Running has been an important part of my life for 20 years now. Managing to keep on running through life’s many changes and ups and downs has been one of my greatest joys.
I started running in ninth grade, when I was thirteen. A friend urged me to go out for the high-school cross-country team, and I willingly went along. I was immediately caught up in the excitement of the competition, the camaraderie, and all the other glories associated with being part of a team. Although I was never a standout runner, and I did well in school and participated in other activities, track and cross-country were the dominant factors in my adolescent life.
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