~Max Yerid, Class of 2023

An uphill-running battle

If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you.

~Fred DeVito

Challenge is a plague to us all. The amount of times that I’ve done something without any form of adversity is slim to none. Whether I’m in the classroom, running in cross country or even just playing games by myself, there are hardships embedded within all of my actions. A reward will not be awarded until a challenge is overcome.

It’s a clear day, about seventy-five degrees outside; too hot for my liking. The first cross country practice is taking place by the bleachers overlooking the baseball field. The team – including me – gathers around Mr. Duane as he instructs us to line up.  Once we form a line, we face ward hall and lean forward. He shouts, and we all go running. 

We dart around the field to the backstop, back up to the bleachers and around again, going onto the turf field. I have already fallen behind most, but I run in a group with everyone else who has left in the back. We go around the turf and in front of the benches housing water bottles for the football team. The ground turns from the bright green fake grass of the turf to the deep brown mulch, darkened by the hasty footsteps of the other runners. I feel my legs getting tired, my lungs puffing air as fast as they can, but not fast enough. I walk once upon the broken concrete. I can’t push myself too much, or else I might lose my lunch. I walk until I hit the downhill slope on the path to the north campus. This is my favorite part of the course, and it gives me a boost in confidence; I can do this. I use the momentum of the downhill to push me; make me run faster and farther, for I have had enough rest. Everyone else is far ahead of me, but I keep going until I hit the canoes. I stop to walk, but only until the bend. I run up and down the side hill and into the inner loop. I may be dead last, but I’m still going to try. I run to the house, walk a bit, run up the hill back to the main campus, walk a bit, and sprint with the remainder of my energy back around the turf and around the baseball field. I coast past the unmarked finish line and relax. 

The run is done; I have not won, but I had fun. All it takes is a little confidence to change attitude and make a problem seem leisurely. Be positive – it will make any trial easier.

A change in mind triggers a change in pace.