Improvements

Recently, if you remember, I started running cross country. I was horrible at it. I went there with an "I can't do this" attitude, I couldn't breathe, had cramps so bad that I couldn't move, and couldn't talk to anybody there (an especially big bummer, because most of the people there are guys). I hated every minute of it.

But now.

I still go to cross country a little grumpy, but mostly that's just embarrassment, because I don't like people to see how I look when I don't really try that hard to look great in the first place, then run, because, eew. I still have a little trouble breathing, but it really isn't as bad as before. I still get killer cramps, but instead of stopping/dying in a hole, I take deep breaths and run it off. I am over most of the embarrassment, so I talk to people more than I used to.

And.

Our Friday run is Cascade Springs. It is hardhardhardhardhard. The first mile is straight uphill, the next 3/4 is flat, and the last quarter mile has a very, very steep incline. And then I come back. And even though downhill is so much easier on my lungs and morale, it hurts my knees and ankles. And the flat parts kill your soul. And there are so many bends in the road that you really can't tell if you are close to the end.

So you get that that is awful, right? Good.

Well, anyway, I ran that today. I ran with different people than last time, and these people push me to go a lot further than I normally would, and they barely stop. I stayed with them the whole time, and hated the run a lot less.

And. I. Finished. Four. Minutes. Faster. Than. I. Did. Last. Time.

Four minutes, guys! That is a whole lot when you are running! That is a whole lot anywhere! Four minutes is (for me) a little less than a half-mile. I am improving so much! This makes me feel so great:] Yeah, I'm by no means the fastest freshman girl, but I am getting better, which is what I wanted to achieve in x country.

xoxo katie