Cross country; My experience

Normally I lean towards the beauty side of things, but today I'm diving into health. Running specifically.
I'm 16 years old and even though I'm only in high school and still have a fast metabolism, its still important to keep in shape in my spare time. However I'm not the most self motivated person, especially when it comes to exercise, which is why I joined the XC team at my high school. I'll admit this was also partially motivated by my hatred for gym class in general, and getting a sports waiver was just an added bonus. But what most people don't realize when they sign up for a sport, like running, is that they are not only committing to the competitions weekly, but practicing daily, and a commitment to your teammates.
I learned very quickly that cross country is not a sport you play to get out of taking gym class, its so much more than that. And its more work and time based upon how much you decide to challenge yourself and the goals you set.
Freshman year I played volleyball, which I love, as a sport. But my experience on the team was less than enjoyable and I couldn't wait for the season to end so I could get my weekday afternoons and my Saturday mornings back. However when sophomore year rolled around, I still wasn't keen on the idea of using a whole period of my schedule to sit in a gymnasium, earning half credit, when I could be taking a class I actually enjoy for the entire term. A few of my close friends suggested going out for xc, but I was weary of the idea, only because aside from a few 5ks over the summer, I hadn't ever run competitively.
After a lot of consideration, I decided to go for it. And at first it was slow going, I won't lie.
Practices were long and the coach was slightly unpleasant, but it wasn't torture. There was something that made it different from volleyball and I noticed it immediately. The girls on the team were not just teammates, we all supported each other like family, and that made all the difference throughout the season. I was welcomed to the team with open arms, and I will always be grateful for that.

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