Here Comes Goodbye.

The way time moves so quickly..it baffles me. I remember so much that warm morning in June, awkwardly walking into my first cross country practice and sitting down on the turf. Explaining to coach that I would have to leave early for job training. Running that summer's first figure eights.

It all seems like yesterday.

The decision to join the cross country team would have to of been the best decision I've ever made in high school. Never have I felt so welcome. So "loved" in a sense.
These kids are my family. I feel so blessed to have been able to of spent every Monday through Friday with these teammates of mine. All the yawning. All the sweat. All the sun, wind, and rain. The jokes and the sorrow. The pain and the fear. The laughing and the smiles.
I wouldn't trade any of the memories for anything.

I'm so grateful to have been able to find a group of people who actually understand me, and who I don't mind spending my Saturday mornings-afternoons-evenings with. It's nice to know there's a group of people I can go back to, and there will be absolutely no drama, no yelling, no tears. Just good conversation. Good laughs. Amazing hours spent sometimes doing absolutely nothing. I can't imagine anyone else I'd rather run Tree Farm with than these girls and guys.

Guys,

It's been an incredible past six months. Every moment has been amazing, every practice and meet have been great. Some people don't understand the feeling of being a runner, and I think we are so lucky to be able to not only run, but to find a family. To almost be forced together every morning. But we're willing to spend that time with each other.
We are the fighters at school. We are the underdogs. Those who go unnoticed.
The silent assassins.
Boys: you went out with a bang. Shot heard round' the world. Or at least the state of Texas. Especially for you seniors. You definitely made your mark. It doesn't mean anything, but the amount of pride I have for what you guys have done is immense. Great season. Heroes.
And of course, my girls. My how things have been amazing. So many things to say. From the locker room talks, to workouts, and everything in between. I don't hesitate to say that I've never felt so welcome as I have to what we crazy kids have committed to. I'm so proud to be your team mate. I'm so lucky to have you all as friends. We had a good run. Amazing season. No matter the outcome. I'm so happy to have been there.
Finally.

In the months ahead, I anticipate the track season. I can't wait to begin running again. To feel all that pain on the track. To shower before school. To be proud to be called "insane" again.
And seniors. I can't even begin to explain how much I'm going to miss you all. Nothing is going to be the same. I'm nervous about next year to see how we captains carry out the season.
The last pieces of the charter puzzle are leaving. The new legacies begin.

In the end, it's been amazing. Incredible. So hard to explain. And this is only me. I've only been running for one season. I've come too late. Sure, I've run track too, but it does not equate to the feeling I've gotten from spending all this time with the cross country team.
The recruitment started freshman year. I barely knew anyone.
My sophomore year I tried it out. Running club shook me up. Got me excited.
And I made a decision.
Something I never knew that would change my high school experience.
Forever.