From time to time, I always see my father running, whether it’s raining or completely sunny, and that has been part of his life for many years. At the time, I never liked running because it was too intense, and I would eventually exhaust myself. One day, he encouraged me to run during a Memorial Day event in Weston, and that is how my running journey began. 

My first run was extremely dramatic. After some back-and-forth negotiations with my father, I finally agreed, not knowing that the decision would mark the beginning of something new. Standing at the starting line, surrounded by a sea of experienced runners, I felt a wave of nerves hit me—I had never done anything like this before, yet I pushed through. 

During my race, right as I crossed the finish line, I discovered something surprising: I had come incredibly close to finishing in under 40 minutes. In that moment, what started as a reluctant “yes” turned into a spark of curiosity—and maybe even passion. Every score I’ve gotten from my races has stuck with me, they’ve inspired me, and allowed me to realize how fast I can be.

Then just last summer, my dad brought up the idea of joining the PPCHS Cross Country Team. I didn’t know what it was until I found out that it is a long-distance running sport in which teams and individuals race over natural terrain like grass, dirt, and hills, usually held in the fall. 

My first days of school started with a tryout for Cross-Country on a track surrounding the football field. The weather was so hot that I could feel it through my shoes; however, with a lot of training throughout the summer, I was able to run around the track multiple times back-to-back and complete the tryouts in 90-degree hot weather.

After the tryout, I didn’t make the team, but later I realized that running isn’t about competition; it’s about trying my best and achieving my goal through perseverance. 

My Success So Far

My running has become significantly stronger since the very start of my consistent training. I participated in two 5K running competitions: The Central Park in Plantation and Pines Light Up the Night. 

It was freezing cold, and my hands were numb, but I was motivated and determined to take that shot to beat my personal record. As I sprinted towards the end of the finish line, I was neck and neck with another runner younger than me, but I eventually broke the tie. I passed the finish line, and my heartbeat was so erratic that I felt like a drum set was playing inside of me. 

When the awards were given to the top three in each age group, I was actually in second place in the male 15-19 category. In the process, I received a trophy for second place in the running event. This was the very first time I got an actual trophy related to this type of sport. I soon realized I had beaten the 20-minute mark by a few seconds.

My most recent running event was the Pines Light Up the Night, and before the big event, I trained hard with my father and sometimes doubted myself, “Am I going to win this event?” But as I started running, everything went pretty smoothly for my first mile until I slowed down towards the finish. 

I thought I was never going to get to that finish line, but I kept on going nonstop. After my run, I ended up in second place again, 20 days after my successful run. I learned that my hammer struck the nail too hard, which caused me to exhaust myself too early. From then on, lessons were learned.

Running is my favorite sport this school year. My father’s courage and resilience are what inspired me to become a better runner. Every day, I get stressed in every situation, whether it’s getting my homework done or studying for an upcoming test. It becomes an option for me to reduce my stress and enjoy the moment of running.

Advice To Young Athletes 

For those trying out sports, whether it’s soccer, football, baseball, or basketball, the goal is to have fun and develop a “growth mindset” rather than focusing solely on talent or winning. You just have to love what you’re doing and not expect anything to go exactly the way you want it to, no matter how vigorous they are.

I like to keep these mottos in my head, and they allow me to keep growing my passion, perseverance, and love for the sport:

• “I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed.” – Michael Jordan
• “Never let the fear of striking out get in your way.” – Babe Ruth