William (Henry) Haden '21 Recruiting Profile

When thinking of college, I envision a setting in which I can achieve both my athletic and academic aspirations by way of running in college and achieving my business degree. In high school, I strive to maintain a balanced lifestyle in which I commit to constantly improving in the classroom and on the track. When running I like to think back to my middle school coach’s saying, "Every step you take now is a second you will save in the race." I think that it points to a greater overarching theme surrounding me as both a runner and a student. In this quote the emphasis is placed on the correlation between training and improvement. In order to have a successful 60 mile week, the best approach is not waking up on a Saturday and running 60 miles, which almost certainly results in getting injured. Instead by being consistent, the runner will get the mileage and training in a way that is beneficial to building strength, endurance, and speed. I believe I embody this consistency. In the offseason, I begin everyday with my run according to my training plan since I have found running to be something that I not only enjoy greatly but also benefit from mentally and academically. Running allows me to focus on a singular task and realize improvement as a direct correlation to the effort which I invest. Likewise, I am consistent with my academic work. I plan out and set aside specific windows of time to apply the same focus and intensity to classwork which has undoubtedly benefited my grades substantially. In terms of college, I am confident that my consistency and unfaltering dedication to running and studying will result in success on the track and in the classroom, ultimately positioning me well for my career. Additionally, one of the most enjoyable aspects of running for me has been my teammates and the time we spend together training and competing. Summer practices are usually very hot in Atlanta, but I am never afraid to step up and encourage my teammates verbally or through example when facing this obstacle. 

Lastly, one thing that sets me apart is the passion and dedication which I bring to anything I do in life but most notably in running. I never let anything stop me from getting my run in and this has meant many sacrifices on my part including time with friends, junk food, and most notably sleep. This commitment to sacrifice has bore much fruit being on Varsity Track and Cross Country since freshman year and improving my 3200 meter time by nearly a minute, my 1600 meter time by 30 seconds, and my 5k time by two minutes since freshman year to rise to the #2 runner on my team in my junior year with my eyes set on being the #1 runner my senior year and the Varsity Co-Captain. I am confident that I can bring this dedication, consistency, experience, and passion for the sport to a collegiate setting where I know I will make a positive impact on the team and in my academics.