I feel ya...tuningfork21November 6 2005, 11:43:31 UTC
Lexi! I know we haven't really talked to each other in about a year, but I just thought I'd let you know I felt exactly the same way after my last state meet in February.
What really sucks about high school sports is that people oftentimes don't pay attention to what the athletes--runners and swimmers, I mean--are doing until the championship races at the end of the season. So, one can have amazing races leading up to state, like you did when you broke 19 minutes, but can essentially lose their status as the top of the class if they have a final race that's lackluster. That's why it's always better to do well at state, which is what I did during my junior year, than it is to do better at county or region, which is what happened to me during my senior year. This always bugged me when my friends were having articles written about them and were making the all-county lists, but I realized after a while that the people who truly understand the kind of sports we do know how successful and kickass 5th place at a state meet is. You don't need a picture in the newspaper or a quote in an article to get their respect.
It may seem bittersweet and anticlimactic now, but you'll be happy with your high school career eventually, even if you didn't achieve everything you set out to do. Look at the number of times you made all-county and the Super Six, or have been a key part of a state championship cross country team. You do have a lot to be proud of. And besides, if you decide to run in college, (At Georgia Tech, perhaps??) you'll have plenty more chances to take care that unfinished business you have left over from this season.
What really sucks about high school sports is that people oftentimes don't pay attention to what the athletes--runners and swimmers, I mean--are doing until the championship races at the end of the season. So, one can have amazing races leading up to state, like you did when you broke 19 minutes, but can essentially lose their status as the top of the class if they have a final race that's lackluster. That's why it's always better to do well at state, which is what I did during my junior year, than it is to do better at county or region, which is what happened to me during my senior year. This always bugged me when my friends were having articles written about them and were making the all-county lists, but I realized after a while that the people who truly understand the kind of sports we do know how successful and kickass 5th place at a state meet is. You don't need a picture in the newspaper or a quote in an article to get their respect.
It may seem bittersweet and anticlimactic now, but you'll be happy with your high school career eventually, even if you didn't achieve everything you set out to do. Look at the number of times you made all-county and the Super Six, or have been a key part of a state championship cross country team. You do have a lot to be proud of. And besides, if you decide to run in college, (At Georgia Tech, perhaps??) you'll have plenty more chances to take care that unfinished business you have left over from this season.
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