What I wish I knew in high school

I enjoy spending time around the high school girls that I coach on the track team.  Some days they remind me of how fun high school was, and other days they remind me how grateful I am that I am well beyond. But occasionally they get me thinking about things that I have learned from and since my high school days, that I wish they could understand to help them on their way.  I don't know if I would have listened if someone had given me this advice, but here is my list to pass on of things I wish female high school runners understood.

You are a runner. Doesn't mean you can't do other things, but this is what you are good at. Embrace it and commit yourself so you never wonder what if.

Understand that while running is part of who you are, it does not define you.  When you are no longer a competitive runner, you will still have an identity as a sister, friend, daughter, scholar, hard-worker, etc. 

Big legs are beautiful, because big legs=muscle=fast=strong=beautiful.

You are faster, stronger, smarter, and more capable than you believe. 

There will be voices, both inside and outside your head, that tell you you can't do it.  Prove them wrong.

There will be voices, both inside and outside your head, that tell you you are better than you can imagine.  Believe them.  

Someday you will learn that eating 15,000 calories a day without gaining a pound is unnatural and unsustainable.  Until then, enjoy it.  

It's okay to cry when your goals are unmet or changed out of necessity.  But then set new goals, get back up, and go to work. 

Treasure the friendships.  Never again will you have such a natural group of built in friends who understand why you are the way you are (running lots of miles makes everyone strange).

Give your parents a hug.  They follow you to races and cheer like your race is the most important thing in the world to them.  It's really you they care about, not the race.

Be the best you can be and run (and live) with no regrets.

Happy running.