Track

A sharp bell rings as I approach the last lap of my 1600 m race. As I surge around the first bend, my legs scream with pain and my lungs gasp for air. Then, a rush of pure euphoria releases over my body. Bound by bound, I sprint towards the finish line, using every ounce of energy in me just to cross the enticing white finish line. Crossing the line, my body halts and the cheers and screams I had been tuning out are amplified all around me. All I feel is pride. There is no way to replicate the electric feelings racing can give. Often, I get made fun of for running every day. The sheer monotony of the sport is not the most attractive thing, yet every runner has an inexplicable addiction to it. Once you feel that energy, you never want to give it up. 

The spread of COVID-19 has brought a shocking end to the track season. When I first heard the news, I laughed. My mind could not comprehend the fact that I was losing yet another season. I had already lost multiple seasons to stress fractures. At first, the coronavirus was so distant and surreal, I felt untouchable. Then the announcement of the quarantine brought the problem right to me, and I was going to lose the most important thing to me. Not just running, but racing and training with the people that I love. I will not get to cross the finish line in almost two years, and there was nothing I could do to change that. 

Recruiting for running is different from a lot of sports, and any runner who wants to run in college knows the importance of your junior track season. I have looked forward to this milestone marking all of the effort and time I have dedicated since my freshman year. Without this season, coaches will not have the certainty they need to recruit me. The quarantine not only impacts the present, but my future. I have known since my freshman year that I want to run division one, and I would not let anything stop me. But I fear that I may not be able to achieve my goal to the fullest due to changes out of my control, and the sense of helplessness I feel makes it incredibly difficult to remain positive. 

The most heartbreaking thing about losing the track season is no longer seeing my teammates everyday. I am losing the best part of my sport, from the motivating talks before races to the jokes about having to run the 4 x 400 relay. The seniors on my team have dedicated so much of their time to the sport, and knowing they will never get to have that final, emotional race makes me so frustrated that I cannot do more for them. My underclassmen teammates are missing out on experiencing the traditions and moments that developed my love for the sport. This team will never get the chance to see the best parts of running together. But through all the disappointment and frustration, the last thing I will do is give up. Although there are so many uncontrollables, there is one thing I know I can count on, and it is the reason I love my sport so much, the people. Knowing that we are all there for each other through this time tells me we will all make it. The picture I created of this season may change, but the relationships I have formed will be strong no matter what.