Bragging Rights

Can you say Juno?

It's cross country season in high schools around the nation. That was one of the BEST things I did in high school. And I was good. I can brag about it now because I'm no good anymore.

I was the first freshman in my graduating class to earn a varsity letter in any sport. I was also the first freshman to win 'Athlete of the Week' at a pep rally. I can't tell you what a big deal that was to me. I wrote a journal entry that day about how not only did I receive this unexpected award, but I got to go up in front of the school wearing my favorite outfit (which consisted of a corduroy jumper).

I took second place in this freshman race of around 300 freshman. I won some big all-county freshman award for it. I was REALLY proud of this race.The picture isn't that great, but I was a good distance a head of the pack.

It actually took several races before my coach started letting me run varsity. He kept me on the freshman team at first. In dual meets, everyone just ran together. I was beating out the majority of the varsity girls and I'd come in anywhere from 3rd to 7th place overall. He FINALLY recognized that it was not just some fluke...that I was good enough for the team. I actually was third on the team. I'm pretty sure I never came out ahead of Myka or Pennie but I did make second on the team one time. One of them must have been out sick or something.

I'm practically a model.

And on to MORE bragging... I must not have kept all the records of my times, but I know I did come in under 20 minutes once or twice. I broke some kind of school record for a freshman girl.

I can hardly believe this was me. Man I miss running like this. I had some kind of reaction to my own adrenaline. I started blacking out during races and had to quit after my sophomore year. I can still imagine what the adrenaline feels like right before a race is about to start. It's so exciting. I love it.


And aside from being good, I had so much fun with the cross country team. Summer practices were a blast. We'd run at like 7:00am all summer long. It made for easy summer plans. The team would all hit the beach after practice (or sometimes for practice). Or head over to someones pool. OR just make plans to meet back up at the bowling alley, the movies, the mall or the park. It was such a goofy, care-free group of kids. I have memories of waiting for a race bus at 5:00am and dancing in the headlights of friends cars. And hitting Miguel's Jr. after EVERY race. And pasta parties the night before races. And endless amounts of ultimate frisbee. These were GREAT friends.

Sophomore year...again with the modeling...the wind in the hair is a nice touch.

Oh to be 14 again. Not really, but I would love to run like that again. I'm no where close.