More handpicked essays just for you.
The role of sport and exercise psychology in athletics
Psychological factors in sports
The role of sport and exercise psychology in athletics
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Running is a Metaphor for Life Growing up shy, I would have never thought I would be running cross country at school. My junior year of high school changed my life forever. One day in class, my teacher, who was also the cross country coach, asked me if I wanted to run cross country. I said yes and got my physical examination that same day. I was so excited to start my new journey in school. I knew that being involved in a sport was going to help me become more confident. Running has taught me how to achieve my goals, be tough; both physically and mentally, and appreciate life. The first week of cross country was difficult. The most I have ran, before I joined, was the mile around the track in gym class. After about 3 weeks of training, I ran my first race. I did not prepare well for it. It was a hot, sunny day after school and I was dehydrated. During the race, I experienced a side cramp and it was uncomfortable. I was thinking about why I signed up for this and how I don’t have to be here running. The race was painful, but I did want to give up. I came to practice everyday and I wanted to keep improving. …show more content…
I signed up to run track in the spring and went to summer conditioning for cross country. That’s when my coaches, teammates, and myself noticed that my running has improved significantly from when I first started. I knew that I had to work hard my senior year to achieve my goals for running. Running is a mental sport. The workouts I had to do were brutally painful and I had stay positive throughout the run because I know the training I had to do will help me during a race. Running has instilled in me a mental toughness that I didn’t even know existed. I feel like I have become a stronger, happier, and confident person when I started running. I accomplished things I didn't know I was capable
They race against themselves: to conquer their wills, to transcend their weaknesses, to beat back their nightmares" (603). This quotation shows that running is not always competition, but it helps runners overcome their
I am now officially in my Senior year of Cross Country , and am close to the end of my season. My first race of this year though was a big accomplishment for me, because I hadn`t been able to run. When I ran that race though it made me just so happy I was able to finish it, I was`nt happy with the time, but there is always time for improvement. I was glad to be racing again and being apart of the team again. I believe that my injuries were a barrier in my way, but they did not stop my sports career.
One factor which is probably significant is that three weeks before the race, during an easy run the day after an excellent 41-mile training run, I injured a calf muscle. I used electronic stimulation to promote healing, and ran very little during the three weeks preceding the race. This area bothered me frequently during the race, feeling as if it wanted to cramp.
The last time I did not run for consecutive days, was during Middle School. Running has been a very powerful tool for me, and the joy it brings is something I carry. As a person who has an unhealthy amount of anxiety in my life, running has been an outlet for me. Whenever I feel anxious or stressed out, I run. There are two ways running brings me relief; the first is it is an immediate distraction from whatever is bothering me. In addition, running also gives me a “runner's high” after I run. While this may seem unimaginable, it is actually very real because the pleasure of finishing a workout has few parallels. After I run, for the rest of the day, my mood is elevated.
Another concept I have learned from my participation in running is teamwork. No matter how hard we try, we cannot live our lives without others' help or without helping others. We must work together to succeed on the road ahead. This is the essence of teamwork. I know that even my personal success in cross-country and track is not solely mine. I know that my three district titles, one in cross country and two in track, in the 800 meter and 1600 meter runs, could not have been accomplished without my team's unequivocal support and for that, I thank them.
Running can improve your mood, as well as physical health, “Running reduces stress by boosting levels of serotonin in your brain and creating a more positive mood. Self-esteem is improved and goals are achieved through running. Runners realize a greater sense of self-reliance and accomplishment… Cardiovascular health is greatly improved through running by increasing your heart rate and working the heart muscles on a regular basis” (RunAddicts). Running is similar to a drug, however without the withdrawal effects. Similar to MDMA (ecstasy), running releases serotonin. After running one feels tired but refreshed and energized due to the serotonin released, which is referred to as the “runner’s high”. This runner’s high, somewhat similar to a drug intoxication, causes a euphoria and creates a positive and energized mood, which temporarily regulates anxiety, improves sleep quality, and constructs a better self-image. As well as being mentally advantageous, running is also physically constructive. Like running and swimming, through working the heart muscles and increasing your heart rate running can also improve endurance and cardiovascular health by allowing the blood to pump more powerfully. Furthermore, running can drastically improve one’s
The course is weird, it’s a two lap which is good. This means you know exactly what the second half of the race was going to be like. Me as the 4th runner, and the 3 and 5 guys, went single file for a good ⅜ ofa mile and we were zooming around corners. during the back half of the race, I was really close to medaling. I went as fast as I could, I had no idea how fast the race had been, I thought when I saw the teens clicking by it was a 19:teens but I got closer and it was 18:17 I was astounded and straight out of breath. That race we were 4 points behind the 2nd place team, and they were in our district. That set us up for a good week and effort during practice because if we had a race at the district race, we were going to make it as a team to state,which is the goal all season long. I was not feeling great that week and I thought it was going to be like my first xc race finishing with a 16:02 time for 2.x miles and a lot of girls beating me. The morning of race day, I felt like crap, but the bus ride nap to maryville made me feel fine and ready to secure a spot to state. There was a lot of scepticism from the seniors, who were facing their last
hollered Coach Charbonnet. Every time I do the 400 meter run and the 4x400 meter relay, I always count on her to be there at the last 150 meters to help me push through the pain and fight it. Now, it’s the last 100 meters. The toughest obstacle for me personally. I can take notice that not just my teammates, but Conroe fans were screaming at the top of their lungs, telling me to catch up to the girl in front of me.
It was an escape for me. An outlet for a day's stress. A hermitage for my introverted self to hide in. The other runners would go out with their friends and talk about the last football game or how terrible a teacher was making their life. Meanwhile, I was out there running by myself, taking all the sights, sounds, and smells of the outdoors.
Personal metaphors have been developed and impact the attitudes of people in many different ways. Metaphors are powerful tools because they are able to influence the perspective and mindset of an individual's life and transform their entire view of the world. They contain persuasive language that is used to establish connections within an audience to ultimately deliver a meaningful message. We encounter an endless amount of metaphors on a daily basis and even make certain metaphors our mottos for life. My personal metaphor that has influenced the way I look at life is, “life is a mountain climb, but the view is great”.
When I think about how running has impacted my future, I think back on what running has provided me with so far. Running has kept me fit, both mentally and physically. At the end of a day’s run, I can guarantee, I am entering my day with a clear head and a body that is ready to learn.
First off, almost every successful sprinter has a clear mind, especially during races. This allows for maximum focus on what they’re doing to help themselves do what’s needed to perform their best. Once you have your mind cleared of distractions, the next step is to focus on what you’re doing, whether it be in a race or during practice. Cleared of unproductive distractions, you can then focus on running your best to help fight the pain and fatigue you will most likely feel when pushing yourself to the
Everyone wanted to compare his/her times and see who was faster than who. I didn't know track and cross country was a middle school sport until 8th grade when my best friend joined track. After that I wanted to join, but I was scared because I had social anxiety and the idea of everyone watching me made me not join. In track there are meets, faster people, and bigger expectations and all of this was overwhelming for me. I made excuses and excuses and excuses until track was over.
Astonishingly, that’s only the mental part of training; the actual physical side of it is where the fun begins. I have come to find out that serious runners get up before breakfast and train till their hearts content. After the last school bell rings, do you know where the serious runners are going? They are going to train again. Fast forward a couple hours and it’s bedtime and as the serious runners lay in bed, do you know what they think about?
The miles increased each week and before I knew it, the last long run before the marathon was only twenty miles. Then came the marathon, 26.2 miles of runners’ high, pain, agony, and unstable weather.