"I decided to quit basketball"

Middle school was rough. I was the butt of a lot of jokes and got blamed for a lot of stuff. I thought I had a friend group but I was never invited to the stuff that they did, I just kind of hung out around them. So in 8th grade I was convinced to run cross country by a friend, I told myself it wouldn't be something serious, just enough to keep me in shape for basketball and baseball in the spring (this was the first fall I didn't have another sport going). So I ran. I wasn't really into it at first, freshman year passed without any huge breakouts in speed or anything. That winter, I missed the winter training so much, I would see the team coming back from long runs as I was going into basketball practice and I just felt left out. So sophomore year I decided to quit basketball and focus totally on running in the winter and to run track that spring. Best decision of my life. I now run 6 days a week, every week, and I wouldn't have it any other way. If you had told me back in 8th grade I would be a full time runner by my sophomore year, I would've laughed. I've met the most genuine, nicest, and smartest kids through running, and the sport has truly changed my life. I HIGHLY recommend XC to anyone. (Also check out @XCBABES on Instagram for our team account )

- @jd_murray1212 ( JD Murray )