When you sign up to run track, you are signing up for so much more than just the team. When you join a track team, you are making a commitment, joining a family, and learning a skill that you can carry on for the rest of your life. Whether it be the friendships you made, the personal records you have achieved, or the rituals you developed over the years, a part of track will always stay with you. You learn so many things while running, like discipline, physical strength, and how to race competitively. On top of that, you will learn so much more--life lessons that wouldn't be the same to you if you didn't learn them through track.
1. Pain is temporary.
It is impossible to count the number of times you thought you were going to die right on the track. You thought every single workout was "the hardest one you've ever done," and you contemplated quitting each time. Fortunately, you learned from experience that pain is always temporary, and you'd always get through it.
2. The worst pain is knowing that you could have tried harder.
We all know the feeling. We cross the finish line and the feeling creeps up on us: we could have tried harder. It's difficult to describe the combination of regret and disappointment we feel when we have enough energy left in us to comfortably walk off the track, but you didn't put that towards your race.
3. Support means everything.
Whether you want to admit it or not, you always pushed yourself just a little bit harder when you heard someone cheer for you. Even if it was just somebody's dad who didn't know you so they just yelled out your school name, it matters.
4. It is important to listen to your body.
When injuries are on the inside you are the only person who can truly tell when you're injured. You had to learn what your limits were and when it was time to get off the track and hit the ice bath. You probably knew every muscle in your lower body, and exactly how to treat it if it hurt.
5. Healthy competition can be a good thing.
You're standing at the starting ling repeating your pre-race mantra in your head when suddenly, you lock eyes with the person in the lane next to you. You don't know their name, their times, or anything about them, but you have now made it your personal mission to beat them. Now you are focused so much on getting ahead that you don't even notice how much pain you're in. Before you know it, you have crossed the finish line with a new personal record.
6. Excuses mean nothing.
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You were able to make up a million excuses as to why you weren't performing well--it's too hot, you're legs are sore from the day before, you ate too much and now your stomach hurts. You knew your coach wouldn't accept them, and eventually you learned not to either.
7. Never judge someone by their looks.
"She doesn't look strong" or "He doesn't look fast" are the worst things an athlete can say before their event. You don't know how well a person is going to perform, and it is impossible to tell simply based on their physical appearance. You probably learned this the hard way and felt embarrassed after finishing behind them.
8. Some days will just be off days.
Some days you show up, give it the best you could, and you still don't do as well as you wanted to. Everyone has these days, and you're allowed to accept that you aren't going to be at the top of your game all the time.
9. Don't quit until you're done.
You can't just stop because you're close to the end. Every millisecond counts, and you never know when that extra millisecond will be in your favor. Every single moment you spend training is putting you that much closer to your goal, and quitting early will only set you back.
10. Never look back.
Looking back has no point other than slowing you down and taking your eyes away from the goal. You are always much better off facing the direction you're headed.
11. No matter how hard it is, don't stop moving.
Things will get hard along the way, but you won't get through it if you stop. Keep putting one foot in front of the other and don't stop going forward. It will only get better if you keep moving ahead.
