I was so terrified for this race. Being my first race ever in running I was so super scared! up to this point the farthest I had ever run without stopping or walking was about a mile and a half. Some of my goals for my first xc race were to not walk and to not come in last. I wasn't being positive at all even once i was behind the starting line. I did not think I could actually achieve my goals. It wasn't until the very first turn of the race when my mind started to think good things. That is when I knew I could run this darn race without walking. I started thinking that if I could just make it to the grass to where some of the girls and coach would be there cheering and encourage me that I could make it to the track where Ali, Taylor, Mia, Liz and other teammates would be to give me that push to make it back to the grass. The hardest part of the race was my last lap..when I made it to the grass coach and all the girls weren't there. I thought thats it..I can't do it! Right after my dear troubled brain thought that a girl from cedar ran over to cheer on the only girl behind me. She said "Ashley, you are doing so great! Just get that girl ahead of you. You can do it." When she said that it pretty much just pissed me off and made me push even harder so I could stay ahead. As soon as my feet hit the track Liz was there cheering me on and telling me to pick it up cause the girl was behind me. And I did..when I turned that last corner I gave everything I had left in me and sprinted to the end! And then I felt like busting out in tears cause I was rather joyed in my preformance. I didn't walk and I didn't come in last! And I know I wouldn't have been able to do that without my team cheering me on :) So...Thanks!!! (long entry but I really wanna remember my first race:))
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