Running is by no means an easy sport. It’s demanding, challenging, and physically taxing. Only those with discipline and a firm commitment to excellence will find success on their running journey. It’s not always easy to find the motivation to go out for a run, but it sure helps to have your motivation running next to you.
Running with my brother Noah has been one of the greatest things that could’ve happened to me or my running career up to this point. Training and competing with him these last two years on the track and cross country team has allowed me to see him in a whole different light.
Instead of seeing him as” just my brother”, I now get to see him as a leader, competitor, friend and teammate.
As brothers, we’re always pushing each other to be at our best. There have been many times where I don’t think I can keep going, moments where I felt like giving up, and workouts where I didn’t think I could push any harder. However, during these difficult moments in training, Noah’s always been there to pull me through tough sessions and help me stay focused and patient throughout the training process.
Because Noah and I are usually racing in the same race, either the 5k in cross country or the 3200m on the track, we usually don’t get a chance to cheer each other on in the big moments. However, this doesn’t mean that I don’t feel his support and presence when I’m racing.
It’s during the little moments that spectators don’t often see that Noah and I show our support for one another. In the seconds leading up to a race, he’ll pull me aside, make sure we warm-up together, and just as we’re about to step up to the starting line, we’ll often pray together.
Running alongside my brother these past two years has been a very special and meaningful journey for both of us. Spending two years and countless miles together has transformed a shared interest into something much more significant. We didn’t just push each other to finish lines; we built a foundation of mutual respect and shared grit.
As we approach the end of our season, with the sectional meet being this weekend and the state cross country meet on Nov. 1, I reflect on the lessons that Noah has taught me these past few years: that discipline will lead to success, failures can lead to strength, and that adversity is capable of producing incredible character.
Noah he leaves for college next year to pursue academics and athletics at the collegiate level, and I have no doubt that he’ll continue to give his all in every aspect of his life. He will use his good habits of discipline and determination to turn his dreams into reality.
As for me, I feel more than prepared to step up and become a leader on both the track and cross country teams; using the lessons Noah’s taught me, I know I’m capable of leading this team to success in the future.
