Statebound, my Final Round

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Getting to go to the state cross country meet all four years in high school is a blessing!  Very few kids can say that they got to do that, but for my team, it's an expectation. We are lucky to have so many talented runners all go to one school--a public school at that. No one gets in because of who they are. We are just who we are and where we are!  You could consider it "a God thing."

Each year has been totally different, but it's a great experience!

Tradition

We always get an animal. 

I learned this year where that actually came from. Farmer's first state trip was a long time ago with only 7 boys. While they were at a gas station, he saw a bun full of stuffed animal 7 dwarfs and thought it was hilarious, so he bought them each one. Ever since then, he's given the runners who go to state an animal to keep up with all week leading up to race day!

It kinda gets annoying at times to be honest. When I said we have to keep up with it all week I mean literally within reach at all times. Caught without it, we have to do push-ups, starting with 10 and doubling each time after that.

Luckily we don't have to run with them except for during warm ups and cool downs on speed days. Farmer used to make us always run with them, but we eventually talked him out of that because "it messed with our form."

It was an interesting week.  Monday the weather was an absolute downpour and pretty cold.  I knew that was going to happen.  Farmer is one of those people, though, who is determined to make us run no matter what.  He never hears thunder nor sees lightning.  More like no rain, no gain with him.  He won't put us on the road in the rain because it's "too dangerous," but the trails are just as dangerous if not more in my opinion.  At least on the road you have level footing and can better see where you are stepping.  If something happens, we are easily located and can be picked up in the truck.  Not so with a trail!  We run so slow, get so muddy, slip and slide everywhere and usually fall multiple times.  It is not fun.  Praise the Lord this time I talked him into letting us cross train.  I was angry because it took almost two hours for him to decide, but he finallly gave in after considering that state was on Saturday, and we already had enough people sick and hurt.  We didn't have very much luck with health this year.  After standing in the bathroom forever, he finally let us go.  Now here's the "long story" part after all of that.
My plan was to go to Workout Anytime and bike.  However, when I got in the Jeep, so excited to finally leave, I wasn't going anywhere.  My battery was dead.  Farmer tried to jumpstart me with Katlyn's jumper cables, and that still didn't work.  Then I was really worried that it was something worse than a dead battery.  After a couple phone calls, I ended up getting a ride from Miss Bailiff to Chantal and Cherie's house!  They weren't home, of course, since they're in college at UT Martin, but they do have a treadmill, bike, and weights at their house, within walking distance of mine.  So I called up Connie and asked if I could come borrow it and would explain the situation later!  It worked out!  By a little after 5:00, I finally got to do a bit of a workout!  I was Cherie for the evening.  I sent this picture to the girls, and they thought it was hilarious to hear all that crazy story.  They're lifesavers even when they're 6 hours away.

You can't tell from this picture, but the sky in that background here was absolutely beautiful!  This was our last day of practice, and I thought it was necessary to commemorate it with the beautiful scenery. 

We always get a picture before boarding the bus. 

This became one of my favorite pictures of Emily, Katlyn, and me!  We've taken lots of pictures of us three this season, always lining up with me in the middle, Emily on my right and Katlyn on my left so we could compare each picture!

Jessica made each of us a pretty little note with our name and a Bible verse written on the other side!

Cheddar's in Cookeville is the usual lunch stop on the way to Nashville. I tried something new, and it was delicious!  Fish, shrimp, mango salsa, and broccoli are all some of my favorites.

Poor Farmer was having some issues. He kept forgetting stuff and not driving the best (even for him), and was totally exhausted. When we walked back to the bus, he had gone back early after eating, and this is how we found him. 

People probably think we're weird for carrying stuffed animals around everywhere, so we embrace it.

The next stop is the course so Farmer can pick up our race packet and we can jog the course and "strategize." While we were running, we let the animals guard our starting box. Other teams thought this was so cute and took pictures too!

 

Here's my Oscar, ready to take off.

Farmer's birthday made this trip especially memorable!  Everywhere we went we would randomly break out in singing happy birthday. He hated it. We loved it. He was so embarrassed, but it was hilarious!  We sang to him everywhere. At Olive Garden, we also told them that it was his birthday, so they brought him free cake and got the whole section of the restaurant to help us sing to him!

In previous years we would go to the mall and walk and shop after dinner, but since we were staying in a different hotel this year, we went to an outlet place instead. Another change up!  My store of choice was Target.

I've sadly become one to be late to most things, but I'm really trying to work on that. This morning, I was determined not to be the last one downstairs to breakfast or on the bus!  I gathered up all my things before going downstairs, had plenty of time to relax while eating, and didn't even have to go back to the room. I was even early. It was rather surprising.

I follow milesplit and dyestat on snapchat so that I can see races and events across the country, and I was totally shocked get excited to see my friend Karina (left) on one of them that morning!  This was from pre-race stuff the day before state races in Illinois.

