Hello everyone! I hope everyone is having a great week! After all, it is state week, and I know everyone is working extra hard in these last few practices. We started our week off with a nice hill workout on Sunday afternoon. It felt good to attack that hill as if it was the one at Choctaw. On Monday, we had our last long run of the season. That led into Tuesday, which was a track workout. We're tapering for the rest of the week with easier and shorter runs.
With state in a few days, I've had some time to think about my last six years on this team. This whole week has been rather bittersweet for me. I'm not ready for things to end, but at the same time, I wish state would hurry up and get here. Our team has grown so much this past season. I could not be any more proud. We have the best group of runners this season, and I know that they will continue to grow after I graduate this year.
I would like to take some time to thank my coaches for being such important people in my life. I wouldn't be the person who I am today if it weren't for them. Thank you all for pushing me past my limits and helping me discover that I can do anything that I set my mind to. I would like to give a special thanks to both Coach Stringer and Coach Suggett for believing in me since seventh grade. Thank you, Coach Case for always having a smile on your face even when we're all being annoying.
Also, I would like to say thank you to my co-captain, JJ Kaler. Thank you for reassuring me that everything will fall into place even when I didn't believe it. I can't thank you enough for all you've done this season. I'm so glad that we're both graduating together because I have no idea what I would do on the team without you.
I wish everyone the best of luck at state this Saturday and Monday. Go get that big PR that you've been working towards all season long. Leave everything out on the course. Don't have any regrets about your runs or your times. Continue to grow as a runner. Learn from this cross country season, and remember those lessons for as long as you possibly can. You will all go on to do big things, and I love that I can say that over the last six years, I have met the strongest and most determined people on this earth. Thank you for all the memories.
Until next week,