Nov. 24, 2008 (Final Entry)
I have been putting off writing this today because I know that when I do the season will officially be over. What an incredible season it was! We had a sort of bitter-sweet ending to the season as we raced in Kenosha, Wisconsin at the NAIA National Championship this past weekend.
We left for Wisconsin at 8:00 on Thursday morning. It was a long, but fun bus ride as we were all excited about the race on Saturday. This was finally the race we had been looking forward to all season. All of our training over the past five months came down to this one race, on this one day. We felt confident as we jogged the course on Thursday afternoon. We had already raced on this course earlier in the season and felt like we knew every hill and turn on the course that would challenge us during the race. We talked about strategy, of getting a quick start and staying strong through the second mile which was mostly all down hill.
We had another chance to run at the park on Friday afternoon and get acclimated to the cold temperatures that we would be running in the next day. Earlier that morning, we were informed that it was only 17 degrees! We bundled up and headed to the course. We tried to stay off the hills as much as we could and just ran a few miles around the park. That night we ate our normal pre-race meal at Fazoli’s. Eating at this restaurant has become tradition for the cross country teams and this evening was no exception! There was a lot of pasta consumed as we loaded up on the carbs for the next day.
It has also become tradition to have a team meeting back at the hotel in Coach’s room the night before our race. We change the spikes in our shoes, talk a little bit about strategy for the following day and pick up some Gatorade and power bars. More important than all of these pre-race preparations though, is the time that we take to share verses and encouragement with each other and pray together. Our time this evening was especially sweet as those parents who had come for the meet were also invited to our meeting. For some of us seniors, there were some tears as we realized that this was the last time we would ever meet like this. The tears did not last long, though as we all piled onto Coach’s bed for a picture and then stayed there giggling for awhile as we talked about memories from past seasons and the fun times we have had throughout this season.
Saturday morning began early with a quick breakfast at the hotel before we loaded the bus to head to the course. Race time was 10:30 and we wanted to be there in plenty of time to check in and get our numbers. It was a good thing, too! We each had to wear four different numbers: one number on our front, one on the back and one on each side of our shorts. We also had to tie a timing chip into each of our shoes that we would wear in the race so that our time and place could be recorded easily.
Before we knew it, we were lined up along the starting line with the other 31 teams. When the gun went off, the seven of us took off with the rest of the 320 runners in the race to meet our first challenge: a monstrous hill. The race flew by and soon we were crowded together in the finish chute trying to catch our breath which was especially difficult in the chilly morning air. It had been difficult in this huge race to stay together as a team as we have done in most of the races this season, but as I finished and looked around, I realized that we all were only separated by a few runners. We had run a good race, but also knew that our biggest competition, Azusa Pacific, had also run very well.
Later we found out that we had placed second as a team and that Azusa had beat us by 31 points. We were a little disappointed as we heard the news because we had wanted to win so badly. For some of us, this was our third time being runners-up at this meet and we had been geared up to win for awhile. At the same time, we were reminded by one of the many dedicated alumni who came to support us, that we all ran a great race and many teams that ran with us would have loved to be in our position. That was a great reminder to us and helped us to look on the positive aspects of our race.
We all ran great times, several of us ran personal-best times and two girls broke 18:00 for the first time! We had fun throughout the race and we were able to help each other along when it got tough. We realized, once again, just how much we need each other as teammates and as friends. When one teammate did not feel her best during the race, two others were able to take over and run harder in her place. We encouraged each other when we could run together, even for a short time. We held onto each other at the end of the race and helped each other stand as our legs just wanted to give out. We laughed together and cried together. We realized that God helped us once again to run our best and He lifted us up in His hands to make us great! (Psalm 18:35)
It was a long ride home for me as I thought back on the season, remembering all of the fun I had with my teammates. I thought back on every race this season and how much fun it was to run with these girls. I have never worked so hard before in my life and, at the same time, had so much fun! We have been through so much together and these girls will remain my friends forever. I realized that we do not need a championship banner to remind us of all of the fun we have had together. I’m sure that would have been quickly forgotten over the years, yet what will last are all of the memories that we have made together, the pictures that have been taken, the lessons we have learned about ourselves and about working together with others. These things are what will last forever and what I will cherish for years to come.
Nov. 17, 2008
It seems like every race is a little more fun! It’s too bad that we only have one race left! I am just amazed after every single race to see how each of us in our own unique way contributed to the race. It may seem like cross country isn’t much of a team sport, but this season I have seen how much of a team sport it is! It is so neat how we each run a little differently and help each other at different parts of the race.
Some of us have a fast start and pull the others along. Then when we start to feel tired, other girls take over and run the second half faster and we just hang on to them as long as we can. It is so fun to see the abilities that God has given us and see how He has placed us together to create such a special group of runners!
