I started running in seventh grade because two of my friends decided we should join the middle school cross country team together. Neither of my friends ended showing up for even a single practice, but I joined the team anyhow.
I didn’t have running gear so I wore jean shorts to practices. I had a pair of white high top sneakers that were not running shoes. My race times were slow and I didn’t fit in with the other girls on the team. Yet, despite my struggles I didn’t give up.
By high school I ran with the Varsity XC team. In cross country meets, only the top five finishers count towards the team score. I was consistently number six for my team. My times didn’t factor into the scoring, but I continued to get faster and by the end of the season I won the most improved runner award.
Through running I have learned how to set and achieve my goals. I have now run marathons and ultra-marathons. I am no longer the awkward jean-clad girl who was afraid she couldn’t finish a race. I have learned that hard work pays off. Hard work is NOT easy. Often progress is slow, and many goals take more than one attempt to achieve. I am faster now, as a masters runner, than I was in high school.
I do not define my success by my finishing times. I am proud not only of the races I have finished, but most of all the grit and determination I have shown.
As a coach, I now use my passion for running to encourage other runners. For the past twelve years, I have served as the head coach for the Centerville Striders XC team. I am honored to have the opportunity to run with these kids, and extremely grateful to be part of an amazing running community.
I run because running has transformed by life and allowed me to meet so many amazing people. Keep setting goals, crush those goals, and set more goals to crush! Hard work pays off!
Run Cari 