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A Cross Country Runner
Kevin Gillies and the Cross Country Coach run through a practice. Photo by Ciera Thompson
Written by Kevin Gillies
Warriors who dominate, fearlessly and do not fear any pain. Physical human specimens born to conquer in a relentless quest of honor and glory. You think Gladiators, Roman centurions, medieval knights, samurai. You think shields, swords, armor, and power. I think short shorts, nylon shirts, sweat bands, baby powder, and icy hot. I think Cross Country runner, I think “Warriors.”
Having experienced first hand a day in the life of the crazy but determined, cross country runners, I can say they are true warriors. Being relatively in shape and running every now and then, I did not think that a few miles of running, or as I thought, slow jogging, was anything special.
However I soon found out that they do more than just jog at a steady pace. More than just “running,” there is strategy involved when competing against their opponents. Lucky enough for me, I was fortunate to run with this aggressive pack on one of their “lighter” days.
We started from the front entrance of Gilbert High then made our way to Liberty Square and made a quick right after entering. Then we took a left, and started down our first long stretch of beautiful, but endless, road of asphalt.
Wanting to suck out every drop of this amazing journey, I picked up my pace to keep up with the boys group that had started to run aggressively. As I caught up, they were discussing strategy for the meet that was to take place in two days. Which involved keeping a steady pace then, giving it all they got for the last mile. I did not ask what one would do if one had already spent “all he had” trying to get out of the parking lot.
I discovered that the runners run some of their miles in less than six minutes. As we finally ended the first stretch of road, we came to the Freestone horse trail and headed toward Val Vista. About halfway to Val Vista, I realized this team meant business, and even though I wanted to keep up, my legs would not have it, traitors! However I did want to keep some pride, being a man and all, so I picked up the pace a little to stay ahead of the girls.
Lucky for me, coach Steve Selby, one of the cross country coaches, stayed back and kept me motivated as I tried to keep a steady pace, but the candle was burning at both ends, the boys were getting farther away and the girls were catching up. As I finally made it to Val Vista, where I was completely the shuttle would pick us up, I could not believe I had to go back. The feeling was like winning a million dollars then getting robbed. The way back on the Freestone horse trial never ended, I still dream of the endless path.
As we got closer to entering the neighborhood for the final stretch back, I could hear the battle cries of the girls behind me as they closed in for the kill. It sounded like “ There ain’t no mountain high enough….” My God, they were singing!
About a quarter way down the nameless road, I could no longer see the boys, but I thought I could salvage my dignity by keeping ahead of the girls. Unfortunately, that last shred of my manhood was stripped away from me without any remorse, as the furious Amazon warriors ran past me smiling and singing with joy. While my lungs burned, searching for any oxygen they could find, the merciless pack of piranha overtook me and left me behind with nothing but dust and carbon dioxide.
At that point, my legs felt like Jell-O so I slowed to an extremely slow jog that looks like a walk but it is not, a slog, if you will. I knew I had to finish strong, so with motivation from coach Shelby who had stayed with me the whole way, and as soon as I felt my legs again, I ran until we got to the light at Elliot and Tiger Drive, when god blessed me with a red light, and we stopped for a minute.
When we started up again I sprinted as fast as my legs would take me to the Gilbert High doors. As I saw the pearly gates of heaven, I knew that the journey was over and my legs would get their feeling back soon. By the time I got inside the guys and girls had left and where probably eating dinner at home. I can now say without any hesitation that the members of the Gilbert High Cross Country team are true warriors and I can not imagine doing what they do every day.
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