The State Of My Running

Growing up, I had always been put behind my older brothers shadow. In grade school going to watch Jeremy run track meets influenced me to join my track team in the sixth grade at St. Catherine of Siena. I was not much of a runner in grade school, having personal bests in the mile in seventh grade being at 6:12 and eighth grade at 6:09. I ran no more than a couple miles at practice and never ran cross country until I went to High School.

Jeremy graduated in June 2004 when I was in the 7th grade. He had made a huge indent on Central Catholics distance program which made my two years spent there seem a bit overwhelming. I remember going to Wildwood metropark to run miles with Centrals team the summer before my freshmen year with Jeremy. Having run no more than a couple miles in a single run and getting thrown into a prgram bassed off of the Pavvo system was a hard transition. As cross country season came and gone I had a personal best of 19:34 in the 5000m at the city league meet. That spring I improved my mile time to 5:30's and started to get the hang of things. My sophomore was spent waking up at 6 am to run 4 milers before school and doing interval workouts on the track after.

We were hitting 60-70 miles per week and I had finally started to get my growth spurt. I ran a 17:34 at Toledo City League, but started to hate running. I had only picked up the sport because Jeremy had been a big influence on me and it seemed to be fun. I had no idea what it took in order to become good. I had no drive or ambition to take that extra step to become great. With music, friends and other activities I had started to enjoy my own free time and running became secondary, and soon became something I had completely lost interest in.

My spring semester of my sophomore I had quit track. I had found myself hatting Central, and as I started to become my own person I realized I wanted a change. I set my head to the books that semester and raised my g.p.a high enough in order to transfer to St. John's Jesuit High School. This would be a huge change for me. It was like stating school all over again. Going from an inner city catholic school with multi-diversity to an all guys strict academic jesuit school would be a hard transition. That fall, I met some new friends, was enjoying school and once again was back into running Cross Country my junior year.

It felt like I was new to the sport and my times showed I had some work to do. I ended my Cross Country junior year with a personal best of 18:30's. I loved what I was doing and finally got used to the change in my lifestyle. That spring I worked hard and found that balance between school, work and academics. I ran a 5:10 in the mile and was ready to put some work in the summer going into my senior year.

I had a lot to prove to everyone, but more importantly I had to prove to myself that these past three years were not a waste. I was back running 50-60 miles a week and was with the best group guys a team could ask for. After running a personal best at the Toledo City League meet with a 16:42 and making the first team all city, I had some confidence going into the State Championship meet. We had been ranked 2nd behind Medina that whole season and where fighting to take home the title.

That race came and gone in a flash. Are number one man, Joe Miller, had struggled the last 200m with dehydration and collapsed nine times. Are four and five ran slow and I got out kicked and ended up being our seventh man running a 17:14. It was a disappointing day, but we managed to keep a smile on our face and I was happy to be apart of this program. We got sixth overall in the Division I State Championship and just being a part of that, in my eyes, was a win.

I had always wanted to pursue my running in college, watching Jeremy run at Heidelberg and seeing how much fun he had with his team, influenced my decision. I had only gotten a couple letters from Heidelberg and a small school in Kentucky called Cumberlands. I had also been on the phone with Otterbein's coach Matt Borland and was all set on Running there.

Going into St.John's I knew it was going to be a challenge, but I didn't know they took things so seriously. I had ended my senior year with some decent times in track, but no where near the g.p.a needed in order to be running at a collegiate level. I had been declined admission from Otterbein and I was left scrambling around for a college I could get into and run.

My adviser had told me about Shawnee State's gaming program for some reason, and I went to the library and did some research on their team. I got in contact with Eric Putnam and after a visit in January 2008 I was pretty much all set on heading down to Portsmouth, Ohio that fall for college. This decision would be the best decision I had ever made in my life.

These past couple years have been the best time not only in my running career, but also in life. I've met some of the most respected and motivated people this state has to offer. I have been pushed in academics and in my running like you wouldn't believe. These past couple weeks have been the best I've ran in all my life. I put in a lot of miles this past summer and I finally truly believe my running is taking shape and have figured out what it takes in order to be great. After eight long years and pounding the pavement mile after mile. I finally have something to show for it. As this cross country season is only days away from getting started, I feel like this is the best time to have finally figured it all out. Breaking 16 for the first time last weekend had opened my eyes to realize this is no walk in the park. This silly thing we do day in and day out can make you become the man your suppose to be, or continue to hold back your dreams and passions. The only thing is your the locksmith and you decide what door to open.

I cannot describe to you my excitement for where our team can go this year. We have been through it all and finally we are getting some respect and are making a name for our program. I like to bring myself back to my younger days when I would trot along that famous red trail at Wildwood and remember why I do this. Its not all about the fame or the times you run. What it comes down to is self-motivation and determination.

I'm going to end this post by a quote made famous in Without Limits by Bill Bowerman...

"Running, one might say is basically and observed pastime, on which not to be exhausting ourselves, but if you can find meaning in the type of running you have to do to stay on this team, chances are you'll be able to find meaning in another observed pastime, life."

-BJW

A New Begining

School started just yesterday. I can already feel myself quickly jumping back into the familiar habits. Waking up early, going to class, eating some lunch running and working have once again taken over my life. I wish I could think of something interesting to say, or perhaps some insightful thoughts, but my mind is set on "what's my next workout", "Do I have to work tonight", or "When is my next class".

It is in these times when I can ether find myself and push through it or loose my mind interlay. I've been running good workouts and staying healthy so that's always a positive. Classes so far seem to be alright. Other then that i'll keep on keeping on and rolling towards that goal of mine...

126 days till that day.

-BJW

The Time Has Come

The start of the Shawnee State Cross Country season is a day away. It's time to let our demons loose and just wail on!