The Beginning

Running started for me when I was in 7th grade.  School was starting again and I was signed up for Cross Country, I didn't know many people because I was at a private school CCLS-Christ Community Lutheran School.  I was on the Junior High team because I wasn't an insane stud at Cross Country like a feel people I've ran against.  I really didn't know how to run a Cross Country race yet, so I didn't really run hard until the final 200 meters of the race, in the final 200 meters I would be going past people and in 7th grade, passing people at the end is the best part! Coming in to the finishing crowd, fans lined up across the finish line, cheering your name urging you on to run faster.  As my first year in Cross Country came to a close I began to figure out how to run a race.

As my 2nd year in Cross Country (8th Grade) I started running a little bit in the summer coming more prepared for practice.  In the first few races, I leave all my speed for the finish line, I ran harder in the beginning and started to strategize as I became a better runner.  At the end of my 8th grade year, I got moved up to JV, My first race was in St. Peters, a long stretch of hills that was a tough race, but I ended up beating a few of the top runners on the JV getting a time of 20:20, I was thrilled with this time because it gave me the confidence that I needed to become a Runner for the Future!!!

"I lost my edge"

As I grew in confidence from my 2nd year in Cross Country (8th Grade) I began training less hard and as Apollo Creed would say, "I lost my edge".  I didn't take practice seriously, and my races started to show that.  My 3rd year in Cross Country was by far my worst year ever as a runner.  Heading into my 3rd year I thought I would be good enough to compete with some of the good runners and be able to be a good runner without working hard...I regret that Decision After the season.  After the Season, my best time was 22:00, the last race of the year...PATHETIC.  I soon began to question myself as a Runner and thought I wouldn't be good again!

Some people say that I lost this season because I hit a huge growth spurt, and I did.  I was 5'3 in 9th grade  and into 10th grade, I became 5'7 - 5'8.  Although I had a huge growth spurt and I do believe that was part of the reason, I shouldn't have been running 22 minutes as my best time, I should of been as least running 19:00-20:00 minutes.

"I got my edge back"

As my 9th Grade Year was a failure to me, My competitiveness drove me hard that summer and practices my 10th grade year! I started to see the times I wanted to see my 9th Grade year, but I was still a year off from where I wanted to be.  My best time my 10th grade year was 19:05 and I became the most improved runner at the end of the year.  That award at the end of the season gave me confidence to run again and try even harder going into my junior year!! My 10th Grade Year was a good year to be in Cross Country, "I got my edge back"!!!

Starting to Click

As my Junior year Came, I was as ready as ever for the Cross Country season to start! I trained harder than ever before for the Cross Country season staying humble trying to get better as a runner! As my first few races for my junior year came, I started to get times that I wanted to see.  I was in the high 18s and low 19s for my times.  My Personal Record for that season was 18:32! I was pretty excited when I got that time because I worked hard and it payed off!!  Also, this season, Rod Janikula was a big part to my success in Cross Country! He was a teacher and became our assistant Cross Country Coach, he ran with us, pushing us hard, and no Slacking off at Practices!! Practice Makes Perfect!!!

That's More Like It

My Junior Year was over in Cross Country and I stayed humble and felt I still needed to prove myself as a legit runner!! As the Summer approached, Brandon Heebink, my teacher and coach, helped me with the summer training.  Heebink and Janikula scheduled 2 days a week where our team could get together and run in the mornings during the summer keeping everybody in shape! Obviously 2 days wasn't even near enough for me so I would run 6 days a week (sometimes 7) because I wanted to become a legitimate threat in Cross Country for my Senior Year.  During the Summer I was doing hardcore 2 a days preparing myself for the season to come.  I would do 4.5 miles in the morning and 4.5 miles during the evening HARD.  I would run them around a 6:15 mile pace every time getting me some endurance and speed for the upcoming season! As the Season came I was pumped for the 1st race!! It was a slow race but still ran it in a solid time of 18:50 and being the 1st Watertown Mayer Royal to the Finish line.  That was a great feeling knowing I was like the 5th or 6th runner the year before, most of the runners behind me were ahead of me my junior year!! Norwood Young America's race game and I was excited because it was a fast course and I knew I could run a PR there.  I ran my best time of the season and got a 18:05.  Conference came, it was brutally cold with snow and windy but I was driven to get into the 17s.  I ran my fastest time ever and finished at a 17:20. Sections came and I knew I had a long shot chance to make it to state because that was my ultimate goal, but kept my hopes up high! I didn't run the race well, but it was a great season and some of the best 7 years of my life running Cross Country!  My Mentor Mr. Heebink was a major key why I had such a great season...he pushed me all the time and I knew I could talk to him about anything, being school, or running.  After the Section race, Me and a couple guys plus our coach Mr. Winter told a member of our team that we made it to state who was not at the race because he was injured, we called his cell phone and told him we made it to state, our coach went along with it...he then told the announcer at the school because there was a volleyball game going on, and as he told us, the announcer almost said it at the game, but we told him we were just kidding and he quickly told the announcer!! Good Times!! Great Way to End my Final Year in Cross Country!!!