Habari! Congrats to everyone who will be competing this coming weekend at State. I would like to make this blog a little different than the rest, basically a little bit of motivation for everyone who is a runner, competed in the 2012 cross country season, and preparing for the state meet on Saturday. You all deserve some major recognition for your achievements.
Although I have not been able to toe the line this season, I have been able to witness such passionate and powerful runners out on the course. Words don’t even do it justice. Every one of you guys works so hard. You race with passion and with fire in your eyes. It is such a remarkable thing with runners. You are different than other athletes; and I am sure many of you can agree with me on that one. Running is not an easy sport. Heck, we are all crazy for doing it, but we all get this sense of satisfaction after running a long run or doing mile repeats. We are stronger mentally and physically after every run. That pain we feel during hard workouts and races doesn’t phase us. We run because it hurts, but we know pain only lasts so long. I know everyone thinks the pain is worth it after running a new personal best.
So for everyone who is competing this Saturday, embrace the pain. You have come so far and now it is time to take it one step further. It is a battlefielld out there, and who is your worst enemy? Yourself! Your legs have the power to run faster than you ever thought. Your mind…… it can play tricks on you. It has the power to stop your legs from carrying you through. You will feel pain, but you as a runner know it is only temporary. You will not let your mind fill up with negative emotions. As a runner you are mentally prepared to stay strong. If you start to feel that you are tired, remember everyone around you is feeling the same thing. Run with heart and you can surly surprise yourself.
Leave everything out on the course; you might have to go down to the wire. But your coaches have trained you well and you are prepared to do whatever it takes. Get on that starting line, believe in yourself, look straight ahead and let the gun lead you off! Once the gun goes off, it is time to do work!! From start to finish you are a pack of savages. You are all fighting for victory, so there is really no such thing as giving up. There is no letting up either; you can only release all that power and strength that is within you. For 3.1 miles you will hear a roaring crowd carrying you through, embrace every bit of it! The only time you should be looking back is well after the finish line. Look at that course and realize that you have just conquered it!
So everyone, be very proud of how far you have come. Be proud of representing Florida running in such a positive way. To all the seniors, finish off with a bang. This will be like icing on the cake (which I do not encourage eating this week).
Congratulations on the wonderful cross country careers, and you are only to become stronger and stronger. Remember passion can take you a long way!
“Someone may beat me, but they are going to have to bleed to do it.” –Steve Prefontaine
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