Cullen Krieg
Dr. Despain
CODES
15 September 2023
My Journey of Running
I have been running for a long time. I was always doing some sort of athletic sport but never once thought that I would be running as my sport. Sprints have never caught my eye and I know some individuals think that running distance is a punishment, but I find it to be an enjoyment. It is my way of relaxing; some might choose to read a book or meditate but mine is to go out and run however many miles until I feel calm and relaxed. My brother was the main reason why I started running competitively. I always look up to my brother, he has been my greatest role model. When he joined the cross-country team in his 7th grade year, I decided to pick up the sport as well. Even though we are three years apart I still would try to keep up with him on his “regular” runs. From that moment on I fell in love with the sport of running and have continued my athletic career here at SIUE. I plan to run for the next four years, and I want to come out as one of the best running athletes from SIUE.
Entering my 7th grade year, I joined our middle school cross-country team and already had the goal to be the best runner from our middle school. I would always look at the past records that some of the great athletes had set before me. The runners that were already on the team I already had a connection with because we were all friends before we were teammates. We would always mess around during practice and usually get in trouble for the silly nonsense that we would do. Our first race finally came around and since I had been running since the 4th grade I was already relaxed compared to my teammates and the rivals. The starting gun went off and I knew that I shouldn’t start as fast as I could but to just use a certain amount of time to sprint then relax back into my “race pace”. When all the runners were behind the pace gator, I realized that I was at the front of the pack and decided to make a move to the front to try and lead the race. At the last stretch of the race, I gave it my all and sprinted towards the finish line and won my very first meet. All the following races were just like the first and I was the first Festus Middle School runner to go undefeated in all his races 7th grade year.
The start of the 8th grade year was very memorable to me because I was recognized as the number one athlete in the nation for middle school. I went into the first race again with my head held high but also contained myself, I didn’t want to gloat because I knew that there may be other athletes that worked over the summer to try and beat me. My 8th grade season went just like my first, going undefeated in all my cross-country races, breaking two different records. Track season was just around the corner, and I wanted to take down the distance records that still stood. With the goals that I had set I knew that I was going to break the school records. Track season was kind of nerve wrecking for me because I didn’t know what to expect since some athletes were close to me the year before. But to no surprise to all my teammates and coaches I went undefeated during the season being a part of two record breaking teams and 2 individual records.
The start of my freshman season was terrifying because I would be increasing the amount that the races would be, but I had my brother to help me out and show me the ropes. Cross-country season went relatively well, being labeled as the fastest freshman in from our school as well as the fastest freshman in our class. At our state meet I ran 15:59 for a 5k which granted me all state honors, the team also did very well all together and continued the winning streak at State Champions. Sadly, Covid affected my freshman track season, and I didn’t get to experience it. Sophomore year all our seniors graduated, and we didn’t have any others that would step up and lead the team, so some of the faster younger guys and I took over and helped led the team to another team Championship Title. Track season that year was very memorable, because our young group of guys won the 4x800m race.
We continued to train through the summer and were ready to return all our runners. We had another amazing cross-country season with the 8th straight Championship Title Festus had seen. All the guys were ready for a great track season, but it took a turn for the worse. I suffered a fracture in my femur bone that completely took away my track season as a junior, I was very bummed and knew that I was going to be out of my start of my Senior cross-country season. Mid-way through the season I was able to get back into racing and had a breakout race, but it wasn’t enough, there was seven graduating seniors the year before and Festus lost most the manpower it had. Being the best athlete on the team, being injured and not running the fast times like I used to be able to do lost at the state meet and lost our streak. Our coach didn’t let that put him down, he just knew that we were going to have to work very hard during the off-season to have a comeback during track season. The start of the season was going very well, and we were projected to win our first track State Championship Title, until three races before the State meet, I pulled my hamstring on the same leg that I had a fracture on. I was able to heal and was “cleared” to race. During my season I was projected to win all four events I was in until the injury. I was able to compete in one race, the 4x800m to defend our title once again but I chose to sit out since my hamstring was still very iffy to run on and let one of the underclassmen take my spot. Sadly, we couldn’t retain our title in that certain event, but our team persevered, and we won the team State Championship Title for the first time ever in Festus history.
All in all, running has been a very impactful part of my life and helped shape me into the man I am today along with how to deal with negative situations and turn them into positives. I will always try my best at everything I do because I know that I will be able to make something good happen. Throughout the years many people have supported me and are still supporting me in this college journey. I love the sport of running and will never give up on it if my body will allow me to. As for whoever is reading this, I hope that I was able to bring you through my backstory about the past few years of my life and gave a little bit of insight into how much running means to me.