Bodies change.

Bodies change, everyone’s does. I’m a high school cross country runner, and my body is changing. 

It was last year I not only notices a change in my 5k times, but a change in my body as well. As a teenage girl we go through changes that we may not always agree with. As a human it can be hard, but as an athlete it is even harder to accept this. 

My times from last year were faster. I was skinnier, there was less on my chest and my legs were thin and strong. I’m still strong but my body is learning how to run fast again with these changes. Our bodies are crazy, we develop and mature but with these new differences, our bodies need to learn how to react. During that time we get into a slump where we’re not running as fast as we once were. 

I’m in a running slump, because my body is different now. It’s discouraging to know I don’t look like I used to, but it’s making me more determined to improve to where I was before. This happens, and you girls out there who are in this slump with me - keep pushing because it will all pay off. 

This sport is forever part of me, no matter how my body reacts. It will become accustomed to the change soon enough and soon I will soar, soon you will soar too.

- Anonymous