Trey Generali '20 Recruiting Profile

  Life Lessons of a Runner

            At just seven years of age, with butterflies in my stomach, my mother and I approached the crowd of people ready to run the Sao Paio, 5K race. The thought of running all those miles filled me with dread. But my mother believed in me and to my surprise, I really enjoyed it. Looking back now, that day really changed my life.

Fast forward a year later and I'm being asked by my mother to run a race with her called the Color Run. In this race, you wear a white tee shirt, and as you make your way along the 3.1 mile course, you are doused with powdered paint! If this was what running was all about, sign me up! It turned out to be really fun, except for the aches and pains that I quickly learned come with the territory.

I started running more frequently with my mother in races and through the streets of our town. I joined the running club in elementary school, which entailed a minimal amount of running a few days a week after school. When I entered middle school, I joined the cross country team. As a shy 7th grader, I showed up the first day of practice with butterflies in my stomach, similar to when I ran my first 5K. Being nervous, I forgot to bring my physical forms so I couldn't start practicing yet with the team. When I was cleared to run, I had to complete a time trial on a 1.8 mile course by myself. When I finished the race, I was astonished by my time, but also overwhelmed with a newfound confidence. As the season progressed, I grew stronger and found myself in first place often. I began to develop a passion for the sport and knew it was going to shape my future someday.

In the winter of 7th grade, my family moved to a neighboring town. Although we were only five miles away, it was a whole new world I had to learn to navigate, and it wasn't easy. When I started 8th grade, I went out for the cross country team. I found a camaraderie with my teammates, and became the top runner on the team. I finally felt comfortable in my new surroundings because running gave me a sense of confidence and belonging.

Fast forward and I'm a freshman on the high school cross country team. Although the races were now 5Ks, I became a stronger runner and achieved some very competitive times. I continued on the cross country team every year since, and with each passing season my performance as a runner improved.

As a senior, I was elected captain, and it made my last season more meaningful than I ever imagined. I always looked up to the captains for their leadership and ability to motivate us to achieve our best. I was so proud to be captain of such a great team, and they inspired me as much as I hope to have inspired them.

Pursuing my interest in running, and being a member of a team as well as a leader has taught me so many valuable lessons that I hope to carry with me as I move through life. Lessons like how goals can be achieved with hard work and diligence; how important it is to have a positive outlook, to believe in yourself, and to have people by your side who support you; how a passion for something can fuel your spirit; and how caring for the achievements and well-being of others can be so fulfilling. I've come a long way since that shy little boy in 7th grade, but I'm grateful my passion for running helped shape the young man I am today, and will continue to inspire me to do and be my best in my journey that lies ahead.