Runners on your mark... Get set... BAM! The sound of a gun echos through my ears, hoping not to hear a second shot. Everyone surrounding me is pushing and elbowing to get to the front of the pack. All you can hear are the breaths of the runners around you and a few screams and cheers from the crowd watching. I quicken my stride to stay clear of getting boxed in and prepare myself for a long and tough race. Mentally I know that every step I take... is a step closer to the finish line.
This is what I do. I run... competitively. I have been racing in Track and Field since 3rd grade and Cross Country since 4th. Running is my passion and I would be lost without it. Running is a 90% mental sport and 10% physical sport. Mentally you have to learn how to train your brain. When a competitor passes you in a race you need to decide at that moment whether to go with them or let them pass you. You also have to learn how to recognize when your body is actually tired while racing or if you are just mentally telling yourself you are tired. When I am racing I have to talk to myself. I say things like, "You need to make a move now," or "hang in there you are almost done."This is a mental sport and it is not easy to do.
When training you learn how to discipline and listen to your body. When I am running a long run, I am always listening to my body. This means I am making sure there are no aches or pain throughout my body, I feel in control with my breathing, and the pace I am running is consistent or progressively improving. When I run harder workouts or speed workouts I have to teach my body to go faster, to endure the pain, and to stay on pace without mentally giving up. Every workout is very painful, but the feeling of accomplishment afterward is worth it.
Because of running I am who I am today. Running of course does not define me as a person, but it is something that has a huge impact on my life. I know that after every run I am getting stronger and more leaner. I have learned to move on from disappointing races and injuries. These bumps in the road make me strive to get out on that track and show everyone what they have been missing out on.
When you see a runner out on the track they aren't just running, they are competing with themselves in their own mind and are becoming a more superior athlete.
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