Free spirit

 Sometimes whenever you are out for a run, you catch yourself getting tired, and it may feel harder to catch your breathe, one simple trick to do, is try slowing down and breathe through your nose and out your mouth. It will give you an almost cooling sensation and you will start feeling a lot better, try practicing breathing even at home, training your lungs for even longer runs. 

After my first year in cross country, I sometimes found it difficult to run on some of the courses, given that some of the routes were on steep muddy hills. Any who, I did some research on how to get a better grip on these hills, and I found these pair of spikes, perfect for these types of terrain. My first time using them in a meet made my running a lot smoother and softer. I totally recommend getting spikes for rough routes, they  make running feel so much easier. 

 Being a student athlete can be tough, especially during final weeks and grade checks. I always struggled in silence, although my friends made me comfortable enough to share how I was feeling, if you are overwhelmed with school work, take some time for yourself, don't stress yourself out, you got this! And try and reach out for help if you need it. 

 While running during your meet, it can be a little discouraging when people pass you. Although do not let that stop you, see it as a learning opportunity. Focus on the person passing you, look at their running techniques, and try and find a way to match that technique.  It will be much easier and is a fun way to learn something new. 

Often times during practice, it is hard to keep in touch with your team mates, as everyone is focusing on themselves so that way they can improve. Though it is important not to forget that being in a sport comes with team work, don't be afraid to talk to your team mates and catch up once in a while. So that way you guys can share tips and improve together as a team. Share goals and advice! 

Although running has it's perks, there are downsides to it, and one happens to be tight calves. One thing that definitely helped me was to invest into better running shoes, and I suggest getting new balances or acis. They have a better way of making your feet feel comfortable as if you were running on clouds. Also not to mention stretching frequently, some useful calf stretches are the standing bent over calf stretch, calf raises, and the downward facing dog.