For the last 3 years now every time I run their has been obstacles. It seems like every time I get over one the next one is twice as high and makes the sport less and less enjoyable. I am a 10th grade runner who has been running year round since 7th grade.
In 7th grade in my first year of middle school (where I’m from middle school is 7th and 8th grade no 6th grade) I ran an 11:50 3k. This is the last season I have been proud of the last 3 seasons have been filled of heart break. After my 7th grade season I was the 8th fastest runner on the team 1 spot of from varsity, and the 3rd fastest 7th grader on the team.
After 7th grade I decided to take my training to the next level and train year round. When Track came along I ran an 11:30 3k which made me feel okay, and was the last time I was near being satisfied in my running career.
I trained over the summer with the high school team and came into my 8th grade year hoping to break 11 minutes in cross country. During that season I didn’t know what was going on every race except one I ran 12:00-12:10 the other race I ran a 12:30. I was slower after training all year round and again was the 8th fastest on my team missing varsity by 1 place for the 2nd season in a row. It was in the winter after that season that I found out I had anemia, and had an iron deficiency, and that was why my season was worse.
My track season also had little improvement. I was sick of not improving so I ran the 800m I ran 2:39 ever race until the last one where I ran an 2:37. My anemia was starting to go away so that was good.
My freshmen year was the season that I wanted to be my comeback year. I had plans of being a low 18 minute runner for a good freshmen year. I was still training all year round but finish my season with a PR of 19:16, other people who train year round are able to run under 18 minutes, it was at this time when I got the thought in my head “am I a bad runner”. I training through the whole winter running around 40mpw which isn’t crazy but for a little freshmen it felt like a lot.
My Freshmen track season was my worst season yet. I ran in about half the meets my 3k pr was 11:10 that season. From 7th grade too 9th grade after training year round both years and growing 5 inches I improve only 20 seconds in a 3k. That seasons I sturggled with back pain witch was the reason I only ran in half of the races.
During the start of the summer training for my second high school season I had grown 4 more inches and was now 5”6, you might have read my username which is “I got side stitches” and during that summer ever f*cking time I ran I got side stitches and this did not make running enjoyable. And before the season actually started I was conseplating not running. I decided to give it a go and I kept training, slowly I started to get less side aches. But I still get them about half the time I run. I have tried changing my eating habits, hydrating, changing form, blah blah blah. I have excepted that it is growing.
The night before my first race my knees hurt. It felt like a bruise on my tibia bone below the knee. I iced it and pushed through the pain the whole season. I ended that season with a pr of 18:16 one minutes faster. By the last few practices I couldn’t practice, my final race that season was 19:40 because my knees were so bad. After the season ended about 2 months ago I gave my knees about a two week break of no running.
When I tried to run again it hurt the same way. I now know that I have Osgood Schlatters disease and that will probably stay with my until next year. I am currently 5”8 and growing like a weed, my dad is 6”0 so I will probably grow another 4”. I don’t know what to do. I love running, but recently it’s been full of pain and sorrow. I’m not very good I feel like, I mean for someone who trains year round. What should I do? I don’t know if god is telling my to stop, or if he is trying to strengthen me. I need some advice. Should I keep running? Should I take a break? Should I give up and quit?