passion and sincerity calls for support

Yesterday something happened to me and it was at Cross Country practice.

Mac was reviewing how we all did in the Lake Park invite. We applauded Emily Gallop for running 45 seconds better and being 4th out of god knows how many and Angela for running about 2 minutes better than last year. I was happy for them and applauded and all of a sudden Mac says "But you know what you guys, I make fun of Hanan a lot."....OK?
"I don't mean to make fun of her but I do because I make fun of people I like. She was sad on the bus on Saturday for I don't know why. It's people like her that inspires me to run. She comes to practice everyday with a smile, well so does Emily, and is always eager to improve. She's come a long way since the summer and I'm very proud of her." This is the part when I started getting tears in my eyes. He said some more things in it but I wasn't able to catch it all. I didn't expect this but Mac really gave me credit and all I wanted to say was "What about the other girls?" but after the whole scene he just said "Enough of this mushiness. Let's get to crunches"

I always liked Mac. Well during the summer I was kind of not used to how hard he can be on athletes but I realized he's only that way because he believes in you. When Mac sets a goal for you he thought it out through and believes that if you the runner practice you'll get there in no time. Mac taught me to never cut myself short and always try hard. Don't ever give up.

I feel sort of spoiled at the moment because I'm getting so much support. Passion and sincerity calls for some support I guess but yea Mac really made my day and I told him thank you and said "I have a goal of being able to run like Emily one day." He replies. "Well work hard and hopefully you'll get there."

my inspiration

If anyone cares to read about this, here it is.

My inspiration as a runner.

Well during the end of 7th grade a girl asked if I would like to join track. I accept the challenge knowing that I've never really done sports and that I'm really bad at them, especially running.

So during that time my coach had be run just half a mile for races, which was OK since I was scared of running half a mile and a mile. I really stunk for the half mile always ending up last and walking some of it.

8th grade comes and I join Cross Country. I wanted to start loosing weight and feeling great and just getting active. The reaction that most of the guys had anyway was "Are you kidding me?" While we would just run laps in the back of Keller Junior High where we have "the hill" a guy tells me "No one likes you." Just like that. I was hurt and struggling of course until I come across a teacher named Mrs. Naaf. If it wasn't for her I wouldn't have improved so much. She's in her fifties but still pretty good. She got me through the tough times and we helped each other out. After the Cross Country season we started running twice a week together. I was happy and felt proud. B

But as weeks past by she got busy and we sort of stopped the twice a week running thing until Track and Field came into season. That's when I really kicked the ball. This girl named Lauren was really fast and played travel soccer but was doing only the high jump so she decided to run with me before she had to practice. That's when I ran my first two miles with her. I was really tired but she kept me going and she slowed down for me and everything. I was so happy and then for three weeks I stop running after school ends.

I see a summer school list for Schuamburg High School and I decide to take Cross Country training for the whole summer. Hey like I had anything better to do. My first few weeks running with Mac was difficult. I got lost two times and yea Macnider wasn't really pleased with me and I don't think he saw strong potential in me. As the rest of the months pass by I was getting better but still nothing special happened.

Until school begins.

My first meet against Buffalo Grove at Hoover, Mac only has me run a mile. A mile?!?!?! I spend the whole summer running 2 and then 3 mile road runs and working on the track and everything and all I have to show for is a stupid mile? I didn't even know when the mile ended so I wasn't going as fast as I should have. I was so upset and I don't know it got to me real hard and I just was down in the dumps. I knew I had to show Mac that I could do better.

Then the next meet against Hoffman Estates comes and well the weather was crummy. Mac saw how much harder I worked ever since he only had me do a mile and since I was trying to show him I can do it he let me do 2 miles and a half. Well I still ended last, not to far from the girl ahead of me, with about 25:14 time. Not the best but I hopefully will improve.

Then we had the Lake Park invitational today and well it was exciting and I ran an 18:30 2 miles (the coarse was farely flat) and I came in 259 out of 282. Mac saw I was upset and well I kind of was because I felt like I didn't try hard enough and I was so afraid of trying too hard and slowing down and everything and I should have sprinted harder instead of just increasing my pace but negativity will not get me anywhere.

I met a muslim girl there and I cheered for her on the JV race and although she got last place out of like 200 people, I felt like she deserved something for trying. She hugged me and said "Thank you" and I told her "No problem. I know how it feels just keep working at it and you'll do great." I don't care if your fast or slow or black or white or from a competing school. I just want you to... well to try harder but most importantly to do your best and even if you didn't try your best it's alright just don't quit. "There's no Elevator to Success, You have to take the Stairs."

Oh and by the way Janeth Salazar!!!! Even though It's been about 20 years since you ran at Schuamburg High School I am still a fan of yours and would like to know all your secrets on running and everything!!!!!