The Step

As Regionals approaches and I qualified after a year off of the outdoor track scene due to a tibial stress reaction, I’ve had much time to reflect since my injury and learn from it and also adapt from it.

I’ve been running competitively ever since I was in elementary school, but really got into it in high school, but that’s kind of besides the point here.

I’ve been to big meets. I’ve been to elimination is on the line meets, and I used to crumble under the pressure because I’d take them so seriously. I was very inconsistent my sophomore year in cross country and so attempting to fix that was going to be a goal of mine this year in cross country.

I wanted to leave little doubt for Coach to not place me in the Top 7 come the time when everyone had to make The Step.

The Step is a metaphorical term that I have established that isn’t necessarily a physical term, more of a mental term. Before all races I used to be serious and not talk to anyone and get locked in, but I learned there are two sides to every coin. I attempted talking to my opponents (and teammates) during races and ultimately it helped my performances, it eases the edge off and keeps you focused on something other than how much you’re hurting.

I’ve been to Nationals, I’m a 3x State Qualifier in Track and XC combined, but there’s still one thing missing.

The Step.

The Step for me and for all competitive runners who want to compete at the top level is a mental game that must be reworked. You must want to win at everything. You must want to be successful at everything. You can’t just be successful at running, you must be successful at life itself. Then this may transfer over to the track.

The Step.

As Regionals is this Friday, all week I’ve been thinking about plans for if I don’t make States. But why should I? Why would anyone think that way? Why would you count yourself out when you literally have no idea what might happen? 

All this week I’ve been running different race scenarios over in my head, and in each scenario I attempt to figure out a way in which I advance. And each one I run in my head, I do advance. Now the only thing left to do is actually do it. Make The Step. All runners in any elimination scenario should ALWAYS think “why not me”? Why not you? Why can’t you do it? Anything can happen on any given day. All you have to do is make The Step.

My goal ever since I was a little kid was to make it to an Outdoor State meet.

And I hope (and know) that I actually can do.

If you’re on the bubble this week, always remember that no one in your race is invincible, that anyone on any given day may collapse. You must believe in yourself through and through and believe that you can hang with the top runners. When they go, go with them, don’t even think about it. It’s better to find out what could happen rather than what didn’t happen.

- Drew Ward (@drewdwa)