1. Running Reputation<br />Hannah Moulds<br />Mr. Kabachia<br />Humanities 30-1<br />October 23rd 2009<br />June 2004<br />The big track day was coming up fast; I knew I had to work really hard in order to beat the record for the 800M run. I have never considered running to be competitive until now. My competitive side of me took over, I wanted nothing more than the win that race. So on track day, I ran the race of my life. I beat the record by just a few seconds, but I did it. It was amazing how much attention I got after that race. My friends and family told me how great I was, I was very proud of myself. <br />September 2004<br />My parents and I decided that I should attend the new school in Lacombe, Terrace Ridge School. It was a great idea because the student body was more involved in the typical school sports; almost everyone in our grade seven class joined the popular sports that were available to us. But one day a teacher approach me about a sport I have never been familiar with, cross-country running. It seemed like a good idea, all I had to do was run a couple of 3km races. So I decided I would give it a try. Running is something that came naturally to me, so I never attended many practices, but when it came to race day, I did fantastic. I won every single race that I was involved in. My family and friends were blown away, even my peers at the other schools knew about how well I ran. <br />June 2005<br />It is track season once again, but it seemed very different to me now. I no longer just wanted to beat one record; I wanted to win every single race. I knew that I would do well, but that just didn’t seem to be enough for me. When I got to the Wolfcreek Track Day I could hear people saying, “That’s her! That’s the girl that always wins, I wish I could run like her!” I couldn’t believe that complete strangers knew who I was. That is when the pressure started; I had never felt so nervous for a race. After I ran that race, I threw up all over the track. I never realized how nervous I actually was until that moment. When that track day was over, all I could think about was how much people relied on me to win. I instantly got a pit in my stomach. The pressure of my friends and family was enough, but now I have the pressure of complete strangers. <br />September 2005<br />I decided I would stick with cross-country running in Junior High School. I now had a reputation with not only my peers, but now the teachers. One teacher in particular focused her attention on me when it came to cross-country; she told me I had to train hard before my races. But training felt like such a chore to me, and I felt it was unnecessary since I have continually won in the past with no training. As the races passed, I kept on winning. But the nerves and pressure was too much for me, I could no longer focus on having fun, all I wanted was to prove that I was the best. I began to resent running, I no longer could find any enjoyment when I ran my races. <br />September 2006<br />When I attended the CWAJHAA cross-country race at the Junior High School I became very sick, and ended up placing second in my race. My cross-country trainer came up to me and said I should have trained harder; I became very angry with the situation I got myself into. I no longer wanted to be the best at running, what was so wrong with getting second? But I still felt like a failure, and that I let my family and peers down. I felt as though I was sitting on a river, and on one side I could see my family cheering me on and my teacher telling me to work harder so I could win my races. I could hear the girls whispering to one another, saying that they wish they were as good as me. But I could also hear my conscience saying that I can beat those girls, and I can win my races. And if I don’t I will let my family down. But on the other side, my conscience is telling me that second is okay and I don’t need to impress other people. I should be running for enjoyment, not because I want people to think of me a certain way. <br />September 2007<br />I decided to try cross-country in High School; I knew it would be terribly difficult but my mum told me I shouldn’t give something up that I am good at. So one more year couldn’t hurt, right? Well I trained for a few weeks and attended my first High School, cross-country race. Turns out you actually have to eat something before a race. But I was so horribly nervous I had no appetite. I got to the starting line, and many girls told me I would do great, I always do. I got to the last kilometer and nearly fainted. I had to stop and walk for the first time in my life, people continually passed me. I felt so helpless. A girl came up to me and asked me if I needed help, she supported me until the cross-country teacher caught up to me and walked me the rest of the way. I ended up being disqualified from that race. Instead of feeling like a failure this time, I began to think about how important my reputation was to me. The girl who helped me to finish my race really opened my eyes; she didn’t care where she placed. She took the time to help someone in need, and it made me think, would I have ever done that? Would I have ever risked not doing well in a race because some other person needed my help? And I answer those questions with a no, because for so long all I cared about was winning. Well after that race, I no longer attended cross-country. I decided to pick up a sport that I actually have fun doing. It was the best decision in my life. <br />September 2009<br />I ran my first big race this year, but it was not competitive to me. It was my mum’s idea for the girls in the family to join the Melissa’s Run. I ran this race with my sister, we both supported one another and neither of us cared about where we placed. For once I enjoyed running, and felt no pressure to live up to my reputation. I have learned from my running experiences that you should never go through life trying to impress the people around you. You should pursue your own interests, and be happy with the life you are leading. If you are not truly content, you will fill your later years with guilt and regret. <br />