By Kiera Olson
As my final high school cross country season comes to a close, I’m able to look back on my four years of experience very favorably. I reached success on the courses, but what will stick with me more throughout my life, rather than race results, are the endless values the sport taught me. Much like other high school athletics, cross country teaches hard work and determination. However, unlike many sports, cross country instills the value of friendship in its participants. High school cross country has been an unforgettable experience for me and many of my teammates.
As is common in much of high school athletics, cross country teaches many lessons that will remain valuable throughout your entire life. The beginnings of this lengthy list include hard work, determination, and drive. Cross country is a mentally demanding sport. Running is extremely painful, and oftentimes it can seem all too easy to give up. However, it is up to the runner to persevere and push through the pain. However, this is easier said than done. In the moment of pain, it can seem nearly impossible to speed up during a race if needed. It takes much practice and mental preparation to develop the high level of determination needed during a race.
Looking back, sometimes this determination can be “too much.” In most sports, coaches will have the individual sit out if he/she throws up during a game. However, in my case, as I threw up three times during one cross country race, my coach told me to keep running. In fact, she urged me to run faster to make up for lost time. Physically, this wasn’t ideal, but I listened to my coach and finished the race strongly. Now, I wouldn’t recommend this path, but at the time, it seemed like the only option.
While cross country is comparable to many other high school sports in teaching individual values, it differs greatly in the aspect of teaching friendship. Cross country meets are known for being extremely supportive and upbeat environments, more so than the environments found at other sporting events. Runners will often be found wishing other teams good luck before the race and saying congratulations after. Many times, the top finishers of a race will remain at the finish line long after they are done, and shake every runner’s hand as he/she crosses the finish line, complimenting the runner on a great race. Teams often form bonds and friendships with other teams instead of rivalries. Possible explanations for this difference include the fact that in cross country there isn’t just one winner and one “loser,” like in many different athletic programs.
Cross country, a popular high school sport, has been an important part of my life for the past four years. It has taught me the essential life lessons of hard work, determination, and drive. While these three values could have been found had I chosen a different sport, I would’ve missed out on some great friendships with people from other teams. Cross country has an extremely positive atmosphere, not always found in other sports. My experiences in the sport have allowed me to form lifelong memories with countless lifelong friends. But beware: if you throw up during a cross country race, you will be expected to keep running.
Kiera Olson is a student at Fillmore Central High School. She is one of eight area students participating in the Journal Writing Project, now in its eighteenth year.
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