Completing an ultramarathon is a feat for anyone. Many people think it would be impossible for a sixteen year old girl. I thought, “Why not go for it?” As a varsity cross country runner, I am no stranger to running. An athlete’s contradictory love-hate relationship with running strains the mind and body like no other. I ran this race for myself; I knew if I followed this through and completed it I could do anything. Elon will push my limits, however, I believe I am well equipped to not only succeed but thrive.
I live by the phrase “To be outstanding, you must become comfortable with being uncomfortable.” I constantly seek new challenges to push myself beyond normal bounds. I wanted to achieve something extraordinary. So I started training, …show more content…
My friends thought I was insane, and they were probably right. A person has to be insane to subject their mind and body to something that excruciating. However, an ultramarathon was so far out of my comfort zone I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. Very few people can complete one, as it requires a tremendous amount of grit, passion, and dedication.
Race day I showed up in a pair of shorts and a shirt; I was definitely out of my league. I was the only runner under 26 years old, and clearly was lacking the special equipment others carried. This barely fazed me as I was not here for any of them. I was here for myself. I wanted to show myself that I was capable of anything if I believed and put in the work. Seven and a half hours of straight running meant my heart, soul, grit, and commitment were all tested numerous times, and I would be lying if I said I didn't want to quit. At the end, I received my finisher’s medal and all I remember thinking was, “That was the best, worst thing I have ever done”. I showed myself what I can do, and I know that I can take on anything that comes my way physically, mentally, or emotionally. I went into the race with little faith, and I came out of it completely confident in myself. This race morphed me from who I was, into the girl ready to take on the next challenge - college. There will certainly be breakdowns as well as self and extrinsic doubt involved, but I now know that I will and