Water Girl or Running Girl?

I started high school in 2014 as a small freshman girl not doing any sports or knowing anyone except some people from middle school. My older brother was an assistant on the football team since he couldn't play and one day I decided to go to football practice with him. I became the best water girl at the school and I became very close friends with the football players. The coaches and players were like a family and they even called me their little sister. It made me happy. The fall of 2014 was one of the best of my life. I eventually came back in the fall of 2015 to be a water girl for the team again. This time I brought my friends to help me out. We ran around the field giving water bottles and taking water bottles when one day the cross country coach saw me. I decided to run track in the spring of 2016 and it was the thing I looked forward to everyday. I became the best 800 runner on the team. The team was so nice and I could tell them anything, but I was still dedicated to football, even as just the water girl.

Eventually, as I ran more and more, I loved it more and more. Football became less important. I later decided to run cross country in the fall of 2016 instead of going back to football. I did repeats around the track, while the football team watched, and worked my butt off everyday to be the best. I quickly became the 2nd fastest girl on the team. I could even run faster than 2/3s of the guys. The girls varsity team depended on me and the top runner. We were the best. We went to districts, and we both qualified to regionals not only as individuals, but we carried the team with us, winning by one point and taking the whole team to regionals.

Regionals was the day I was waiting for, state or no state. It was up to me. My heart was pounding, and my mind was everywhere, except on the race. I couldn't focus. It was the hardest race of my life. I couldn't tell when I was racing and when I was just there watching others race. I felt like I wasn't in the right body. My legs were heavy and my shoulders felt like they had fallen off. I just barely missed the qualifications and unfortunately did not qualify for state.

However, the top runner qualified. She took me with her to help train and we pushed each other to be the best. I supported her even though it killed me on the inside, but I didn't care. I knew it was the best for her and would open opportunities she never knew she had. But this year will be different. Cross country 2017 will be the greatest season of my life.

With colleges recruiting me, this season counts the most and will determine where I will go to school, what career I will choose, and how my career will take place. I will make it count with every breath, every step, and every qualification. This season I will not rely on how I feel, or what the mile pace is. This season I have one goal, to be the best.

I want that college scholarship, I want that medal at regionals saying I qualify for state, I want everyone to look at me and say, "wow there is no way she became that good in just 2 years."

I want the best for me. This season is about me.

- Anonymous