How I began running

It was my sophmore year at Greenway high school in Phoenix, AZ. and I waiting for Earth science class to start. I was smoking by the class room before class when I over heard two cross country guys talking about their recent win over Sunnyslope high school. They were talking and talking and maybe a little gloating. I interrupted with you know I can run. They looked at me like was from Mars. They said you can? Well Pierson, why don't you come out for cross country and give it a try. I said I will and I can beat you!! They said we doubt that Pierson, but give it try and let's see what happens becareful though this running stuff is pretty DAMN HARD!! I quit smoking the next day.

Summer started and I started running with my baggy white shorts. Whoa!! those were hideous I think about it now and wonder how I even ran with those. My first training run I will never forget I tried sprinting as long as I could. I had no idea how to train. After a few days of that I decided I need to modify my training. This sprinting thing was not working out for me. So in my complete brilliance I decided I should try and slow down a little bit. So I tried slowing down a little bit and before I knew it I was able to run further and actually get a workout in. Before I knew it I was running 5 miles WHOA!!! I kept that up 5 or 6 days a week through out summer and when cross country tryouts came along in September I was ready to go. I THOUGHT!!! At the first day of practice I found out my white baggy shorts were not the thing to be wearing but OH WELL!! After a few weeks of practice were finished and I was able to hang with everyone on training runs coach decided to have me run on the varsity team for our first meet. It was a triangular meeting between Greenway high school, Thunderbird high, and Cortez high. I can remember having this incredible AMPED UP! feeling before the race. The race started and I could not believe how great I felt racing. I beat those guys that day and finished sixth on our team and after that I never looked back. I have loved racing since that first race and I hope that I can run and race for the rest of my life. Cheers to everyone and keep running!