We were nasty-muddy after the race, so we made a pitstop in McDonald's so I could change and wash off and mom could get a coffee. We weren't very perky, but seeing these Snoopy toys brightened my day a bit. I was seriously tempted to buy a kids meal so I could have one!

I love Miss Bailiff!

She also likes to take pictures with us. I'm so glad that she joined us this year.  It's been a major blessing to all of us.

She also gets start line pictures with us!  Again, not the most memorable day, but some of the best group pictures. (This one and the one of us seniors)

 

Ya see how there are no race pictures here?  There's a reason for that. We did not enjoy that race a bit. No one. I felt awful, as did most of us. Times were slow all around, but especially for our team. We didn't place. No all-state runners. But that happens. Sometimes things just stink. This was one of those times. I must say though, Maggie and Emily did race pretty well!  

That afternoon and the next day, we stayed in Nashville to visit the store at Lipscomb to get some shirts then to go shopping!  That helped us have a better time too. 

We hate it when things go like this, but it could've been worse. I'm not happy with the race, but I'm happy with all the lessons learned and friendships built and strengthened this season. My college decision is done, and there are so many better things ahead!

Luckily, too, I still had footlocker to run. And that was better anyways!

Back to Back State Champions

It's the end of October, heading into November and all high school cross country runners know what that means:  Championship time. State meets start being held every weekend and people prepare for the post season. This comes with tradition and new adventures. For my team, a tradition is the state week animals. 

Farmer and I both got the idea to put Halloween build-a-bear clothes on ours!  He and Coach Owens picked out a pig for me because, like pigs, I eat a lot, yet I'm picky about what I eat. 

I was so excited about this cutie that I went home and had a photo shoot with him before all the leaves were gone.
He can climb trees...

He can spy on me!

He can play in the leaves with me, too.

Hey, he can even be my dinner. Shh!  Don't tell him that!

We also get team shirts made for the big day, and this year the colors were green and purple, which convieniently matched a pair of socks that I got for my birthday!  

The Friday morning that we were to head out after first block classes was a but chilly, but I had to get in the purple again.

Ready to load the bus!

After traveling to Nashville, we had dinner, then went to the mall for around an hour. Christmas was just getting started, but I enjoyed getting to look at the early stuff that was out. Calendars of my favorite dogs make my heart melt.

So does build-a-bear. It brings back old memories and makes me feel happy inside!  These are adorable miniature pajamas.

I love all the seasonal stuff more than any other time, so I had to go in the store an shop. This is what I finally decided on buying.

Farmer stuck his animal's butt up in the window of the bus...lovely.

So the race wasn't my best, but I have learned many lessons this season. God will humble you when you take your eyes off of Him too often. It is painful to come down off of mountains, especially when you are expecting so much success, but it is good to know that God wants my devotion so much. I am working at lowering myself, but it is a struggle. Satan works hard, too!

However, another aspect of humility is not only putting myself lower, but making God first and foremost then others higher. I am a member of a back to back state championship team and teammates with some of the top runners in the state!  More than that, we have a spiritual relationship with God and each other that I could not live without!  I am blessed to be able to go through every race with them there to encourage me and talk through the struggles of it in our "therapy sessions."

Cross country is also an amazing opportunity to make new friends with other fantastic people!  I love seeing them and keeping up with them across MileSplit. This is our twin picture after all-state pictures with me, the shortie, stick in the middle!

State champions yet again...💜

"Not I, But the Grace of God.."

A few weeks ago, I got a message from my coach saying that our top 5 girls need to be at the Knox News Sentinel between such and such times on that Wednesday for pictures.  "Makenzie needs to be there at 5:45 and wear her shoes and uniform for runner of the year photos."  Well I was totally confused.  This whole thing went right over my head.

  First off, I thought it was that day (Monday), and I could not figure out why I was the only one who needed shoes and a uniform and a specific time either.  So here I was, at home by myself, calling to no avail my parents that would not answer.  I was freaking out because I thought that we had to leave for Knoxville in the next few minutes, but no one was going to be home to leave.  So a few minutes later I went back and very carefully re-read the message from Coach Farmer.  Oh.  "Thank goodness; it's Wednesday, not today," I thought.  "OH MY! WHAT? OH MAN! OH MAN!" was about all the words that would come out.  Yeah, that said runner of the year.  I finally realized that I had been chosen for the PrepXtra Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year by the Knoxville News Sentinel, the main East Tennessee newspaper.

 

I remember being younger, just really getting into running, my dad would show me these guys and girls selected for this, and I would think, "Whoa, that would be the coolest thing!  These people are awesome!"  I never would have thought it would be me.  That's kinda why it took me so long to figure out what was going on when Farmer just flat-out told me.  I have always admired runners who receive awards like this and many others.

 

I knew this season was a blessing; more things happened than I would have ever imagined possible.  Winning a state championship by a very wide margin, for example.

