Track and Pain

While I was reading our assignment, the first thing that came to mind was my high school track career. Back home, everyone thought the only way I could make it to college was through my running. Running was my passion; only problem was I was never meant to be a runner.


Freshmen year, both my coach and principle had high expectations for me. It was my first year and I thought I could do anything, and all I wanted to do was run. On the way to my first meet I got into a car accident. I should have taken it as a sign but didn't. The funny thing is that I actually got third that day in the final round of the 50m dash. After awhile all the girls on the team started to treat me different, and not in a good way. They would say the only reason I run so much was because I was the coach's favorite. So I started working more with relays. We where so close to making it to state, our times were perfect for more then four weeks. However, before reginals, I tore my quad in seven different places. I was dumb and didn't tell anyone, as a result I ended up collapsed on the track unable to walk. I felt like my life was crushed, not only did I let myself down, but I let my team down. I spent the rest of the year on crutches waiting for the next season.

My sophomore year I learned that all my injures were caused by my bunions, I was born with them. The doctors said that I was two young to have surgery on them, but if I didn't I would not be able to run track anymore. So, I researched and found a physician who would do it. Now that I look back I can't believe that I went through all this just to run for only a few more years. So my sophomore and junior year I had surgery, only I was stupid again and started walking early and then started running again when my bones were not fully healed.

You know that moment when your body can't take it and yet you still try. I don't know how many times I went past that point. I was a sprinter running on my toes that had been completely severed; I can't believe how stupid I was. But running was my life, and I had to start all over again. I ran as hard as I could and more than once I had to be carried off the track. I finally felt like I could make my dreams of running track in college true. My senior year my doctor told my mom that if I keep running the way I was, that soon I would be paralyzed. I only cried once before like the way I did then. I felt like I was ripping in two, on one side my mom and teachers and some of my close friends wanted me to quit. On the other my dreams were on the line. My dad got it so I could still run but I had to promise my mom that I would stop if I felt even a little pain, I also had to promise that this would be my last year of track.

My last track meet I got fourth place in the 200m run, that was the last race I ran. I never felt as proud as I did then, I ran all four of my races and even thought my foot felt like the screws were coming out. Even though I couldn't walk for a week after wards-it didn't matter. I will never forget that feeling. The feeling you get while running is that of which you can do anything and all there is in the world- is you and the track.  Every time I ran I felt free, so I believe those moments are my finest moments.