Ok, so I finally got around to doing it. Be prepared to laugh! I found a couple pictures from my high school track days… Bwahaha! Hilarious! I can’t wait to hear what you all have to say. First things first, a little background. I played 3 sports in High School, volleyball in the fall, which overlapped with Basketball in the winter, and track in the spring. Track was my least favorite (funny huh?) and, I was a SPRINTER. I ran the 100 and 200 meter dash, the 100 was my favorite. I also participated in the 4×100 meter relay which I anchored and the 4 x 200 meter relay. I loved the adrenaline rush of the fast paced over with so quickly races. I gave it all I had and in less than 13 seconds, it was over.
Back then, I thought a 400 was long distance. Not even joking. Generally I got to just run sprints and work on my speed, but sometimes I was forced to run *gasp* a mile or more at practice. This really makes me chuckle now as I prepare for my first full marathon and my fourth half marathon!
I started running track in high school, and apparently I was a natural sprinter (I always knew I was fast but not by racing standards.) I got to run in high school varsity meets in 7th grade. I felt super cool running with 18 year olds and I was 12! I actually had a great 7th grade year and made it to state where I got to run at LSU in the 100 meter dash. It was so scary, but so awesome at the same time. I came in 6th, I was so excited to get to contribute some points to our girls team who went on to win state that year. (Yes I have a huge state championship ring!)
Ok fast forward to 10th grade. Regionals. Must get 1st or 2nd to go to state. This first picture is from the 100 m dash. I honestly can’t remember if I made it to state in this event that year! (I ran fast and I ran hard if you can’t tell by my facial expression hehe)
I know, funny stuff right? Pick yourself up off the floor and stop laughing so you can look at the next one. I love this next picture. This was the 4 x 100 meter relay that I anchored. I LOVED this event, and I loved anchoring. I remember waiting on my mark watching my teammates go around the track (my heart rate is elevating just thinking about this by the way.) We had to be in 1st or 2nd, and we were currently in 4th. Dang it. Going to have to make up some time. My exchange partner and I practiced all the time and we had a very smooth exchange. We moved into 3rd during the exchange and I had to catch a very well known very fast girl. I gave it everything I had and passed her right before the finish line. Seriously ranks in like my top 20 favorite moments in life. If you look in the background, you can see all my friends and teammates and the parents cheering for me…and then you see a lady in LIME GREEN with a video camera. yes, that would be my mother. Hehe. We ended up going on to state and getting 3rd and got to stand on the podium. We also set a new school record and I set a personal new split record at a time of 12.37 seconds. Love it.
Ok ok stop laughing now. Seriously. I will have to find out podium picture when I unpack after we move. It’s great.
Also, just to show you I did NOT walk around all of 10th grade making that face, here is a normal one. Me, 10th grade Homecoming dance, I was on homecoming court this year. Interesting I think. Who is digging my mermaid gown?
Ah, to be 15 again….
Ok, so, why did I post these pictures you ask? Not just because they are funny, but because of the irony of the situation. Here I am, eating, sleeping, breathing marathon training (I am sitting here icing my IT band as I type) and this is the girl who dreaded running 400 meters. Who am I? Well, I will tell you. I am the girl who wants to live up to her potential. I am the girl who loves a good challenge and is competitive to the core. I am the girl who wants to feel alive, have no regrets, and live life to the fullest. Sprinter no more….marathoner…..on my way!
QOTD: Would high school you ever think you would be where you are today?
Lily @ Lily's Health Pad says
Love your track pictures! You don’t look like a dork at all! Obviously, you were really talented too.
I never would’ve thought I’d be doing what I’m doing now…especially career wise.
Oh and by the way, I was a basketball and volleyball player as well!
runningwithsass says
awesome! I miss bball and vball so much, I have coached them both! I cpached middle school girls bball for two years and varsity volleyball for a year. I tried to relive my glory days lol!
runnerstrials says
Hahaa LOVE those pictures! You were sooooo speedy! My favorite distance was the 200. For our track workouts we used to have to do 400-600-800 ladders and I thought it was such long distance.
In high school, I really didn’t think much about the future so I doubt I’d see myself where I am today!
runningwithsass says
this is why I get frustrated that I am a slow distance runner…I was a fast sprinter, so i get annoyed at myself easy lol! The worst for me was 400 m repeats, we would do 8, fast with a very short break in between. pain!
Melinda Neely says
You look FAST in those pictures – I’m sure that brings back lots of memories (I”m glad I don’t have any photos from my running days as I was not nearly as talented as you!). And such a cutie for your 10th grade homecoming. Don’t ever lose these photos!
runningwithsass says
so many memories! typing about all those races seriously got me so nervous and made my heart rate go up!
Jaime says
Get it girl!! I was a long distance runner in High School. White girl can’t sprint over here! It’s kind of nice only being 3 1/2 minutes away from my High School best time for a 3 mile race. See….you do get better with age. 😉
runningwithsass says
haha I don’t think I could run a 12.37 100 m anymore lol!
crystal says
You’re funny! No, in high school I would never have thought I’d run distance races. I would never thought I’d like to run at all. I was always a very slow runner. I still am, but I am apparently built for distance, not speed. I was a cheerleader in high school so minimal running required. LOL
runningwithsass says
you = cheerleader = LOL. you are way too sarcastic to be a cheerleader!
Keri says
Awww I love these pics! So great! I ran track for 1 season in HS and was also a sprinter. Unfortunately I was like the worst person on the team…
runningwithsass says
aw! but at least you did it, right?
Felice says
Rock on! Living up to your potential is always such a terrific goal. You’re doing it!
Love the pics 🙂
runningwithsass says
working on it, thanks for the encouragement!
Karen says
Cute pictures! :0) I think my favorite is the Homecoming gown! Very pretty! :0)
It’s fun to look back on things from high school and see how you’ve changed and where you are now! :0) NEVER did I think would run a Marathon. I thought those college cross country girls were CRAZY cause they ran 3 miles instead of 2 (gasp!)!!!
runningwithsass says
haha I know! I always thought the CC people were crazy, when they reached 100 miles they got a “100 mile club” t shirt and I thought WOW thats so far!
runningmumma says
Love the pictures…You looked like quite speedy!
I would never have imagined I would love running and being training for a marathon. I did CC two year in HS and hated every minute of it. Crazy how things change.
runningwithsass says
thanks!
Yes! my concept of distance has changed a lot.
Nike says
High School me would wonder what’s in the water. I did nothing remotely athletic (um, I walked a mile and a half to school, does that count?). Present me is aiming for a 1/2 Marathon in July and has already completed one Hood to Coast. I’m not sure what we’d talk about.
Loved the pictures of you!
runningwithsass says
haha! yes I think that counts!
GetHealthyWithHeather says
Looks like you really pushed it during those races! It’s fun to look back on old pictures… aww the memories 🙂
runningwithsass says
ya it makes me kind of sad sometimes!
Christel says
Hahahahaha! Love your facial expression on the running pics! 🙂
High School me would honestly believe that I’ve gone insane. I was a competitive skiir in high school, but never was involved in any endurance sports. Go figure!
runningwithsass says
ha! aren’t they funny? You can tell I was trying REALLy hard!