 

God set all these things into action for one purpose, His purpose.  I always pray a lot for God to take my life and use me in whatever ways He sees fit for His glory.  He has presented so many opportunities for our team to be in situations for others to see Him working through us.  "Nothing is impossible with God."  (Luke 1:37)  We worked so hard all season with the goal of a championship on our mind, pushing us forward from race to race.  More importantly than everything, we had faith in God that He would prepare us for whatever we may be challenged with.  Yes, there were painful days, sickness and soreness, defeats in races, and competition within the team.  All of that made us stronger.  I believe that God brought the girls, families, and coaches of our team together to encourage each other to be bold in sharing what we are here for.  We have been given talents by God and for God.  We must "give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for [us] in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:18

 

I cannot find words to say how blessed I am to have this opportunity to share with so many others how God gives so much strength, rewards the faithful, and is just flat-out good and loving.

It's not me; it's Him at work.

 

Like I had said earlier in the season, one of my all-time favorite Bible verses of this season is

1 Corinthians 15:10, "By the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not without effect.  No, I worked hard...yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me."

That's why I titled this post with part of that verse.  It just means so much to me and is a daily reminder of why God's word tells us to be humble.  "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; ²⁰ you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies."  1 Corinthians 6:19-20.  I am not my own.  Another way to  put the verse above (Luke 1:37)--without God, I can do nothing.  “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing."  John 15:5

There is a piece of the article on my school system's Facebook page, and the whole thing is in the Knox News Sentinel.

My coach, Raymond Farmer, was also one of the two selected for Coach of the Year.

 

(The other 4 girls from our team were on the PrepXtra first team.  They got an individual picture taken and placed in the sports section with around 10 other girls from the area.  That Wednesday, I did the same photo and went to the pro photographer for the pictured-above shoot.)

Bristol Cross

This past Saturday, September 28th, was probably the best race day I have had.  It was a beautiful morning; the sun was shining, Steele Creek park was gorgeous, and my excitement was flowing for what lied ahead.  Ever since the night before, I had this urge to just sing and dance, but I knew I needed to hold it in a little while longer.  Between the race in the morning and getting to join my church youth at our fall retreat, I was ready for a thrill.  I did a lot of praying for opportunities and a positive, unselfish attitude for whatever happened.  On the ride there on the bus, I listened to some great contemporary Christian music getting me even more pumped, shared some thoughts on Twitter, and Blogger, and read some on my phone Bible. (One of my favorite pre-race songs is Eye on It by Toby Mac)  I just had a great feeling.

The girls varsity race was at 11:10, the perfect time it seemed.  This was my favorite racing weather.  Just one of the innumerable blessings of the day.  I started on the second line behind the twins on our team.  We had a start box dead center, so we wanted the best start for everyone on the team which meant Chantal and Cherie would probably get out the fastest.  I don't usually start too well, so I was worried for a moment, but then realized--unselfish, let it go.  God will make it work how it should.  We went through our normal team chant and prayer, and I said my "Just do your best and God will do the rest" right before we took off.  Well buddy, that was my best race start.  And I kept it up!  That gun went off and I just let go.  God completely carried me through that entire race.  This is no easy course.  Rolling hills and tons of curves and tight turns are everywhere on the two-loop course.  Girls from my JV team kept telling me in their cheers that no one was even close, but I didn't know.  Rounding those last couple turns, I was so excited.  Heading toward the finish of a race is always an amazing rush of adrenaline.  Sending up prayers throughout races also keeps me going more than anything.  The finish of this race is a long stretch of gradual downhill with an uphill into the finish line.  Around the 3 mile mark, I could see that the clock said 18:00.  Holy cow I was thinking.  Pushing in that last little bit in my head I was saying "PR! PR! PR!" and I did!  The only way I was able to do that was because God wanted me to have another opportunity to share His name.  I never would have imagined running an 18:28 on a tough course like that. 

Back at the tent, I looked up from changing my shoes to find two men asking if they could interview me.  "Oh man" I thought.  This hadn't happened before, and I didn't want to sound dumb.  Then I knew that they were there because God put them there.  I said a quick prayer that He would speak through me and give me the words to say.  I answered their questions and told them how God had just blessed me with an amazing race that day.  I also talked about prayer and our whole team.  I don't really remember what all I said, but I just hope it makes a difference to someone out there!

On my cool down, I ran along a gravel path that followed the side of the lake there.  I was overwhelmed by the day, and it was only around 1:00.  I use my cool downs to reflect on my races and pray and thank God for all His blessings.  Today He had given me a pie to donate, a new PR, even more joy in my heart, and an opportunity to share about Him.  I still can't believe all that God is doing here in this world.  I feel so blessed to be a part of His plan and can't wait to see what all is ahead.

A song by MIKESCHAIR comes to my mind daily this season.  All I can do is thank You for this life I never deserve.  Wanna thank You for the grace I know I don't have to earn.  You love me, You love me, Your mercy is proof.  All I can do is say thank You.

 

Two girls from our varsity had to leave to go to violin lessons, but here is the rest of the team with our head coach and the first place plaque!