Looking back and moving forward

Camilla Bykhovsky, Sports Editor
April 30, 2015

I have been running on the cross-country and track teams since my freshman year, going  through eight seasons of training, competing, losing and winning. I always thought I would be able to finish my last season strong and competitively to move on to run in college, but that is not the case.
Training for track began strong this season, and I felt that this would be my season to make up for my cross-country season which I was barely able to compete due to my knee injury.
My hard work from previous seasons and the physical stress I put myself through paid off when college coaches told me I could qualify as a walk-on, but when my knee pain began to come back, I knew that I had pushed myself too far.
After explaining my situation to the coaches, they gave me the option of red-shirting the season, practicing with the team, but not competing. I don’t want to disappoint myself yet again by beginning a workout strong but limping across the finish line.
As much as I do not want to admit it, I know that running in college will not be an option.
Looking back on my high school career, I can confidently say that when I was not injured or in pain, I gave every workout and every race my all, and I know there is nothing I had left in me that I did not give during the race.
The experience now makes me appreciate what I have in the moment and not take things for granted.
Going into college but not having to go to practice everyday, I must be my own motivation and find other physical ways which I can workout that I enjoy, besides running.
Even though I will not be competing in college, I will always be able to look back at my experience on the team as a positive one which motivated me and taught me the importance of having a team to rely on, but also the importance of having people rely on me.

I have been running on the cross-country and track teams since my freshman year, going  through eight seasons of training, competing, losing and winning. I always thought I would be able to finish my last season strong and competitively to move on to run in college, but that is not the case.

Training for track began strong this season, and I felt that this would be my season to make up for my cross-country season which I was barely able to compete due to my knee injury.

My hard work from previous seasons and the physical stress I put myself through paid off when college coaches told me I could qualify as a walk-on, but when my knee pain began to come back, I knew that I had pushed myself too far.

After explaining my situation to the coaches, they gave me the option of red-shirting the season, practicing with the team, but not competing. I don’t want to disappoint myself yet again by beginning a workout strong but limping across the finish line.

As much as I do not want to admit it, I know that running in college will not be an option.

Looking back on my high school career, I can confidently say that when I was not injured or in pain, I gave every workout and every race my all, and I know there is nothing I had left in me that I did not give during the race.

The experience now makes me appreciate what I have in the moment and not take things for granted.

Going into college but not having to go to practice everyday, I must be my own motivation and find other physical ways which I can workout that I enjoy, besides running.

Even though I will not be competing in college, I will always be able to look back at my experience on the team as a positive one which motivated me and taught me the importance of having a team to rely on, but also the importance of having people rely on me.