Growing up, I was known by everyone as “The Cheerleader.” To my friends, family, and even strangers, you did not have me without a big bow and Nike Pros. When it came to a point where I decided I had to quit, I did not know what I would do with my life. How would I spend my winters if not traveling up and down the coast to compete? Would people still know who I was, or would I disappear into the background as just a normal person? It was then that several close friends pointed me in the direction of running Cross Country for my high school.

I had experience running with the dreaded middle school gym class mile and short runs for when I needed to condition during the cheerleading offseason, but I never considered myself good at it. I was nervous enough joining the team as a sophomore, but not knowing if I could be as successful at running as I was with cheerleading put a very uncomfortable feeling in the pit of my stomach.

As it turns out, Cross Country was like the missing piece to my puzzle. With every exhausting practice, anxiety-filled race, and pasta dinner complete with fights over cannolis, I could feel my life coming together. Whether it was helping schoolwork, running, or life itself, I was learning something new everyday to better my life.

First and foremost, joining a sport where the majority of what you do is just running helps you lead an incredibly healthy lifestyle. Six days a week strengthens your core and legs, while at the same time as building endurance improving the work of your lungs. Of course, running takes a lot of energy, so runners tend to stick to eating healthy fruits such as bananas and salads. Eating healthy and consistently exercising promises a strong heart and body. I dropped my daily breakfast and dinner of Brown Sugar Poptarts, preferring to my grab a smoothie or salad instead, which came as a bit of a shock to everyone who knows me.

With long hours of practice right after school, I always found myself drowning in homework when I got home. Knowing that I had little time to get everything that I needed to get done, time management quickly became a very useful tool to have. I learned how to eliminate distractions and focus in on what I needed to do.

The most important change that came from running was to myself as a person. Running is a sport that is both physically and mentally taxing. It requires determination and the ability to make yourself keep pushing through the hard times when all you want to do is stop and walk. You need to be able to run for up to thirty minutes at a pace that is anything but comfortable. Because of cross country, I have learned how to keep going when going gets tough. As it turns out, running came easier to me than I had expected. Every week I found my times getting faster and faster, typically coming in with the front of the team. Seeing how successful I could be at something so new built me the strong self-esteem any high schooler needs.

With all of the changes to my life that came with running, I was supported by my teammates. My teammates were girls I had known since grade school, girls I have never met in my life, and girls who I previously deeply disliked. With time and excruciating practices, over the years my teammates have grown to be some of my best friends. As someone with has an unfortunate history of toxic friendships, there is nothing I appreciate more than running, for it has given me friends who I love and care for with all of my heart. Running has changed my life, and there is nothing I am more grateful more than this ability to push one leg in front of the other, hearing the pitter-patter of sneakers against concrete.