This weekend we ran the National Christian College Championship meet. The meet was at our home course and it was very wet and cold. That didn’t seem to bother any of us. We were excited just the same to race! Many of us had family and friends who came out to watch the race and support us even on a day that was not very spectator-friendly. I’m glad that our race was first because it was only just sprinkling rain during our race, but by the time the guys’ race began, it was cold enough to snow and did begin snowing soon after they were finished!
On Friday afternoon some of the girls on our team ran in the open race and it was so neat to be able to watch them compete! Emily, Jen and Lucy did so well and I felt so proud of them as they covered our home course in some of their best times of the season! It was so great to be able to have these girls’ support on Saturday as well as they ran all over the course to cheer us on. I think their voices were some of the loudest out there as they knew exactly what we were going through!
As I personally went into this race, I did not feel very prepared as I had just been through a pretty hard week at school. I am an education major and am currently in my field experience in a second grade classroom. I am learning a lot through this experience, but it is difficult at times as I am a perfectionist. I had a lot on my mind after school on Friday afternoon, but when I saw my friends, I just knew I could run the next day because I just have so much fun running with my teammates and I just feel so much support from them. I know that they pray for me and they care so much!
Another thing that helped me to focus before the race on Saturday was our team chaplain, Joy. As she prayed for us in our little huddle right before the gun went off, she asked that God would help us to not run burdened down, but that He would lift us up and help us to run light. I feel like this is exactly what God did for me throughout the race. I did not feel burdened down by anything whether it was problems at school or emotions of this being my last race on our home course, nothing. Throughout this race, God helped me to have fun!
I am so excited about next week’s race as is the rest of my team! I know that God will help us all to run light one more time!
Nov. 10, 2008
No one but God could have put the girls on this team together. Sure, Coach King had a little something to do with it, but we have realized throughout this season just how blessed each one of us are to be able to be a part of this cross country team. As some of us seniors were talking about the other day in the ice tub, every year we are sad to see the season come to an end, sad to have our team dynamics change as we lose some runners and gain different ones. At the end of the season we always say, "Next year cannot be better than this year!" Yet, every season has been better then the one before it and, as we have all agreed, this has been the best season yet!
From the first day of team camp in August, we all felt an immediate bond. Even our three freshmen jumped right in and we felt like we had been together forever. That feeling has lasted throughout this entire season, even as we began competing. I would even say that we become even closer after each race that we run as we help each other through every step of the 3.1 mile course.
It is such a privilege to be able to have the chance to run with the girls on this team. I have never been part of such a group where my teammates are more concerned with others than they are about themselves. There are some teams out there where there is competition not only between different teams, but among the members of one’s own team as well. I have seen none of that while running with these girls at Cedarville. It doesn’t matter who comes in first or in what order we cross the finish line as long as we can do it together.
When we are running together we feel stronger and feel like we can do anything. There are times throughout the races we run when we lean on each other and the support is always there. When I see a teammate in front of me I just know that I can keep running hard because we have done it before and we will be able to do it together again. There has not been a race that has gone by when I haven’t heard a comment between teammates such as, "I wouldn’t have made it if you weren’t there" or "I’m so glad you were in front of me, you helped me push to the end."
Not only do we lean on our teammates throughout a race, we have learned to lean on God for the strength that we need to make it to the finish line. I have had teammates quote our team verse to me during a race which has helped me to stop running in my own strength and realize that God is so much more powerful and He can carry me through.
Before one of our races this season, Coach challenged us to think about how fast we could run if we really depended on God’s strength. I think that really helped us to focus on the real source of our strength for our race and see God’s power through our running. We have two team verses this year that have been so helpful to us and applicable to our outlook on the season. Psalm 18:35 reminds us that it is God’s hand that sustains us and He, in His power, stoops down to make us great! And along with that, Psalm 115:1 says "Not to us, O Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory!" We want God to be seen through our running and we have certainly seen His hand on our team throughout this season.
I realize that every race we run is one more closer to the end of our season, and for me, the end of my running career at college. That thought makes me feel sad because I have enjoyed every day that I have had with my friends on this team. I realized the other day when we were preparing to run 400’s on the track that I have not dreaded a single practice this season; instead I have looked forward to working hard with my teammates.
We only have two meets left but these are the races that we have been looking forward to all season. We have big goals for the end of our season and we are excited about what lies ahead, but I know that whatever happens in the next two weeks, I will be happy with the memories that I have made with my wonderful friends this team.
Brittany Simpson is a senior, four-year distance runner for the Lady Jackets from Kennebunk, Maine. She is a Dean's List student majoring in early childhood education.
