My Dreams, My Sweat, My Tears My Way!
As I look
back on my collegiate career I would say it’s been one amazing journey that I
will never forget. I have been so blessed to meet so many strangers, whom I now
call friends. Many of these friends have helped me with my struggles and refuse
to give up on me. To have coaches and parents that don’t only just coach, but
inspire me as an athlete and a person. God has been so good to me and has given
me memories and friendships that will last lifetime. Thank you to all the
Parents, Coaches, Teachers, and Teammates for all your help you have given.” If
I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” (Isaac
Newton)
While my
college running career was coming to an end, I still knew I had some unfinished
business with running to take care of.
My desire to reach my highest potential, my love for the sport, and the
people involved in the sport has always kept the fire burning in me. The transition from college to the work
working world, or as some calls it “the real world”, can be very stress fully
time for young adults. For me it was a
choice of deciding if I wanted to pursue my dream through my running goals, or
do what’s expected of me and “get a real job”.
As graduation approached it seemed like for the first time in my life I
only had one plan. I had applied to a few running clubs, but I had no idea how
everything was going turn out. It was way too uncertain for my me, as coach
Green likes to Says I am a very “particular girl”. I knew I wanted to keep running and keep
chasing my running dreams, but I did not know how to pursue this. One thing I did know was to keep believing
that God had plan for my life and dreams.
I was also
very lucky to have been surrounded by the friends and the family I have. These
people loved me and help make my transition easier. They made me realize I will be able to pursue
my running dreams because the fact that they never gave up on me. My last track
season turned out to be somewhat of a rough patch as my college season came to
an end, but I had some great people who encouraged me even on the days I gave
up on myself. Most of my inspiration
came from friends and family such as my high school coach, Patrick Hennes and
his wife Beth. I’m so grateful to have had these people in my life.
I graduated this past spring from Grand View
University with Degree in Health Promotion. I made a big decision to move 18
hours from all my family and friends to see how far my growing potential as a
runner can come. Now looking at this tough
decision, I am glad I took this great opportunity that God has given me. He not only has given me a chance to grow as
a runner, but also as a person. He has given me chance to put my heart and Soul
into something I am so passionate about.
On this journey I feel so blessed by how much support I am getting from
my friends, family, and former coaches from the Grand View and Des Moines
community.
On July 28 I
joined a team in The Woodlands Texas called, Team Green Running. This club is a USATF club racing team
sponsored by Adidas that is based out of Woodlands Texas, which is just North
of Houston. Why join Team Green? I feel like in the past 8 years I have done
only what is comfortable. I never really have tested my limits outside of
comfort zone. I figured it’s a great
chance to figure out myself as a person.
While
visiting the Woodlands in early July, I it was a place I could enjoy my
running. One thing I can recall was how beautiful the area was and the many
inspiring trails around the city. The name really fits it the town because it’s
covered with woods. I also really
enjoyed Coach Green and his philosophy on training. With this came his “old school values” and of
commodore and hard work, this was exactly what I was looking for. His coaching
background is also very impressive. He has coached for 30 years as the head
track and cross country coach at the Woodlands high school and has won 16 State
Championships with multiple individual State Titles. He has also been selected
as a head coach of two USA National teams. This has led to him given many
motivation speech to clinics around the United States. Before starting Team
Green Adidas, Coach Green was the meet director of the NXN South Cross Country
meets.
With
organizing speed camps for the past 20 years, he has seen it all and knows how
to develop talented teams. At this level
it’s really important to make sure I am pushed, but also knowing when too much
is too much. It’s important to work with a coach who believes in their athletes
and are willing to go the extra mile for their athletes. The post colligate running World it’s not
about glamor, but commitment and sacrifice which is very critical when done in
the right environment.
So far the
transition has been interesting. Everything is different and it is almost like
being freshman in college again.
Learning to live in a new place and willing to do all the little things
that make big difference. Little things like getting more sleep eating
right. These days I am trying to do all
the necessary things, so I can achieve my max potential and possibly reaching
the impossible. At this level everyone is doing the same thing as me I am
nothing special. The only thing that
separates me from people around me is the willingness to do all the little things
to be great and knowing how hard and far I have to push myself to reach my
potential. Also turning all the negatives into positives and being grateful for
all the little things on daily bases. I am not only interested in what I am
doing , but committed and accepting these changes by pushing my body even when
it’s inconvenient and mentally taxing.
These
days I am taken things day by day and when things start to get a little lonely
and hard, I remind myself why I am doing this.
I am not doing this because I have to; I am doing it because I love
it. I have running goals I would like to
accomplish and just seeing some of the Iowa natives compete in this
summer’s Olympics has made me want it
even more. I aspire to be that runner someday that motivates others. I have dreams of making the USA team someday
being an Olympian. I’m going to chase after this dream as long as I can and no
one is going to stop me. After all I
have put all my dreams, sweat, and tears
into it. Even if I don’t achieve these
goals I know I gave it my best effort. I
did it on my own terms and I will prosper as a growing person if these setbacks
occur. One day I will look back on this and be satisfied that I gave it my all.
After all “Winners are not people who never
fail, but people who never quit” -Girlfomparis Tumbr. I refuse to suffer the pain of regret. Most people can be great at anything, but
their fear ends up getting in the way of their goal. Even though my life revolves around running
right now, I am in constant search for churches and people with the community
to partner with so I help out those in need. When we reach out to others that
is when we gain greater appreciation for our own lives. I know that I am only here because some cared
enough to reach out to help me. I have people in my life that refuse to give up
on me even when I did myself. They always remind me that no matter how far I
have to go, it is nothing compared to how far I have come.
