Running Scared (PT.1)

I know you are probably sick of hearing about the same runner over and over again. However I have one more article to present to you about Katie Hickey. You have heard about her going to Nationals, and you have heard things about her in general. Now I bring to you the story that you didnt get. This is the story of the race itself.

Let me first say that even making it to Nationals is something that hundreds, maybe even thousands of runners will never do in thier entire college careers. Katie did so as a sophomore. This article in no way is meant to make Katie look bad. She is a great runner and i have all the respect in the world for her. ENJOY!!!

Bellarmine runner Katie Hickey had never felt like this before. For the first time in her career it was all about her. Well, her and two other teammates. Still, this was a far cry from the 30 plus members that took precedent over her wants on any given meet day This time it was more than just that.

There were many other firsts for Hickey on this trip. It was the first time that she had flown on a team event. It was the first time that there were more coaches than runners. It was the first time she had ran at such a large and important event. She had many first indeed.

There were three of them from Bellarmine at the National Event, Meghan Crowe, Jenna Lillpop, and Hickey. She was the new girl, the sophomore, running in a senior’s event. She was Katie Hickey.

Granted this event wasn’t just for seniors, but Nationals are a big deal, and it isn’t often that you see sophomores there. The only runners you see at Nationals are the best. The best of the best.

Knowing this she would frequently ask herself; “Why am I here?” “Can I keep up?” “Do I even belong here?” Everyone told her she was there because she earned it, that she could keep up, and believed that she definitely belonged. Yet the questions still lingered in her mind. These types of questions would be those that after her race, she would never ask herself again.

When she stepped on the track she looked at the other runners. All of them were older, stronger, and larger. These runners were proven All Americans and she was only a sophomore. It was like a young Philly stepping onto the track at the Kentucky Derby for the very first time. Nervous. Anxious. Wide eyed, and scared.

There was no time for these feelings. There was no time for fear. She couldn’t seem to shake this voice in the back of her head: her own voice which was making it hard to concentrate. It was like Chinese water torture, a constant dull tapping that ate away at her.

She stepped up to the starting line…BANG!!! And the race was off. The runners bolted off the line. The first 100 meters it was as if the race was a sprint. Then, suddenly, the pace came to a jarring halt.
After the initial 100 meters the pace became painstakingly slow. “How can this be? Why are they going so slow?” The pace was that of a 5k run, not that of a race just under a mile. The 1500 meter run.


She became bored with such a pace, so she threw all her doubt into the wind. She picked up the pace and challenged the front. Challenged the best of the best, the All Americans. This move was one that was embraced by the field. It seemed that everyone else thought the pace was too slow as well. Hickey had made her move, and the field followed.

For the conclusion of the race visit the blog later.