I have loved cross country since my first season.

I remember in junior high loving volleyball, but never being very good (despite my best efforts to change that). When the time came to choose a fall sport for my freshman year of high school, I was torn. I loved volleyball, but I had so much potential as a runner. My junior high track coach was the high school cross country coach, and he had a very real (and very persuasive) conversation with me that swayed me to cross country. I ran JV all year but I worked hard and loved every minute. My sophomore year, something changed. I still don't know what happened, but somehow... I was fast. And it was pretty awesome, I'm not going to lie! Suddenly I was running varsity, winning races, and qualifying for state. It was incredible.

I went on to run state my junior and senior years as well, and ran cross country for two years in college. After my sophomore season, God made it abundantly clear that it was time to take a break from competitive running. So I did. But my love for running never faded. Now, I've been given the incredible opportunity to help coach a local high school team, and I could not be more excited. We have our first meet this Saturday, and I'm absolutely stoked to be there to watch and encourage our athletes as they compete. I remember the adrenaline of that so well, and the impact my own coach had on me in high school. I only hope I can make as much of a difference in the lives of the athletes I now have the blessing and opportunity to coach as he did in mine. (Coach Leach, if you are reading this, thank you. I am eternally grateful to you for fostering my love for running, pushing me to be the best I can be, and showing me what it looks like to lead and live out a christian life in a secular world. You went above and beyond in so many ways, and in my senior year, you and your family became such an integral part of my support system when my world was falling apart. "Thank you" will never be enough.)

This morning, one of the coaches and I spoke with one of our athletes about the upcoming race on Saturday. He was nervous she was going to come out too hard at the start of the race and burn out before the race was finished, and advised against it. And while this is very practical advice when it comes to running, it's also very practical advice when it comes to life in general. There is a reason that Scripture likens the christian walk to a race. It's not a sprint, it's a marathon. And if we sprint out of the gates, we burn out before the race is over. But if we reserve and preserve our energy wisely, we can complete the race in an exceptional manner. I pray that when I meet God face to face, I can say with confidence as Timothy does:

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 

2 Timothy 4:7

P.S. Please enjoy the cover photo of my team preparing for the state meet in 2011. Such fond memories. Such great girls.