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Hi everyone!
I apologize for not writing an entry last week. A lot has happened since the KVAC meet. I regained my confidence and began to look forward to my races like I usually do. Although my past two races have been rather disappointing (I just discovered I have an iron deficit, so hopefully fixing this will help), I've noticed that no matter how miserably I perform, the running community remains supportive.
One of the reasons why I've always enjoyed running is because of the people who are involved in the sport. Running is demanding, both mentally and physically, and such a challenging regime requires a special type of person. One needs to be driven, determined, strong, hard working, and morally sound in order to succeed. Yet this type of person is often the friendliest, happiest, and most positive and genuine person out there. The fact that running is so challenging means that success can be hard to achieve alone, which fosters a sense of teamwork and togetherness that pervades the sport. Ever since I was little, the friendly atmosphere was infectious--competitors wishing each other good luck before a race, giving each other congratulatory hugs and handshakes after; parents who cheer for kids on opposing teams; fans who clap for the runners straggling to the finish minutes behind everyone else. People who are a part of this community understand running's risks, disappointments, and rewards, and they use their experience to not only help themselves, but other runners, too.
After writing my last entry, I gave a sigh of relief, thinking that I wouldn't have to deal with that blog again. I never expected that it would receive so much positive feedback. Parents, coaches, teachers, and fellow runners told me they appreciated my blog, that it helped them. Some even said that it inspired them. Thank you for all of the kind comments, but I feel as if other runners have helped me so much more.
Pushing my way through the "Pain Cave" and up the last grassy hill last Saturday, I saw the dense crowd lining the course. The atmosphere was noisy, but I realized that the fans were not screaming in an intimidating or overly intense way. Instead, they were all cheering for me. Some were people I knew, but many I was unable to recognize (not that I was really looking at the sidelines all that much). I heard a variety of comments from "Abby! You can still do it!" to just "Go Abby!"--all were positive and motivating. And that was how the fans, parents, and coaches had been for the entire race. Even when the race was over, people happily congratulated me. Although Saturday's race was not my best, people supported me just as much (or perhaps even more so) than they would if I had had a great race. This is a true indicator of a caring community, and I feel so thankful to be a part of it. Knowing that there are people who will support you no matter what happens is one of the best feelings ever. Now that's inspiration.
-Abby Mace
