McMurry Hall of Honor Class of 2018
After running countless 100 mile weeks, achieving top level fitness, and struggling with near constant injuries every season during my time running at Adams State College, I felt defeated. I had dedicated myself to nothing but running for almost three years and had basically nothing to show for it. I had been running over 10 miles a day, 7 days a week, never taking breaks, constantly focused on my goals, and it had finally taken its toll on my legs. I had just come home to Texas for the first time in a very long time and I remember having near suicidal thoughts because I wasn’t able to do the two a day runs at 6 min per mile pace like I had just a season before. As a cross country state champion in high school, I was used to achieving at a high level and had never quit anything in my life. I made the phone call to Coach Damon Martin and hung my head and sobbed. My life as I knew it was over. I gripped the steering wheel of my Mitsubishi Eclipse, stared into the distance, and slammed the gas. Surely there was more to my life than this.
Around this time I had considered transferring to McMurry University because my brother was going to ACU the next year and I had kept in touch with my friend Shawn Hailey who ran there. I spoke with Shawn and decided to give running a go even though inside I knew I had basically nothing left in my legs; but stubbornly, refused to quit and give up my dream. I spent cross country season on the sidelines, training with the team, and decided to give it one last go for track. Coach Chandler entered me in the 5K in nearly every meet that season. Refusing to admit to coach the extent of my injuries, I sucked it up and loaded up on painkillers, ran the 12.5 laps around the track and spent sleepless nights in bed after races writhing in pain. I counted down the weeks until conference, when I could finally say I dedicated myself and finished the season and my career the right way.
When conference came around, Coach Chandler revealed I was entered in the 5K and 10K. I knew if I could finish the 10K and run the full 25 laps I could live with myself and say I gave the sport of track & field everything I had. I ran every step with excruciating pain, wanting to give up but refusing to back down from the challenge. When I crossed the finish line, Couch Chandler and Coach Crousen let me know that I had scored for the team. All my pain disappeared for a moment and I glowed knowing I had contributed to the cause. As our team went on to win the Conference Championship and later the National Championship, I felt proud of the guys that had scored the majority of points, namely Hann, and appreciated the opportunity that McMurry gave me to be a part of something great.
Fast forward to today when I got back to the States from China and opened up my mail to see the certificate of induction into the McMurry Hall of Honor for our 2008 Men’s Track Team. This brought back deeply buried emotions and a tear to my eye and made me realize all those miles that I had put in over the years were not in vain. Though I had left Adams State without a national title, by not giving up I was able to contribute to another team destined for greatness.
I am humbled and grateful to be a part of such a high honor. I am incredibly thankful to my coaches and teammates from Adams State and McMurry for letting me be a part of your programs and pushing me to be my best and to never give up. Special shoutout to Mario Macias and Jake Raines for the epic 20 mile runs at altitude and to Mo for blasting Notorious BIG to motivate me on the hardest run of all: ROCK CREEK.
I hope that this will help you find that extra motivation and hope you need to never give up in pursuit of your dreams. You can do anything you set your mind to, focus on your goals, enjoy the journey, and make your dreams a reality!
