Arizona CC Journal #3 - Will Firth

 Milesplit Arizona Cross Country Journals  

 

 

Journal #1 

Journal #2

  

Will Firth

(Sr., Brophy College Prep)

 

Journal Entry #3 (November 16, 2010)

 

 

 

 

WARNING: The following is an emotional roller coaster of epic proportions and if you are not mentally equipped to handle such a ride then I strongly advise you to click the little red “x” in the corner of your screen, now…

 

 

Salutations fellow MileSpliters! My warning was neither a lie nor some kind of sick joke. Ups, downs, twists and turns will be made numerous times throughout this journal and I would like to ask you beforehand if you would so graciously forgive me if any tears are to come as a result of reading this. However, I do take all credit for the smiles and laughter it may bring 

 

 

I would just like to start off by letting you know that on Wednesday, November 3, 2010 I was able to officially check “Be a model” off my list of things to do before I die. That’s right, I, William Joseph Firth IV/VI, strutted down the runway, ladies fainting with just a whiff of my undeodorized pheromones, sporting a classy black Versache suit like a poet on the verge of a masterpiece. One woman was even lucky enough to take home the sole flower I had stashed within the confines of my jacket pocket when I tossed it into the mob of helplessly mesmerized females who clung at my feet.

 

But, unfortunately, my classy catwalk did nothing for my running. Let me take you back to a time that I’m not so fond of, Friday, October 29, 2010 to be exact. As you may have guessed this is the day of the D1 Sectional 1 race. It had been a solid two weeks since the last time I made contact with the bitter sweet feeling of racing and on that particular day the bitter was stronger tasting than the sweet. The sun was beating down on my model status sculpted back with the heat and resentment of hot coals in your stocking on Christmas day. To be honest, a cross-country race was the last place I wanted to be. My heart just was not in it that afternoon. I have mentioned earlier that when I won the Doug Conley Invitation, the race was not one of physical strength but a struggle of metal might. At the D1 Sectional 1 race I finished third. I had to ask myself while running, “how bad do I want this?” and I am too ashamed to tell you the answer. At that moment winning became a lost cause. When two or more runners are of the same caliber, it comes down to the person who just simply wants to win more, and at the D1 Sectional 1 race, both Mr. Martinez and Mr. Montoya wanted it more than I did.

Was I upset? Sure, but I was just more glad it was finally over and I could get on with my weekend.

 

The week leading up to state (that following week) was brutal. I am lucky it went by as a blur. Halloween had been that past Sunday and mother Firth insisted on buying mounds of candy even though I warned her of the lack of children in our neighborhood. If I am recalling correctly about 3 ½ trick or treaters came to our house that night. State was 5 days away and a mound of candy the size of a very large watermelon (-3 ½ pieces) was staring me in the face. It stalked me and whispered sweet nothings into my ears until I was forced to submit to its sugary delight. I am fairly decent when it comes to eating well. But I admit a large part of this is due to the lack of junk food we have lying around the house. When there is, say a mound of candy, on my kitchen table I have very little will power. (Side note: The candy I could/can not resist= Snickers, Sour Patch kids, and Twix).  You could say it’s my one and only vice.

 

In a previous journal I mentioned that I put in a lot more extra miles over the summer which I think lead me to start feeling a tad burnt out this last week of the season. My legs were constantly tired and I was beginning to look at the state meet more as just something I had to get though rather than going in with the mindset of a champion.

 

However, on a happy note, I had been suffering for a few weeks from shin splints? /tendonitis? /something else… (I refused to go to the doctor because their universal healing method for runners is “take a few weeks off from running” and I was not ready to be told to sit out of state) but was able to recover with the help of my old physical therapist that worked with me on my ankle and some new orthotics.

But enough, I’ve ranted on long enough and it is time for me to talk about State.

 

DEEP BREATH*

 

            State did not turn out how I had planned, and it crushed me. I could not have gone into a race with better conditions. It was fairly cool, I knew the course, I was very much hydrated, I had my race plan, and my determination to win was with me. These conditions being how they were, I cannot make any other excuse as to why I lost other than Mr. Montoya is simply an amazing runner. But when I finished the race I was utterly disappointed in myself.  Every race leading up to this senior year State meet I could always say, “I’ll do it next year.” That doesn’t apply anymore. My high school Cross Country career is over and I was unsuccessful in winning a state championship. Loosing felt like there had been a sudden death in the family. For the first time, I felt like I had failed… I’ll even admit to shedding a few silent tears that night. And the night after.

 

(Photo right: Firth at the finish of the AZ State Meet) 

 

 

            It’s taken me a little over a week but I am beginning to realize just how far away from failure I really was. After I finished the race, a certain person comforted me, telling me to look at how much I had improved from past years. Of course I responded with my usually round of excuses; I had been sick, hurt, and other things, which made my finishes not an accurate reflection of my true place. What I am figuring out is that those past races really were accurate reflections. Every state meet after my freshman year I had choked. I can claim I was injured or sick but to completely honest it was nerves and pressure that caused my poor performances. That didn’t happen this year. I was able to go out and put everything on the table. I didn’t choke. I over took a huge personal hurtle this year. So really, I did improve from 47th place (last year’s finish) to 2nd and I would be a silly little boy if I were disappointed in that kind of improvement.  

 

 

 

Closing note

            My high school Cross Country days have come to an end as I will not be continuing on with NXN or Footlocker. It has been a long season and I need some time to relax and take it easy. And, because of this, I believe this will be my last Cross Country journal (Sad, I know ) for there would be nothing else to write about if I continued! Well, nothing else running related. Thank you all very much for the support and keeping up with this journey through my senior cross country season. I hope you have all enjoyed my little witty sarcastic rants I like to call journals.

 

 

THE William Joseph Firth IV/VI

 

(If I ever truly figure out if I am IV or VI I will for sure let you all know)