(Published 6/29/2025, Updated 7/18/2025)
Running gave me my first taste of success.
When I was younger, I really wanted to be a basketball player. I grew up with a strict mom, who saw anything slightly masculine as unfit for me-- one of which included basketball.
I got too scared to join the basketball team (more on that in another story) when I entered high school, so I decided to follow in the footsteps of my brother and cousin, and join the cross country team.
I remember in my first practice ever, I ran three miles no problem, and in my second practice ever, doing a 6x800 meter workout, and remembering it was hard but really fun.
Before I even stepped foot my first day of school, I already had my built in friend group on the cross country team.
As I got better throughout the xc season, I made the varsity team. We were two places shy of going to state.
As I got better throughout the xc season, I made the varsity team. We were two places shy of going to state.
I had issues with injuries my indoor season, but managed to run a 12:39 3000m to close it off and get 5th in the freshman city champs.
Outdoor came and I finished with a 5:33 1500m. I had beaten one of my good friends Susan, who had just run a 5:35 a few months prior.
And that was unfortunately the last time I was really successful in track.
My sophomore xc season build up was really good, but I got riddled with a knee injury, and once I tried coming back for the rest of indoor, covid came and took away my entire sophomore outdoor season and junior year.
I gave it everything I had my senior cross country season but it wasn't enough, and didn't even make varsity that year. I was incredibly crushed by this, as my one goal for my high school career was to make it to the state meet, but I never was able to accomplish that.
It was after my senior xc season, that I realized that sometimes, hard work doesn't pay off, but regardless, you should still work hard.
That was just one of many lessons I took from the sport. Running taught me what it truly meant to work hard. You can't cheat effort. Running gave me loyal friends. Running improved my lifestyle. I still read up on random biomechanics and coaching strategies on Running Twitter. I still follow the professional running scene. I even did a "Day in the Life" of one of Columbia's most successful track athletes, Phoebe Anderson (video is on my "Work" page!).
I'd love to give it another shot of breaking my freshman year prs, which is 23:11 5k on a hilly Van Cortlandt course, and the 5:33 1500m I mentioned earlier.
Running is still the hardest thing I've ever had to do, even harder than transferring to Barnard or learning to solve a Rubik's Cube. I am indebted to the running community for providing such an amazing base in my high school years and I hope to pay it forward in years to come.
It was after my senior xc season, that I realized that sometimes, hard work doesn't pay off, but regardless, you should still work hard.
That was just one of many lessons I took from the sport. Running taught me what it truly meant to work hard. You can't cheat effort. Running gave me loyal friends. Running improved my lifestyle. I still read up on random biomechanics and coaching strategies on Running Twitter. I still follow the professional running scene. I even did a "Day in the Life" of one of Columbia's most successful track athletes, Phoebe Anderson (video is on my "Work" page!).
I'd love to give it another shot of breaking my freshman year prs, which is 23:11 5k on a hilly Van Cortlandt course, and the 5:33 1500m I mentioned earlier.
Running is still the hardest thing I've ever had to do, even harder than transferring to Barnard or learning to solve a Rubik's Cube. I am indebted to the running community for providing such an amazing base in my high school years and I hope to pay it forward in years to come.
