My stomach cramped, sweat dripping down my neck, my calves were burning. But I kept on running.
Swimming consists of many variables, your legs, heart, arms, and technique. I had gotten the technique, arms and legs down for my 50 yard backstroke event. I actually qualified for A champs instead of B champs which is a freebie. But I couldn’t go because of the pandemic. So, against my own will, I started preparing for the next season. My dream was to get a gold medal at A, the best of the best. So I had started running on the trail across the street from my house. I had good days and I had bad days, but the one thing that kept me going was that dream. I kept telling myself every mile you run, the closer you are to that medal. And every time I couldn’t go on anymore I just started shouting Pain is temporary!! Pain is temporary!! But what really kept me going was the improvement I was seeing in myself. At the beginning I would run a 12 minute mile, then I got to 11, and then one time I even got to 7. My coaches instilled in me that hard work beats talent, and I can see why. I ran everyday until quarantine, and though it felt bad at the time, I knew it would feel good at the end. At home, I would do squats, lift my legs up into the air and kick. Run up and down the stairs. I was willing to do whatever I could to achieve my dreams. It’s not the talented people who succeed, it’s the people who have a dream, put in the hard work, and when times are getting rough, never give up
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