"Freshman year, I was overweight. Sophomore year, I was recovering from surgery"

I almost didn't run cross country. Freshman year, I was overweight. Sophomore year, I was recovering from spinal fusion surgery (two metal rods on either side of my spine). I knew I wanted to do something junior year. I only joined XC because my friend thought it would be a fun way to be fit together. She quit after our first race and I nearly quit before I found out I'd made varsity. It took me a while to warm up to my team and get into it completely but now that I have, I wish I had more time to run! Leaving it behind with senior year is devastating!

- Anonymous