Cross Country Winners And Losers Analysis
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit” - Aristotle. This quote really sums up, in my opinion, sports. I am a runner and love Cross Country. While I believe all coaches say it, I can say without a doubt that my Cross Country team works the hardest out of every sport. I don’t know another sport that can run 26 hills back to back at 80-90% speed/effort. Maybe wrestlers, but they are kind of crazy. But this hard work is what separates the winners and the losers. Too often do I see runners, exclaiming someone's fast time, but then degrades it with a remark like “They’re just born athletic”. While many people are built differently or are “naturals” at certain things, this totally negates the amount of
dedication and work done by the individual. This takes us back to the quote.
Eating healthy, drinking water, getting sleep, taking ice baths or icing, stretching, etc. are all habits that we develop. A lot of runners who flake on the sport don’t get the concept. Eating whole, good foods, and treating your body right now in days is something that you have to learn and make it become a norm. Make it habitual. If you treat yourself right and put in a consistent effort at every practice, you will see results. The number one runner is always the person who puts in the most effort out of everyone on the course, it’s simple, it’s common sense. This is why I agree with the quote so much. I have seen what and where hard work gets you. This is why I can undoubtedly say that people who disagree with this quote have not truly experienced hard work. Nothing in life is handed to, at least after high school or college. It may be cliche but it's true. The people who understand the quote and accept it have a possibility to do amazing things, but people who don’t will continue to give 70% effort and wonder why there aren’t results and believe for the rest of their lives that excellence is an act. Which in fact it is not, and as previously mentioned, this mindset is what I believe separates people with and without excellence.
dedication and work done by the individual. This takes us back to the quote.
Eating healthy, drinking water, getting sleep, taking ice baths or icing, stretching, etc. are all habits that we develop. A lot of runners who flake on the sport don’t get the concept. Eating whole, good foods, and treating your body right now in days is something that you have to learn and make it become a norm. Make it habitual. If you treat yourself right and put in a consistent effort at every practice, you will see results. The number one runner is always the person who puts in the most effort out of everyone on the course, it’s simple, it’s common sense. This is why I agree with the quote so much. I have seen what and where hard work gets you. This is why I can undoubtedly say that people who disagree with this quote have not truly experienced hard work. Nothing in life is handed to, at least after high school or college. It may be cliche but it's true. The people who understand the quote and accept it have a possibility to do amazing things, but people who don’t will continue to give 70% effort and wonder why there aren’t results and believe for the rest of their lives that excellence is an act. Which in fact it is not, and as previously mentioned, this mindset is what I believe separates people with and without excellence.