Since I'm really good at procrastinating, I decided to go digging in the basement to delay studying and packing before heading off to Las Vegas. I found some gems from my high school track days that I thought I would share as I occasionally mention the days of yore.
As a little history, I joined the track team at my high school when I was a freshman. I had never really held any interest in running before but some of my friends were trying out so I thought I would give it a try. (The mile in junior high gym class had been torture.) My cousin was also into running so I figured it would be fun.
I made the team and I ran the 400m consistently. Comparatively to other schools, I wasn't that fast. But for our school, I was one of the faster 400m runners and was consistently in the open event (my PR was 62.something. I never broke 60 although it was one of my goals all through my 3 year career). I enjoyed running this race but felt I never mastered it. I always either started too slow or too fast.
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| Getting ready in the starting blocks for a 100m hurdle race. Probably around 1999 or 2000. Pigtail buns with feathers were really cool. |
I think I still have that problem even now with longer distances. Haha, I guess some things don't change? When I ran track, I was pretty stubborn and never wanted to join the "distance" runners and compete in the 800m or 1600m. I was a sprinter, and those distance runners were so "clique-y." I sometimes wonder what would have happened if I would have given the longer distances a try. In addition to the 400m, I also dabbled in the long jump, high jump, and hurdles. If you've read my blog before, you know I'm not very coordinated. How I was enlisted to complete these events, I'll never know. I was a terrible hurdler and an even worse high jumper. I think my lack of fear (and lack of other eager participants) helped me participate in these events. As I dug through the box of old memorabilia, I stumbled upon some medals from these events.
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| I think there must have only been 2 high jump participants that day... I swear... |
Either way, it was fun to look back and reflect on what I did back then and how far I've come! If you would have told my 16 year old self that I would complete a marathon before I was 30, I probably would have told you that you were crazy. I never wanted to run more than 2 miles, let alone 26.2!
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| Apparently I wasn't always a heel striker... The home stretch in my first heat of the 400m |
I really cherish my memories on the track team and every time I watch track on TV I feel really nostalgic about the days in which I used to run on the track. I think I need to incorporate more track workouts as part of my normal cycle, just to feel like I'm 16 again! :)
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| In front with unflattering grey sweatpants; resting between events, junior year, 2001 |
Did you play any sports in high school? Did you run track? Do you incorporate track workouts as part of your normal running routine?
P.S. Today is the LAST DAY to enter my Haeleum giveaway! Entries are accepted until 11:59CST today!
