Dear Running: Can't Think Of Anything Better

Round Rock senior Hayden Gray has been on fire in the last calendar year. His running has taken off and he has improved immensely. He qualified for his first state meet in the fall and missed medaling by one spot with his 11th place finish and 15:08.10 5K PR. The middle distance runner had a 1:57.67 SB in the 800m and a 4:20.22 1600m PR this season as he was searching for a college scholarship before the season was suspended.


"If and when the time comes, I'll be ready to race."

Hayden Gray, Round Rock High School senior

Coming into my senior year I had big goals that I wanted to achieve in both cross country and track. I knew that I would need to run fast to get noticed by college coaches.

Cross Country came along and I was in the best shape of my life. All those summer miles paid off and I ended up finishing 11th at State. I went from not qualifying in my past 3 years to one spot away from medaling.

Now being more of an 800m-1600m runner, I knew that I was ready for a breakout track season. It's really looking forward to setting a big PR in the 1600 and win the 4x800 again at Texas Relays. But then the Covid-19 pandemic came into the United States and cancelled everything.

In this time of uncertainty about whether or not I'll ever be able to run in a Round Rock singlet, I've learned you just got to control the controllables. I can still train hard and spend time with my family and I cannot think of anything better to do. I've been blessed in life and I know people have it way harder out there.

If and when the time comes, I'll be ready to race.


CONTRIBUTE TO THIS SERIES

For whatever your passion, be it running, jumping, throwing, hurdling, etc., if you are a track and field and/or cross country athlete or coach interested in contributing to this series, please send your essay to william.grundy@flosports.tv.