Y'all, it's over. Track season is officially over, and that brings a whole lotta emotions. It sort of flew by and crawled by all at the same time, which I know makes no sense, but it would if you were in this season with us. This season was full of highs and lows, PRs and let downs, but through it all, we stuck together, cheering each other on and showing up, each and every day, putting the hard work in. I get emotional when I think about it because I truly feel like I've found a family, my people in these distance runners, in my cross country and track team, and they've seen me at my bests and my worsts. They've been there for me when I needed them, and I sure hope that I've been there for them when they've needed me. So today, this post is for them - my distance people.
To my distance team,
I am so proud of you guys. This season I watched some insane PRs, from 58.1 400s from Piper Hula herself, or multiple of our guys hitting sub 5 minute miles. I saw girls shave minutes off of their mile times and battle it out for the varsity spot. I saw freshman guys knock our socks off and be super competitive on the team. I watched as people worked their tails off each and every day at practice, running in the extreme heat and occasionally freezing cold, rainy days as well. As much as I hated sitting on the sidelines, I honestly got a better appreciation of the people who put in the effort, and also those who saw the improvements as well.
Speaking of me being on the sidelines - I cannot express how much everyone's support as I recovered and got back to running meant to me. I got texts all the time, asking how I was doing, and when I finally could run a little bit alongside the team, everyone cheered me on and were so kind as I tried to get back into it. Our team is not perfect, but it should always be a place where we build each other up, and I saw that a lot this season.
Being with my team has always been something I've looked forward to. You guys are my safe place, somewhere I know I belong, regardless of my times or spot on varsity. I know I can count on y'all to make me laugh or cheer me up on the hard days, and I'm so thankful for that. We suffer through the workouts together, and even when I don't feel like pushing through, our team is my motivator. You keep me working hard, never giving up, even when my legs are dying and my lungs feel like they could collapse. I want to become better, for you and with you, because y'all are my people, and when we stand on that starting line again, I'm going to give it everything I've got - for you.
Thank you for cheering me on, and thank you for allowing me to cheer you on. Thank you for working so hard and inspiring me to push myself harder. Thank you for the memories we were able to make and for all the laughter. I am so, so proud of each of my teammates, and I cannot wait to see how we all continue to improve next season!
My team is one of the things I am most grateful for, and I hope that I never forget what a blessing these people are. Honestly, as I continue to reflect on the season, I'm simply inspired to keep investing in the people God has placed in my life and loving big, both on and off the team, and during both the season and off-season. I truly believe that the community we surround ourselves can make or break the quality of our lives, and can greatly influence our faith as well, so this is your reminder to choose your people wisely and don't be afraid to love big. Keep seeking the Lord for guidance, and open your eyes to the people He has put right in front of you - you never know what He might do with seemingly ordinary connections.
Who is someone in your life that you're extra thankful for? Let me know in the comments below - I would absolutely love to celebrate those people with you!
Comments