La Roche Cross Country

Try the things you hate at least once... you might end up liking it or hating it more than before.

Understand that I don't particularly appreciate running without any extra purpose. In soccer, you're running to get the ball, returning to your position, and setting yourself up to help your team. Basketball creates routes and positioning, just like soccer, on a smaller playspace; Cross-Country, for me at the time, had no purpose. I did not understand the true purpose of cross country other than just beating people in a footrace. Looking back now, it's more about knowing more about yourself and your limitations and using it to your advantage while at the same time trying to better yourself/time in every race you do. 

And beating those same people in a footrace.

I joined my university's cross-country team in 2020. At that time, soccer did not have an exact season because of the Pandemic. The coach was not good when updating the team on whether we would play any games and responding to texts/emails, so I joined. I knew the head coach for the men's team already, and I got along with the team almost immediately at the first practice. The team only had one race that season because of COVID-19, and it was also the conference championship. So, I trained with the team almost every Friday and worked out by myself on the weekends. The meet day came quickly, and I was excited. I thought I would finish in the top 15 coming into the race, but I ended up coming second to last... but we move, right?

After the race, I continued running for the team. I felt welcomed by every one of my teammates and coaches, and the overall experience was pleasant. I got constant encouragement from my coaches, and I was growing more as an athlete and a person in an environment like it. The real challenge was balancing soccer and cross country. The cross-country team instantly understood my position and wanted me to put more effort into soccer since it was my primary sport then.

2021 came around, and I tore my ACL while playing with the soccer team. I had to sit out for that and cross-country seasons, but it did not stop me from doing other things for the teams. I continued by coming out to cross-country practices whenever I did not have soccer practice and kept in touch with my teammates. The team had a home meet on campus, and I decided to walk up there with my camera to take pictures and give my support. I shared the photos with the team, and they loved it! There is not much attention given to the Cross Country teams compared to the other sports, but they appreciate the gesture. Because of that, they requested my photography services, and I joined them for their next meet in New York. I was unsure how they would do it with me at the time, wearing a full knee brace, but they found a way. I had never been requested for photography until then, so I was excited.

I went to the championship, and it was POURING. There was just mud, rain, and snow falling at different intervals; I was glad I didn't run. Overall, it was a great experience, and the team appreciated my presence and, of course, the pictures.

The following season, I was cleared to play sports and dropped soccer to run full-time with them. I felt the support I needed from everybody, and it felt better for me to do it, both physically and mentally. I will still say that it was one of the best choices I made during undergrad.  

Den.

You can find some of the pictures here!

https://denalinicholas.wixsite.com/dnicholas