If you're an athlete, you can attest to the fact that playing sports has not only kept your body in shape, but it has also shaped you into the person you are now.

The lessons that I've learned from being a cross country and track runner have shaped me into the person I am now, and I’m all the better for it.

Before cross country, I had no clue how long a mile was. I also had no clue what it was like to feel pain during a sport. So, what did cross country teach me? Both of those things, and then some.

It taught me how to pace myself for an eight-mile run. It taught me how to push through cramps that didn't go away after the first mile of a race. It taught me how to stay mentally tough during a race in 100-degree heat (not an exaggeration) when a runner collapsed to the ground beside me, and I felt like I would be next. It taught me how to give everything I had left, even when I thought there was nothing left inside of me.

More than that though, cross country taught me about the power of encouragement. When it was pouring rain during a race and there was a steep hill ahead with runners slipping as they struggled to crawl up it, hearing, "You can do this!" or "Pump your arms up that hill!" from a coach, friend or family member went a long way.

Being part of a cross country team also taught me what it meant to be a true teammate and friend. Fact: there is almost nothing as strong as a bond between cross country teammates. I discovered that friends who held my arms above my head when it was hard to breathe, embraced me when I was a crying, sweaty mess and picked gnats out of my hair after long runs on hot days were true friends.

As a member of a track and field team, I learned how to appreciate the unique talents of others. I learned that not all track athletes look like cross country runners, but that doesn't make them any less talented. Throwers are capable of things that hurdlers can't do, while sprinters and distance runners would die before having to trade events with each other. We all have our strengths and weaknesses.

Track also changed how I approach challenges. Making it to States in an individual event, successfully getting through ONE SET of single-arm snatches in the weight room and surviving the 400-meter hurdles after hurdling for less a week were all feats that seemed impossible to me. But with determination, instruction from coaches, support from teammates and strength that I believe came completely from God, I was able to achieve all of those things. I can always look back on the most difficult track experiences that God carried me through and take comfort in knowing that He will never fail to provide me with the strength to face any of my future challenges.

Running has provided me with so many valuable lessons and experiences over the past eight years, and I am forever grateful to my middle school, high school and collegiate teammates and coaches for everything they have taught me, as well.

But the best part about being a runner is that, though my competitive cross country and track days are coming to an end, I can continue to learn from running for the rest of my life.