April 12

Run Your Race

Don’t Stop Running Until the Race is Over

Runners know this mantra. They’ve heard their coaches say it. They’ve been trained to run through the finish line. Don’t look to the right or left but focus on finishing strong. Their bodies are willing but sometimes their minds take them off course.

One unfortunate example was Molly Huddle, a U.S. runner, who ran the 10,000 meter race in the 2015 Olympics in Beijing, China. She had run a good race and was on track to win a bronze medal but she eased up near the finish line and raised her arm to start celebrating when her teammate didn’t slow down. Huddle missed being an Olympic bronze medalist because she relaxed before the finish line.

I was a Junior Olympian track athlete who loved to run. I know what it means to run through the finish line. My success depended on staying focused. I competed in the 400 m. hurdles, high jump, and I anchored my team’s 4 x 400 m. relay. This relay was the last event of the night and the most exciting. Our teammates were our biggest cheerleaders as they staggered themselves around the track to cheer us on to victory. Often, we needed to win this relay (and points) in order to win the track meet as a team. I considered it an honor to anchor this important relay race. I focused and ran “in the zone” where no distractions could get to me. I gave it my all and I never let up until my chest hit and passed through the string of the finish line. It didn’t matter what kind of lead I had or didn’t have. My focus was on finishing strong and doing the best I could do knowing that I didn’t hold anything back.

This is my bit of coaching advice to all of my literature students. We are in the final weeks of school. Let’s say that you’re running the anchor of the 4 x 400 m. relay. You’ve ran 300 meters but you have 100 meters left to run. This final stretch can be the most challenging for most students as you’ve been working hard all semester. You may be at the front of the race and think you can coast or you seem to be behind the pack in the race and don’t see how you can surge ahead. Regardless of your position, now is not the time to quit running.

Now is the time to focus and give all that you have left to study and learn. Now is the time to attend all classes – be involved in discussions and responsible for your learning. This last 100 meters (so to speak) can bring you a successful finish if you run through the finish line. Now is not the time to ease up or celebrate too early. Now is not the time to quit and think that your effort doesn’t matter. Now is the time to bring your best into the classroom. Run your race. Finish strong and don’t stop running until the race is over.

 

Category: 9th Grade Literature | LEAVE A COMMENT