I have been the president of my school’s Junior Civitian club for 2 years now and I was color guard caption for two years also. I have learned how to become a leader. I also went to Girl State where I learned how to become a better leader. Becoming a leader is challenging, especially in high school, when you want to do what everyone else is doing. I have learned that being a leader you should be fair and treat people as if they are your peers and not lower than you are. As a leader I am the first person their and the last person to leave. I also have made myself available to the people in Junior Civitan and the people on the color guard team. I also have an ambitious attitude, as should ever leader. I will always try to keep everyone cheerful

Laying down in bed the night before the meet was always nerve wracking, wondering who was going to show up to the meet the next day. The drive over to the track was often long and silent. Often thinking of every outcome of each race could drive a runner insane. Finally arriving and seeing all the athletes, spectators, and the crowd. The roar of the announcer echoing through the stadium. I stepped on the track hoping to see a few familiar faces. The cold breeze blowing against my tracksuit. I began to warm up and tuned out

Our footfalls crunched along the gravel path as the four of us finished our first run at altitude. We breathed in the crisp mountain air, trying to force oxygen into our lungs. Slowly, we walked to the football field, where we played Ultimate Frisbee before eating dinner, showering, and going to bed. This is how we spent our first day at Jim Ryun Running Camp, hosted by Colorado College in Colorado Springs. Former Olympian Jim Ryun organized the camp with the help of his wife, son, and other coaches. Going to running camp gave me an opportunity to strengthen both my ability to compete in cross-country and my faith in God.

When I went on my first run, in the hot humid weather, I felt something that I hadn’t felt in a long time - happiness - and peace with everyone and everything around me. I began to look at myself in a new light. Over the course of the summer I managed to

I ran as fast as I could, I was tired but knew that I had to keep going. The sun shone down ferociously making it very bright and torrid. I felt sweat drip from just above my brow into my right eye. My eye began to get a burning sensation just as I turned the corner. My muscles ached, but I knew I had to shift into overdrive and pick up the pace. I started to run faster and faster. I began to get the feeling like I was about to throw up, but knew that I couldn’t stop now. I continued to sprint to the finish, and just as I crossed the finish line I looked to the clock and noticed that I set a new PR. The feeling of happiness that swelled up inside me took me back to the practice on the tuesday of the previous week: That day it was hot as fire

They congratulated me and I saw and felt their pride. I, myself, felt pride for conquering my obstacles and overcoming my frustration. I had more confidence and even though Running Club ended after the 5k, I continued to run with my friends and my renewed confidence. Joining that club aided me to realize that I truly enjoyed running. My enjoyment for the sport influenced me to become a member of the 7th and 8th grade cross country team, along with the track and field team. Overall, my experiences in the Running Club guided my participation in running sports and improved my attitude toward those

Spectators at sporting events come to watch athletes compete at their best during a game or meet. However, there is more to sports than just “playing the game”, “running the course”, “performing”, or whatever the case may be. Athletes understand how important sport specific workouts are; cross country is one sport that focuses on this. Most people think that “all you do is run”, although running is indeed the task, it takes a combinations of different workouts to build up an athlete’s body in order to be race ready. It is beneficial for cross country runners to do workouts that focus on speed, strength, and endurance.

I refused to ever let someone replace me on the track again. Not only did I earn that respect, I demanded it. My workouts were no longer a social hour, but a boot camp. I was the hardest working undersized athlete in the program. My junior track season finally arrived, yet once again I would not have the chance to compete for a junior varsity district championship. No, this year I competed for a varsity district championship. My efforts in the offseason led to a promotion on the team. The lingering emotions of anger and disappointment were replaced with gleaming pride. My previous failure had propelled me to success within a single

As a junior I was nominated by my teammates as co- captain of the varsity cheerleading team. Being in this leadership position was a humbling experience that not only broadened my perspective in what it takes to successfully participate in teamwork, but it developed my patience and understanding as issues and adversities would arise. Most of all, having this position tested my integrity and challenged me to lead by example. Being captain, I was automatically held up to higher responsibilities and expectations. Not only did I want to shine in those areas but in others too, making sure I was a reliable role model and leader for the others around me.

I started out as a student-athlete in which I depicted great leadership skills and positive role model qualities such as diligence, enthusiasm, and passion for the sport. Hence, after my first year of college, I was named the team captain. I worked closely with the coaches, helped to resolve team conflicts, established the tone for practice, and modeled responsibility, decision-making, and a strong work ethic. I also promoted a positive attitude and team interactions, and encouraged and supported all of my teammates. Throughout my experience as team captain, I showed mental toughness by remaining confident and focus, and respond to individual and team mistakes in an appropriate manner.

Amidst cheerleaders of all ages cheering and screaming, I heard a meek voice to the right of me, asking is I was a senior. When I told the young girl I was, she awed about wanting to have my leadership skills when she got to be my age. In this moment of chaos at the UCA Cheer Camp, I realized how my leadership skills have grown over the years of being a cheerleader. Every summer, I went to this cheer camp, where cheerleaders are trained to be leaders not just in school spirit, but in our everyday lives. I, too, had the expectation that I was a leader, but never really thought what made me a leader, until the shy cheerleader talked to me. Over my time at the camp, I was learning what qualities make an outstanding leader. I thought that the only

It all started in August on my first day of 6th grade where I came out for the cross country season not knowing what I was about to get myself into. My dad said I had to either get a job or do sports in school, so I chose to do a sport because what 13 year old would want to get a job anyway? Soon after the first week of practice was over, I was running as the number two runner. Staying as the number one and two runner as the rest of my middle school years, almost breaking the school record and being named “top dog” I

My phone lit up with a text that read “Hey you should come to practice today!” I knew it was from my well-meaning best friend, but I could not summon the motivation to get out of bed on a late August morning in order to go run. At cross country practice. I dragged my feet for a few days but after many more encouraging morning texts, I finally got out of bed, laced up my shoes, and asked my mom to drive me to the green belt. I was joining cross country. Having never run a full mile in my life, I was absolutely sure that running for no good reason every day would be a complete flop and I would quit after a few days. I was dead wrong. Cross country would not let me quit. It not only would not let me quit, but it taught me to not be a quitter.

Being a leader on a sports team meant that I had to be physically and mentally strong in situations where others might be weak. Physically, I had to be an example on my team by never quitting and never giving up when things were tough. That way when my teammates seen me pushing through physically adverse situations they have someone to follow