Hitting a PR after 3 years

I began running my seventh grade year, my team was small having only two others on the team. I ran both seventh and eighth grade years and told myself I enjoyed this sport enough to do it in high school.

My freshman season started out as most would think, I didn't run summer miles and I generally did not know what to do with having an extra mile to run in a race. I went to the team camp in a state park we go to yearly and ran good times for a freshman and began to get excited for our first meet. That first meet came and went and as did the second and third. My fourth race came around and I had it in my mind that I would be varsity as a freshman, I went out and ran a great time, 19:40, and I couldn't have been happier with myself. But that night changed my entire high school career and life.

That night I was involved in a serious head on car crash that caused a severe concussion and ended my freshman seasons overall, no swimming and barely any track. It broke me mentally losing the things that meant the most to me.

Sophomore year came around and I had mediocre performances in all of my sports. And the time for summer miles came quickly and I ran plenty. Between June 1st and August 1st I put in nearly 450 miles and was running some of my best times ever. But all good things seem to come to an end as around a month into the season I was diagnosed with a severe stress fracture in my foot causing me to be on crutches and in a boot for nearly 6 months. I returned for track and just did my best to survive.

My senior season started off alright. I ran 200ish miles over the summer just to get in shape to survive camp. I ran decent times but nothing near where I was in my previous seasons. I wasn't varsity which bothered me but we also had one of the fastest teams in school history so I had to cut my losses and support my team however I could. I constantly ran as our 8th runner or our 1st JV runner and I constantly strived to get that varsity spot.

Arriving at our League Championship meet, I told myself I would go out, do the best I could and accept whatever happened, knowing this could be my last meet ever. My coach pulled me aside before the race and told me, that the team winning would come down to me, go out and get what I wanted. We lined up on the starting line. And bang, the starter lets us off and it was a great feeling, I crossed my first mile at a 5:50 pace, my second mile at 6:00 pace and, my third at around a 6:15 pace. I finished in a varsity position, giving myself the opportunity to run at one more meet, and giving myself a nearly 2 minute PR which I hadn't done in over 3 years. I cried more than I should've but I was happier than I ever could've been in this sport.

XC is the biggest thing in my life and I have met countless people and made unforgettable memories at meets and team bondings. This sport is filled with the kindest, hardest working, funniest, goofiest, most mentally tough athletes I have ever met. And I could never thank this sport enough.

- Andon Raker (@andon_raker)