A new runner in the family. . . from Maisie

At the beginning of this year, I wanted to do a sport, something HARD, something CHALLENGING. So I did something CRAZY and did cross country. It was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life! I would go and run for an hour and half after school every day down on our junky track for three months. I learned how to pace myself, control my muscles and how to breathe patiently. My dad told me that David did cross country. So I dedicated the season in honor of him because it was something he did and I wanted to be like him. 

On the first day of try outs, I was really nervous and scared I wouldn't make it. I had to run 2 miles in 17minutes and 30 seconds. I had 2 chances, once on the first day of school and again the next week. On the first try, I ran all out and only made it 3 laps, I told my coach that I couldn't do it and that I would try again next week. He let me go, but I felt like a failure. I didn't know what was wrong with me! I just gave up. I went and sat in a corner while the rest of the people tryed out. As I watched each one of them cross the finish line I just remained silent. I was thinking, “I WILL make it next week. I WILL make it next week!” I went home sad and depressed. But I was confident I would make it next week.

The rest of the week the coach let me come and practice with the team. I tried and tried to catch up witheveryone else, but I was too slow and too out of shape. I kept putting myself down saying "I'm only a freshman" or " I can't do this" or "I'm soooooooo slow" or "I NEED WATER!!!" And I just kept on getting slower and slower as I would run, but I kept pushing harder and harder.

The next tryout came, and I was ready. I had run every day after the last tryouts and felt confident that Iwould make it. I tried and tried. The cut off time was 17:30, I ran 8 laps(2 miles) in 17:45. I was 15 seconds late, and devastated. I tried to control my tears, but they came flowing down anyway. I went home again sad and depressed.

The coach is also my first period Spanish teacher, so I was kinda scared to go to class and talk to him aboutmaybe letting me on the team because I was only 15 seconds off the cut off time. But to my surprise, he wanted to talk to me after class anyway. I was ecstatic! He called me over to his desk and asked me if I wanted to be on the team because they needed 7 girls and only 6 of the girls made the time of 17:30, and because I was only 15 seconds off. I said yes and thanked him and went about my day with a smile on my face :) it was truly a miracle. I knew David was pulling some strings up there, helping my coach decide to let me on the team.

In about the 5th week of the season, I had my first race. I was so nervous and scared that I thought I wasgoing to throw up and die, but I didn't, I had a small amount of confidence growing in me from the thought of doing this for David. The race was 3 miles long, and I ran it in 29 minutes. Not my best time, but it was my first race and I wasn't last. So in my mind I did good.

I kept training and then came my next race at the hardest course on the island. It's the hardest because ithas this monster hill that we have to run up 2 separate times. I ran that race in 29 minutes also even though it was a harder track. During the whole season I thought of David and his accomplishments. I thought of him during my races and during my practices. I also thought of him whenever I thought of falling onto the ground. The thought of him made me carry on and keep running especially during my sprints. I also thought of things that made me happy while I ran, like my family and friends. One thing that really kept me running was the thought of ice cold water at the finish line. Ahhhhhhhh. That made me so hopeful :) I remember during one practice, I thought "if I were to die right now, and have a final wish, I would wish for ice water and I would die happy”. I was so desperate that I sprinted my last mile and gulped down a little less than a gallon of water. It was so refreshing and I was so happy.

I'm so grateful for my uncle David and his example he set for me to do cross country. He is such anincredible inspiration and I love him. At my last race, I finished 24 minutes which was my fastest time. From 29 to 24 in 3 months, I am so proud of myself.

THANKS UNCLE DAVID!! I LOVE YOU!!
Maisie Kenney