"I never imagined I'd be a runner"

I almost didn't run cross country because for my whole life I was a figure skater. I never imagined I would be a runner. At the end of 8th grade my skating friends and I did a glow run.. It was a 5k and I finished in front of all of them with a time of 23 minutes ( I had no idea if that was good or bad). My figure skating coach moved away may of 8th grade year. I was so lost at what I would do. Then I remembered how it felt to run that 5k. I remembered the pain but more importantly I remembered the joy it gave me. The week after my skating coach moved I did something to my meniscus. I could barely walk, let alone figure skate. But through that I decided to run a 5k with my high school when it wasn't hurting as bad. I was with the team and it was so fun, it was a great experience (minus the pain from my knee). That summer I continued figure skating and training for a competition. I did not do too well at that competition so that's when I decided "it's time to close this chapter of my life and move onto running" so I went to a cross country camp with my HS team and loved every second of it. Turns out I was alright at it. I ran cross country and track with that high school then moved to a different state that summer. Leaving my old team was one of the hardest things I've ever done. But this team I'm with now has shown me exactly what my old team did: a sense of family. I love running and can't imagine life without it. Through hard work I am part of a state champion cross country team as well as state champion 4x800 team. Sometimes you need to close one chapter of your life for something even better. Running is my escape from reality and I'm so glad I made it a huge part of my life 2 years ago. ** To anyone wondering if they should try running.. Just do it, it's not as bad as we all say it is. **

- @emi_nemi4 ( Emma Brownell )