Officially Just a Track Athlete

 I am officially done with cross country! While I was holding on to the chance of Nationals, I am happy to be done with the season. It was a long one and my body needs a break. The race this weekend could’ve gone better, but unfortunately, it’s how the sport goes. No race is perfect and conditions don’t always line up to our goals. All we can do is try our best! I still think it was a great end to my cross-country career and was a fun weekend!

Saturday, I raced my very last 6k on the grass—crazy! My team competed at the Great Lakes Regional cross-country championships. It was a cool experience and a highlight of my career. Toeing the line and fighting for one more chance to qualify with 230 other runners adds electricity to the air, which I can’t describe. While it didn’t end quite like I had hoped, I felt Saturday’s race was the perfect summation of my cross-country career. It was a good ending point. 

I raced as I needed to this weekend and nearly tied my personal record on a course that was not easy. While not super hilly, there were smaller bumps all over the course that took your momentum when you ran over them. There were also a lot of turns, and when you are making turns in a packed race, it slows you down! So overall, I think my race was one of my best and I felt like I was competing!

Saturday made me very thankful for what this sport has taught me and the lessons I have learned over the years. It made me appreciate the memories I’ve made with my team and allowed me to see how much I have grown as an athlete. Now, I get a week-long break and time to reset for track season. I have some big goals for my final season so I need to dial in now and mentally prepare. I had a meeting with my coach Tuesday that made me more excited! I prefer track season to cross, but I don’t think I’m ready for this to be my very last one.

After college, I plan to keep running. However, I don’t think local 5ks and track meets will compare to competing as an ONU athlete. Good thing I still have plenty of time! I don’t want to ponder too much on how I’m almost done with this team, so I’ll just soak up the moments and take it one day at a time. 

That’s all for now, 

Abby