The Day Turned Crisp

It was late September and Jimmy had completed two months of running cross country.  He tried track in middle school but, while never finishing last in a race, he was disappointed with the whole experience.   Now as a freshman in high school, he wanted to try cross country.  It was a new school and new sport.  In Jimmy’s mind, it was a fresh start.  He would put middle school behind him.  He would make a grown up decision and try running again. 

Jimmy never went out and ran like real runners do.  Up to that point, he never developed a love for it.  Still, he could pace himself and still run fast.  Perhaps the mile and half mile races he did in middle school track were too short.  Three mile races in cross country were considerably longer.  Maybe that’s what he needed. 

About a week before school started, Jimmy started running to get in shape for the cross country season.  He would run one mile for his first day.  His mother thought he should wake early in the morning and run but he wanted to run before sunset. His dad simply wanted him to give his all.  Late July in Cedarville, Ohio is still hot.  Jimmy wore shorts, a tank top and an old pair of shoes.  He took off at a quick pace with the belief he would need to be fast to run with high school kids.  Before reaching the end of the block, sweat was stinging his eyes.  He slowed shortly thereafter.

Jimmy didn’t give up.  He continued training.  All he knew was to run and as fast as he could and still feel like he was pacing himself.  Fortunately, he had a good coach and supportive teammates.  He soon learned pacing, how to pick the proper shoes for his feet and racing tactics.  He also learned about hydration and diet.  Being young, all he really cared about was running.  He soon fell in love with it.

On this day, he learned there can be beauty in running.  The coach had the team run 2.5 miles to a park.  Of course, he drove his truck there.  By the time the team arrived, coach had a cone set up close to the truck.  The tailgate was down and the water cooler was there along with cups and a trash can.  As the runners arrived, each according to his pace and ability, they walked and stretched to stay loose. Early in the official team training, Jimmy decided to mimic the actions of the two best runners, Terry and Brian.  He was slower than them and his form wasn’t as smooth but he would follow what they did. 

Jimmy was second to last arriving at the park.  Once everyone had a moment to stretch and get a drink coach began giving instructions.  “Ok guys listen up.  We’re going to do a hill workout.  You’ll start at the cone here and go up this hill.  You can’t see it from here but there is another cone up there.  Go around that cone and then come back to this one.  You’ll go up and down for 12 minutes.  Then you’ll get  10 minutes rest and do another 12 minutes.  Then 8 minutes rest and then after you do another 12 minutes, you’re done.  Rest up until you’re ready to go back to school.  Go back at your pace.  Once back at school, stretch, shower and go home. 

Once everyone was ready, they lined up at a behind the cone.  Coach said, “On your marks, get set..oh yeah, wait a sec.  Attack the hill.  I mean you push going up that hill.  Relax coming down but don’t slack off.  You will get stronger doing this.  This is a tough workout but come sectionals, you will be tough runners.  All right?  On your mark, get set, Go!”

Each took off at a controlled sprint.  Terry and Brian went immediately to the front.  The remaining runners pushed up the hill.  Jimmy was unsure of what pace to set.  Going up and down for twelve minutes seemed like a long time even though he had already run for an hour without stopping.  He wanted to have energy for the last set and he still needed to run 2.5 miles back to school. 

He could just see the top of the cone when Terry and Brian passed him on their return down the hill.  They looked determined.  Jimmy felt scared.  He didn’t want to make a fool of himself.  He tried to keep contact with three other harriers who were a little better than him.  Throughout the first 12 minute set, Jimmy felt he was barely hanging as he sucked in precious oxygen.  He was about halfway returning to the cone when coach called time.

Rather than walk, he slowed pace a little but continued to the cone.  Coach smiled and said, “Good job, Jimmy, but keep going to the end and don’t let the hill or workout scare you.  Stare it down, man.  Stare it down.” 

Terry and Brian were stretching.  After drinking some water, Jimmy began stretching.  The next set was like the first only Jimmy wasn’t afraid.  He was still concerned about running out of gas at the end but he was determined to attack the hill.  If coach called time before he finished the set, he would pick up the pace until the end. 

Once the hill workout was finished, Jimmy felt spent.  Everyone leaned over with hands on knees breathing heavily.  The air had turned crisp as the sun was about 30 to 40 minutes from setting.  Each breath was seen and each face was red.  Coach made sure everyone drank water, then he began collecting his things.  Terry and Brian started for school. 

Jimmy felt he had nothing left to get back to school.  He gave everything he had in the workout.  Everyone had left but Jimmy when the coach returned to the truck with the cone from the top of the hill.  “You ok, Jimmy?  He asked. 

Not wanting to admit how tired he was Jimmy replied, “That was the hardest workout I’ve ever had.” 

Suspecting Jimmy’s concerns coach advised, “Jimmy, you did great today.  I want you to know that.  You did everything I asked you to do.  Now,  I want you to run back to the school but I want you to focus on pace and keeping your body working as smooth and effortlessly as possible.  Every movement should propel you forward.  Not one movement will work against you.  Everything needs to be in perfect harmony.  You got it?”

“Got it, coach.  Thanks”

Jimmy began a slow jog up the road and out of the park.  With each step, he envisioned how his foot would move from the heel to the toe and how the toe pushed off the ground.  Each movement of his arms was in concert with the movements of his legs.  Soon, he felt himself increasing in pace.  Yes, he was tired but, somehow, his body wanted to go more.  It wanted to go faster.  Before reaching the school, he passed the three teammates who paced him in the hill workout.  They were walking. 

Terry and Brian had finished stretching.  Seeing Jimmy before the other three, Terry called out, “Way ta go, Jimmy!”  Brian gave him a thumbs up.  Pride filled his breast as Jimmy began stretching.  He viewed his surroundings.  The school had an old wagon with some weeds growing around it.  Sitting on the sidewalk and stretching his hamstrings, he gazed at the wagon.  He glanced at steam rising from his arms and then back to wagon.  A bluebird alighted on the wagon.  It seemed to look at him.  Cool, crisp air, autumn colors, and a wonderful fatigue seared into his brain.  For Jimmy, that image would remain indelible for the rest of his life.