As my alarm goes off and I shift my eyes from side to side I can feel a deep, throbbing pain inside my head. It’s four in the morning and I’m huddled inside my sleeping bag, the only thing below me is a damp tarp and the only thing above is the stars still in the sky. I take a deep breath in hopes of halting the welling tears from pouring out. ‘Nomi. Do not be such a baby,’ I chide myself. I kick out my legs, feeling my muscles twinge as they make contact with the cold part of my sleeping bag that’s been denied any body heat. I slowly sit up, gulping in frigid air. Today is day 3 of the Headwaters Relay, a 220 mile running relay through the Gravelly Mountains. In the days prior I had logged 18 miles all at paces faster than I’d run so far that summer. My legs hurt to touch, my arches are home to two incredibly tender blisters, and my mental fortitude is being tested like never before.
I pull myself from my sleeping bag and put on my shoes so I can walk a couple hundred feet to go to the bathroom. I squat down in time to hear a crack in the branch I had placed my foot on. My foot falls to the ground and my entire body follows suit. Tears well, my head pounds, and it takes absolutely everything in me to keep my eyes open. ‘Nomi, you’re okay. You got this. Get up,’ the internal voice instructs me. I place my palms on the cold dirt and push myself back up, go to the bathroom, and head back to camp.
We fold up the tarp, shovel cinnamon apple oatmeal into our mouths, and pile into the truck, heading to the start of my leg. As we rumble down the road I can just barely see the sun poking up from behind the hillside. I watch the light trace its way through the clouds and a smile creeps across my face. I try to put into perspective what I’m doing. I get to wake up next to my best friends, run all day through the mountains, and be lulled to sleep by the hush of a quiet wind. I have a body that is strong and a mind that’s even stronger and here I am doing what I love.
That day I ran ten and a half miles and finished the relay with my team. That weekend showed me how strong I could be in the face of both an extreme mental and physical challenge. It pushed me deep into the pain cave, secluded me to just my thoughts, and allowed me to see how truly capable I am.
To me, that’s what running is all about. No other activity pushes you to your absolute limit while still allowing you to do what you love the most. Running has given me my favorite sport, my best friends, and an unbridled appreciation for being alive. I know when I show up to practice I will be greeted by the smiles of my teammates, a witty joke from Coach Casey, and just a couple anxious butterflies as I start to warm up for hard intervals.
![](https://winddrinkers.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Nomi-Friedman-presentation-by-Patrick-Hatfield-option-1-300x225.jpeg)
So, when asked what running means to me, I believe it’s not the times, the races, or the splits, but rather the community, the grit, and the smiles that are direct results of the time we spend pushing ourselves to be stronger. I will forever cherish the memories I’ve made during my career as a Hawk, and I will never stop pursuing the joy I get from going out on a run.
Kimball Smith – Park High
![](https://winddrinkers.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Kimball-Smith-photo-239x300.jpg)
Running holds a special place in my heart, far beyond just putting one foot in front of the other. To me, running is a way of life, a journey filled with challenges, pushing yourlimits, triumphs, self-discovery, and connecting with a community. It all began as a littlechild; in my family we have a tradition called the Smith Family Marathon. Every year since I was two years old my dad has run an independent self-supported marathon from out thefront door of our house. Our job as kids was to cheer for him as loud as we could along theway. We always had a finish line across our driveway and made him a finishers metal. AsI’ve grown older and began to run alongside him, I’ve noticed how much commitment thistradition has required for my dad. Over the years the family marathon has evolved toinclude most of the family for some distance of the run. One memory I have was when mydad and I drove 26.2 miles up a dusty dirt road in the farm hills above our ranch and ranback to the cabin. At the end of the run, I asked him why he does it. He said, “the reasoncontinue to do this tradition is to show you kids that you can do hard things.” This struckme as he is nearing 50 years old. My dad has always led by his example and has inspiredme to do hard things.
The sport of running is very individual and has taught me valuable lessons about discipline, perseverance, and goal setting. Throughout my running career, I’ve learned to embrace discomfort, to push through pain, and to never give up, no matter how challenging the path may seem. As a dedicated runner there is a feeling of pain that isunexplainable. Pushing through the unbearable pain, legs are on fire, mind is screaming“stop!” is where the lessons are learned. The best way I can explain it is as an out of body experience as if you’re looking at yourself from above. Although it may be miserable in themoment, as I look back upon all the times this pain has overwhelmed me, I am proud ofmyself for doing something hard, it makes me feel as though I can do anything I put mymind too. This mentality has encouraged me to apply these valuable lessons to manyaspects of my life. I must attribute this attitude of never giving up to my dad, coaches, and teammates that went to great lengths to help me and the team achieve the goals that we set. Running has helped me recognize that with patience, resilience, and support fromthose I surround myself with, I can overcome any hurdle that stands in my way. As I soon begin a new chapter in my life attending Utah State University pursuing a business degree, I can use these lessons to be successful. Business is never easy and takes a lot of grit,getting knocked down is bound to happen, but getting back up is guaranteed because of the lessons I’ve learned through running.
Running is more than just a physical exercise or pushing myself; it is a mental and emotional endeavor as well. When I lace up my shoes I leave behind the worries anddoubts that weigh me down. Running for me can be therapeutic, in the solitude of a longrun I find clarity and peace of mind. Thoughts flow freely, without being distracted by thenoise of the outside world. I can confront my fears, problems, failures, and doubts head-on, making myself stronger and more determined than before. Equally as important, running has connected me with a community of like-minded individuals who share my passion for the sport. Whether it’s cheering each other or pickingeach other up at the finish line, I have found camaraderie and support among fellowrunners that extends far beyond the finish line. Together, we celebrate our victories, lift each other up in times of struggle, and inspire one another to keep chasing our dreams. Belonging to a team and community has nurtured social skills such as leadership abilities, which I foresee extending well beyond the realm of running. These skills encompass pushing others around me to be the best version of themselves, taking accountability, humility, and making selfless choices.
Throughout middle school and high school athletics, I’ve experienced both triumphs and setbacks while pushing myself to excel. From sixth grade to junior year, I’ve been dedicated to Cross Country, achieving notable successes such as an undefeatedseason and winning the Mountain West Classic in seventh grade. In 2018, some teammates and I qualified for the Junior Olympics in Reno, NV. High school brought even more accomplishments, including winning the state championship as a junior. I competed in Track and Field from seventh grade through senior year, earning placements at the state level in pole-vault and the 4×400 relay. Running required a significant commitment throughout my schooling.
![](https://winddrinkers.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Kimball-Smith-presentation-by-Ethan-Brown-169x300.jpeg)
In essence, running is not just a hobby or a form of exercise—it is a way of life with valuable principles that I plan to continue applying throughout my adult life. It is a journeyof self-discovery, knowing the power of perseverance and mental fortitude, a source ofstrength and inspiration, and a community of belonging. Running will always be a reminder that no matter how far the road may stretch before me, if I have the courage and determination to keep moving forward, one step at a time, anything is possible.