Ready for Track to Start


Dear Mississippi MileSplit,

 The last time I was writing to you, I was less than a week out from the MHSAA 6A State Cross Country Championships. Since the last article I wrote, I was blessed to achieve my goal of becoming a 6A All-State runner by earning a 7th place finish at the state meet, in a time of 17:01 on the 5k course. Achieving that goal was something I had been seeking for a very long time and come near to in years past. As a team, the Brandon Bulldogs boys finished in 8th place at the state meet, a great place for a very young team who will return almost all of its runners next season.

After the state meet, while others were going to postseason races such as Nike regionals or Footlocker, I decided to take some time off to let my body recover from the rigorous cross country season and to begin preparations for the long awaited track season. The miles of late November through January were often very cold and at times quite lonely. As author of Once a Runner John L. Parker Jr. states, the "secret" that many people ask of distance runners in how we do what we do, is in the "heartrending process of removing, molecule by molecule, the very tough rubber that comprises the bottom of training shoes. The Trial of Miles; Miles of Trials." It was during these months of miles of trials that I retracted back into my very reason for running: for the love of the run. My winter running instilled in me a longing for this upcoming track season, and the opportunity to do what I love once again. I am beyond ready for this outdoor season to begin and I hope you are as well! See you in a few weeks!

                                                                                                            Sincerely,

                                                                                                            Austin Bourne, Brandon High School

Austins 
Personal Records
  • 800m (in) - 2:08.65
  • 800m - 2:15.59
  • 1600m (in) - 4:42.44
  • 1600m - 4:40.16
  • 3200m - 10:30.25
  • 4K (xc) - 13:16.84
  • 5K (xc) - 16:55.35