A Different Breed

The typical high school student usually leaves their school as soon as the bell rings through their ears. They snatch their car keys from their backpack, and drive away from what's  held them hostage in their seats for the past 8 hours.
But we aren't your average high school students, we are a different breed.
 We are the ones with water bottles in hand as we walk in the school each day. We wear KT tape under our clothes, because we don't want to have to reapply it the next day. We make Nike clothing a fashion statement. We are the kids who beg their teachers for the hall pass because we drank too much water. The ones who wait for the bell to ring, because we're one step closer to lacing up our shoes.

We are the high school cross country team.

At first glance from other varsity sports teams, we are looked at as "the crazy bunch". The ones who find enjoyment in running multiple miles, when running is the punishment for most. But we look at it differently.

We believe that the time your foot strikes the ground for the first time, we are embarking a new adventure. We are blazing through a new trail, finding different paths that take us to beautiful destinations. We are the risk takers, adventure seekers, and hard workers. We push past our pain to PR by ten seconds.We are becoming the next generation of runners.

We accept that blisters may appear after removing our shoes. That chaffing is second nature. We realize that getting up the stairs the day after a workout can be a true struggle.

High school is a place of finding yourself,  taking what you love and running with it. For some this may be art, some it will be football. As young distance runners, we all have something in common. We find happiness in running, for running is what we love to do. Running is a teenage dream that never expires. While our paths may change when our diplomas touch our hands, but we will always have running close in our hearts.
We will never rid of the countless number of race bibs, and we will keep our shoes where we can find them.

Because we are a different breed, and we were born to run.

BLESSED WITH THE BEST

So lately I have seen so many break-ups, friends pulling away from each other, and even family members growing farther apart. Often times it reminds me to reflect back on how good I have it.

For my mom and dad, and that even though I can cause them so much hardship they still bear with me.

For my big sister, who has a different path than I do and even though we tend to clash here and there she still loves me.

For my little sister, who takes all the crap I may give her and ends the day with a smile.

For my brother, who has three sisters to live up too and does his best to keep up.

For the 16 months I have been given with my best friend, most high school relationships only last an average of 2-4 months but I am grateful that ours is a little bit different.

I have learned that through all these fights, all these little arguments, the stupid things we disagree on, we become stronger. I can not tell you how many times I wanted to just "run" away from my family because I was angry. The times where I told Kaden I didn't think our relationship was going to work. But the real question is, when is anything going to work out the way you want it too?

Did I realize that without these stupid disagreements I wouldn't have become the person I have become? I know that I have been dealt the cards I got for a reason, because I wouldn't have the family I have now. I know that there was a reason that Kaden came into my life, and he's changed it for the better.

I have accepted the fact that my life is so far from perfect I wonder why I exist at times. Not only am I imperfect, but there is always going be something about the people you love that you don't like about them. I might argue with my parents about stupid little things, but I can tell you right now I couldn't ask for better parents. That with along with all their flaws they might have, they weren't meant to be my parents. That they are the driving force in my life that keep me going when I need it most. Just because they aren't the perfect parents doesn't mean I don't love them to death.

I have learned that Prince Charming doesn't always look like a prince, but running shoes and shorts look better than a suit and tie. I found someone who brings an unconditional happiness into my life. A happiness that no one could replace. No he's not perfect, but nor am I. Just because he's not perfect doesn't mean I don't love him to death.

We are given a set of cards the day we enter the world. Some of those cards are bent in a certain way, some are even ripped down the middle. Some of them you find out of nowhere while playing the game. We might have to tape some of these cards back together, or bend them in the other direction. But we can still play the game with every card were given. 

These cards may be imperfect, but without them I will never be able to win the game.

I HAVE LOVED ALL MY CARDS SINCE THE DAY I WAS GIVEN THEM, AND I WILL NEVER TRADE THEM TO HELP ME WIN THE GAME.