Dear Coach,
I remember all those words you used to say to me. I remember when you told me “You’re an ugly runner” or “you will never break 5:30 in the mile because you're just not that talented.” I remember you getting into my head, messing up my confidence and I remember racing just wanting to please you. As much as I despise you for all of that, thank you.
Thank you for telling me I wouldn’t break 5:30 in the mile because last year I broke it and I learned that you should never set limits on someone. You never know what someone is capable of accomplishing with the right mindset and training and you won’t catch me telling someone they can’t accomplish their dreams.
Thank you for messing up my confidence, because now I know that my confidence is within myself. It doesn’t matter what anyone else says or does to me I am proud of who I am and I will accomplish what I set my mind to. The way to achieving happiness isn’t by trying to constantly please and be accepted by others it’s by pleasing myself.
Thank you for telling me I am an ugly runner because I learned how much someone’s words can hurt, especially from someone who is supposed to be a role model. I learned how to give constructive criticism without knocking someone down.
Thank you for teaching me how to fight for what is right. Dealing with you gave me a real world example of how to stand up for myself and others around me. It taught me to be a leader, to be persistent and to not let others take me down.
Thank you for knowing next to nothing about running and proper training. I may have had several injuries, but you taught me to listen to my body and to know when I need to stop. I also learned a lot more on my own and through others around me because I didn’t have you as a resource.
Most of all thank you for being a shining example of what not to be. If I ever find myself as a coach or someone of authority I will know exactly what not to do. Because of you, I will never be someone who tries to minimize others success by putting them down.
With all of that being said, I leave you with this. Be careful with how you treat people because you never know how it’s going to affect them. Do your research, the drive over to the track is not enough time to come up with a smart workout. When an athlete tells you they are hurt, listen and finally you may be an adult, but respect is something earned not given by your title.
