"I saw my mom cheering me on and I just started crying"

I started XC in 7th grade because one of my best friends told me how much she loved it. I didnt even know that XC was a sport. I joined anyway, and I really sucked. During my first race, I saw my mom cheering me on and I just started crying. Someone during the race actually had to ask me if I was going to be okay, because I was crying so loud. I finished the race, but walked almost the whole way. I hated racing, but I kept with it because of my friends. That same year I also did track, and I was even worse. I got last place in every race, but I kept with it. Now going into my junior year, I am in the top 10 girls on my state winning team, and I PRed by 2 minutes in the 5k. I run varsity track, and was able to PR by a minute in just one year. I met my best friends during XC, and I will always love the sport. But, the sad part, the person that started me in XC, and helped me through all the tough races has quit. It breaks my heart knowing that without her I would have never fallen in love with running, but now she has started to hate the sport. XC will never be the same without her.

- @emma19529 ( Emma Chicoine )