In my life as a runner there was a Phase I. This was my high school cross-country career. I ran varsity cross-country for four years and was the captain of the team my senior year. We won our conference championship twice, a district championship once, and a lot of invitationals. 1988-1991 were good years to be on the cross-country team. Edited to add: Some of you might think I kept running once my high school glory days were finished. This is not so. Once I crossed the finish line in my last race the fall of my senior year, I am sad to say that was pretty much it for me and running for the next 15 years. Oh, sure, occasionally I would make a few half-hearted efforts to get back into it, and I usually went running every summer when we went on family vacations to Lake Winnepesaukee, New Hampshire (there are a lot worse places to run, trust me) but I was in no way a serious or even casual runner. I didn't have 1% of the dedication to the sport that I do now. Phase II of My Life As A Runner began in October 2006 when I ran that first awful half-mile on the treadmill at the gym.
And the rest, my friends, is history.
Recently I was doing some reorganizing and came across a bunch of pictures from my high school years.
You are all about to discover why I wear those headbands every single time I run. The years have not done much to soothe the savage hair. I have a white chick 'fro.
Exhibit A of why I love Bondi Bands. Also, pre-braces removal so circa 1988, my freshman year.
Exhibit B of headband necessity. Of course I also had a perm (it was 1988...everyone had a perm) which didn't help matters.
One of my first-ever races. I remember I almost barfed at the end.
Ohio High School Athletics Association District Meet, October 1988. This is probably my all-time favorite running picture of myself. I ran a 24:13 and set a new PR at this meet. 
Look at me, the skinny minnie.
The team after winning our first OSHAA District Championship, October 1989 (sophomore year). West Geauga RULES!
Exhibit A of why I love Bondi Bands. Also, pre-braces removal so circa 1988, my freshman year.
Exhibit B of headband necessity. Of course I also had a perm (it was 1988...everyone had a perm) which didn't help matters.
One of my first-ever races. I remember I almost barfed at the end.
Ohio High School Athletics Association District Meet, October 1988. This is probably my all-time favorite running picture of myself. I ran a 24:13 and set a new PR at this meet. 
Look at me, the skinny minnie.
The team after winning our first OSHAA District Championship, October 1989 (sophomore year). West Geauga RULES!
Posts
7 comments:
I'm glad I am not the only one with unruly hair. My fro is outrageous if it's not kept up.
I was the cheerleader. How pathetic is that :-).
I'm envious of those of you (like you) that had the conviction to commit to running at an early age. Now I realize the amount of commitment it takes to the sport to physically excel and it's a great statement about your persona to be able to say you're a life long hard core.
No wonder your speediness far exceeds that of my own ;-).
Alright rock star, run on!
Awesome picts, classic late 80s hair and some nice action shots. I try to avoid my high school picts, they remind me of when I had hair on my head. Are you getting excited about Det, it is only 33 days away?
Great pictures! You made me think back, fondly, to those great cross-country shortshorts we used to wear. I bet I couldn't even fit a leg into them now.
Chia-- I tried out for cheerleading my freshman year and didn't make it. *sob*
Big-- It is 33 days away, I am excited, but also a little anxious. Additionally, I am beginning to have plenty of "I'm ready for this to be over now" thoughts.
Just imagine what your times could have been without all of that wind resistant (i.e. hair).
I remember the 80's. Fun times. Kinda.
OMG...how CUUUUUTE are you??? Hard to put that filthy mouth with that angelic face....LMAOOOOOO
I didn't even know there WAS a track team when I was in high school. But I was a cheerleader. That was the extent of my high school atheticism. If that's not a word I'm sure Glayvan, Glivien....ummmm Glavin(?) will let me know!!
Post a Comment