Life lessons from a Cross Country race
"you got this....."
High School Cross Country is probably a weird sport to most. So these teenagers just run….for fun? I get that sounds weird, but if you had the privilege of watching a cross country meet you will quickly realize that it is bigger than a teenager just running for fun. It’s watching teenagers face a three mile course where their physical and mental ability are put to the test. While there is a very competitive element to the sport, it is the only sport where you watch spectators and athletes line the sidelines to cheer everyone on, no matter their ability. An example comes from my son’s last race. The winner was 15 minutes ahead of the final finisher. Both athletes received the same attention and I can make an easy argument that the final finisher received a larger response from the crowd.
The key here too is that both are considered athletes. One probably has been called one their entire life, the other maybe for the first time. No matter their time, both would wear the same smile of accomplishment when they found out they set a personal record.
During any given race it’s not uncommon to see rival runners encourage each other to keep going on a brutal uphill. It’s not uncommon to see athletes hug each other at the end of the race. Thanking each other for pushing them through the race. It’s not uncommon to see parents watch in awe as their kid pushes themselves harder than they ever have had in their life to accomplish a personal record.
Cross Country races give me hope. So many life lessons to learn through them:
Encourage others.
Set your goal and work hard to achieve it. Goals rarely come easy.
Spit sideways, never straight on (if you know you know)
Celebrate victories. Both your own and others
Tan lines are normal. Embrace it
When you think you can’t, look around, chances are someone is nearby to be your teammate to help push you along.
You are stronger than you think you are
I could go on…