My goal at Big East this year was top-25 and to PR. I came in 32nd in an incredibly stacked field and PRed by 40 seconds in the 6k on a very hilly course and frigid conditions, finally reaching into the 21 minute area. I decided to be brave and fearless and go out with the ‘big girls’ in the race, the runners that people know. My name is unknown among these bigger names. I am working to turn that around. From the second the gun went off to running down the final straightaway, I kept repeating, “You can do hard things. You can do hard things.”
I have to sit back for a second and think back to two years ago when I had 2 medical professionals tell me my running career was over. I have to think back to just last cross country season, I struggled so hard and ran 3-4 minutes off of my PRs the entire season. My spirit was so shattered and my heart broke after crossing each line last season. I got my heart broken in more ways than one – in a relationship, with running, and with my own body for feeling like it was “failing me.”
I believe in the girl who kept going and I believe in the girl who woke up every morning this past summer to run and get to the track, even when it was 93 degrees at 7 in the morning, with a fire in her belly and so many goals in her heart. I decided to be brave and to never feel sorry for myself for more than a few seconds.
I have so many dreams in my running career and I fucking will not ever stop striving because running reminds me that I can do hard things. Running makes me a better person. Running has introduced me to the concepts of grit, resilience, strength, and bravery.
I am not the most talented runner, but I work very hard, and I will not stop reaching because I cannot imagine my life any other way.
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