To those who were my coach, a thank you simply isn�t enough. Thank you for being there through the good times and the bad. Thank you for always believing in me when I didn�t believe in myself. You didn�t just teach me how to become better athletically, but you also taught me how to love the sport. It was because of you that I didn�t feel guilty about quitting after six years of hardwork and dedication. I knew that even though being a quitter was frowned upon, I would always have the sport that I love. Thank you for being patient with me through all of my injuries. Thank you for understanding my pain even when I didn�t. I know that it�s not an easy task to tell me when I�ve had enough. Thank you for pushing me through my mental blocks. Thank you for always caring. Your love for the sport made me love the sport.
To those who were never officially my coach, you have inspired me in ways that are unimaginable. Thank you for listening to me complain. I complained a lot over the past couple of years, and you were always willing to listen. Thank you for always being there for me even if you weren�t at practices or meets. Thank you for loving the sport even if you weren�t directly involved. Your passion for the sport showed me that I can admire the sport from afar. Thank you for always giving me advice on what to do. When I decided to quit, you understood. You weren�t happy with it, but you understood the challenges that I went through. For that, I thank you.
To those who made me quit the sport, I thank you for giving me the strength I needed to stand up. You taught me that little eyes are always watching, so I should never say anything that I may regret. You taught me to be careful of things I say to certain people. You gave me the opportunity to see that there is more to life than running. You may have taken my greatest love away, but in doing so, you also gave me the chance to find my next greatest love.
To all of the coaches, whether officially or unofficially, thank you for building me into the person I am today. While I am no longer an athlete, I will always cherish the moments when you taught me something whether it be positive or not. In those moments, you made me a better person.
