I was obsessed with the track. In my eyes, everything about it was relaxing and thrilling all at once. I loved the red stain it left on the bottom of my shoes and clothes, the feel of it beneath my spikes and the fact that you could practically smell the heat of the day during practice. I couldn't get enough of it. You wouldn't find me just training here; you would find me laughing, playing, scheming, crying, but most of all, learning. You see, the track was a dual-use facility to me: a playground and a classroom. Some of the best life lessons I've ever learned were taught there and I'd like to share them with you.
1. Put yourself in a position to win
My coach used to tell me this every practice and before every race. Granted, he was telling me to physically place myself in the most efficient place in the front of the pack to win, but I took it another way as well. I believe that if you have created a goal that was meant to be 'realistic', then you've set yourself up for second place. Create high expectations and dream big, that's how you'll know you've done the best you could.
2. Get windy
Track meets at my high school are notorious for being really windy. The way our stadium was set up made the wind swoosh around as if it were in a wind tunnel and made the back stretch the hardest part of a lap. But on the other side, the wind would be at your back and there would be this sensation that you were flying. This is similar to when you are encountering obstacles in life. The more willing you are to work hard, the more pay off you are going to get in the end.
3. The feeling at the beginning of the race could kill you, but the feeling when you finish will bring you back to life
The beginning of a race is always the worst feeling in my opinion. There are so many thoughts as to why you do this sport for fun or why do you do this to yourself. The anxiety and nerves build up right before, then go off and you're sure that the feeling is going to kill you, but it doesn't. You take your first few strides and you feel like you're flying. Soon enough, you've crossed the finish line and you're hugging your team mates. That's when you remember why you run track.
These were the most important life lessons my coaches, team mates and competitors could have ever taught me. I carry all their words of wisdom with me where ever I go and constantly thank them in my mind for making me the person I am today.
