All of the late workouts, repeats of exercises, and excruciating speed work for this one race. This Saturday, I ran the most important race yet of my cross country seasons. I ran in South Carolina for Nationals. This was unlike any other race I had done before. First, I got my bib on and made sure I was all dressed for my race. The officials told us to be race-ready before signing in under the tent. Soon after we signed in, we were taken to the starting line and waited until further instructions to do strides. Unfortunately, I had caught a cold a few days before the race, which made it harder for me to breathe during the race. The gun was fired and we were off. The course went through a nice golf course and around the Winthrop University sports complex. It had multiple small hills. I ran a good first mile but the symptoms from my cold set in. Although my splits were nowhere near my best, I pushed through and enjoyed my experience. I finished in a high 21 minute 5K.
I was very proud of myself that even though I was not in my top health, I toughed it out and still finished within 21 minutes placing Top 30 to receive a medal. My favorite part of my experience, other than the race itself, was meeting all of the girls from so many states and viewing all of the race merchandise. I want to thank the race directors for making this an unforgettable experience. I have learned so much throughout my freshman season. It was so different from running two miles to running 3.1. Each race I have learned more about myself and developed more confidence. Cross Country is a tough sport that not everyone can do. I've had some upsets, but that never stopped me. I am ready for what my upcoming seasons have in store for me. Thank you MileSplit for giving me this opportunity!