What is Cross Country?

Cross country is far more beyond than the miles we run. We get to test the limits of a human body. Through blood, sweat, tears, rain or shine we manage to seek for greatness. My middle school years, we ran just for the district title. From start to finish without a purpose. Once you hit high school, it's a whole different story. I can say about 30 students come the first day and at the end there will be about 15. Not everyone wants to go through the pain we go through. Only those who finish, are the strongest. Well let me tell you about my high cross country seasons.

Freshmen year: Ha this season was a wake up call. You see one who run says, "If I only go on speed days to practice! Everything will be okay cause that's all you need." Let me tell that is not a way to go. I remember going to practice one day yes and one day no and so on. One Saturday we ran in Donna, oh boy believe it. I was the only one who didn't get a medal from my team. I cried and told my coach "sorry," She responded with, "You know what to do now!" Man from that instance I told myself, "I ain't missing a day of practice anymore!" By the time district came.....it was the last 400 of the race one of my teammates who was the 5th man was dieing out. It was either a, "You run the heck out of yourself and make up for it or stay back" Of course I went on and ran the heck out of it! Glad to say I became the 5th man and we took district for a 3rd year in a row by 1 point. Uff, it was a close one!

Sophomore year: It was a year I didn't miss a single day of practice. I worked my ass off like never before. I was fighting for the 7th spot on the varsity team. It was a close one I can say. One week we ended up not having practice. I didn't run and she did. Well you can guess who got the spot. One week without running can do so much. You can't hold back because your lazy or just for the fact that you'll be "fine" without running a couple of days cause you won't. Since I was running jv and well as a team there wasn't much of a chance, so I put myself to a goal to stay on the top. Once you set yourself a goal and stay attach to it. Everything that comes your way, you will overcome. I remember getting hurt in one of the meets, but no matter what i wasn't gonna give up. Am glad to say on district I was able to stand on the podium with an 8th place medal. This was one good season for me. 

Junior year: This was my first year in varsity. A lot people may tell you "You're varsity now" or "You're our 1st, 2nd 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, or 7th man on the team." I never took that for granted. I told myself, "The day i put on my jersey! Will be the day, I will accept the challenge on running onto the next level! The day i become a varsity runner." 

Starting off the summer of my junior year, man I had given up everything for the sport. My family wasn't a big fanatic of my running. I had to beg and cry to my mom to let me go to practice. I can say I even made a bet. If I won the bet then I would continue running and if not then that would be the end of my running career. I beg the Lord everyday and thankful enough I ended up winning the bet. I was willing to give up everything for crosscountry. You see as the years go by you just learn so much about running and end up falling in love with it. You can look back and see how far you have come. Once season kicked in I was the 3rd man of the team. That was a shock for my coach and myself. Through the season my team was fighting for the 3rd spot to qualify for regionals. I went to the second and third meet and I manage to PR. (Beat Personal Record) Dispite of last year's injury, it got to me and caused the end of my crosscountry season. Man it hit me right into my heart. I can say it was first heartbreak ever!!! I was like, "Is this how your first heartbreak feels cause man it sucks!" I can say I went to a depression. I gave everything up for that one season and had so much to give. I wouldn't be able to survive without my coach, teammates, and friends. When the doctor called my season off. I busted out in tears. My mother across from me, then knew how much it really meant for me. No matter if I was running or not I wasn't gonna leave my team alone. I still went to morning practices. I can say each meet i busted out into tears because I wanted to be there. That year we didn't end up going to regionals as a team, but we had one qualifier, Mayra. She had the chance to take anyone from the team and she choose me. Am so thankful for the shot. She knew how much I wanted to be out there. She saw it in me. I love her with all my heart. I can say running is one thing that makes our bond even tighter. 

Senior year: Oh crap this is the year! After last year, man this is go time. You either make it or break it. Leave as a champion or leave with regrets. You see after my junior year, i lost everything. I lost my inspiration for running. Coming into the season I knew it was gonna be a challenge, but I told myself. "Let yourself go and find yourself. Chase after the inspiration! It's about you!" Summer 2017! Since June 5, 2017 it's been all about competition. Top 7 varsity team has never been set because everyday everyone is fighting for there spot. This summer we rose to the occasion and fought against anything that came our way. You see we as runners never get much credit because it's all about football. New members come in, so it becomes a new team with the same goal. I can look at my team and I trust them with everything I have. I believe in them like no other. Coming into the season we weren't the favorites. Our name Economedes wasn't in the map. We told ourselves. "I think it's time to bring Economedes into the map!" We fought hard our first meet and came up 3rd overall and 1st in our district. Man that felt good. It showed us what we are capable of doing as an individual and team. We know we can't take anything for granted because anything can happen from here and on. We just got to continue to fight hard. No matter how much adversity comes to our way, we gotta continue to fight through it. One thing for sure I letting my team down. We still got a long way to go. Man I love them from the moon and back. Everything I have become this year is thanks to them and my coaches. We are seeking for success and respect. 

Cross country is all I want. I've gone through tough times and it has been my savior. This is my senior year....halfway through the season now, let's see how the rest goes. "One day at a time and one meet at a time! FINISH THE FIGHT! WITH ADVERSITY COMES OPPORTUNITY!"

- @_amaya_jessica_ ( Jessica Amaya )