Developing a Strong Work Ethic

The shame and self-disgust that follows an act of cowardice had already taken hold of me. dawdling at the starting line, I stared down at my disgustingly clean sneakers k todaying they wouldnt miss a meter. I was in Munich, for the ISST running festival. I reckon the freezing temperatures. It was as if the rimy winds from the distant Alps had blown everywhere the school with their pivotal breath. They added to my building anxiety, chattering my odontiasis and blowing my sweaty, curly locks all over my pale forehead. So, I was fundamentally known as the upstart rookie, a hotshot let off in his middle-school days who was brought up to the Varsity level to contest internationally. I was a entireness underdog. Not that it mattered. There was an underdog in every school. Look ponderous enough and you can peck him. Bony knees, prepubescent; capacious round, nervous eyes, a cervid caught in the headlights.\nWe were trying to sport with the big boys. Well. I say, outmatcho w. Do you play cross-country? No. You run until you poor devil up your innards into your mouth, and because you try to hold them inwardly that heaving cavity with your sweaty palms. I was afraid of pushing myself to that point, because frankly I knew that I would when the measure came. You just do the best you can, my family all said. I laughed piercingly at that phrase, even now I do. They have no idea how much fret ones best effort requires of them in that sport. When I ran, it was always a game of the mind. I knew I had the physical capacity, so I withdrew into myself, ignoring the repeating pain in my lungs and the cold stab of severally breath. It was gruelling enough to get in that mental make do with middle school runners. I was up against 18 course of study olds with the body fat percentages of racehorses, and the field of Buddhist monks. I wouldve collapsed in a muddy, bile-stained heap on the finish line.\nIt was all withal much. I faked illness, disqualifie d myself from the race, and consequentially my self-respect becam...