Being a Loser: What it Can Teach You About Winning

Growing up, I could have been described as chubby. I was chubby from about elementary school all the way up until about sophomore year in high school. In elementary school physical education class, we frequently were required to run the mile outside in a little coned area by the school. I was always in the back huffing and puffing and thinking that I was going to pass out. This is a story about losing and how it can eventually make you a winner.

As I said, I thought that I was going to pass out many times while running the mile in elementary school gym class and I absolutely hated the dread day our gym teacher announced that we had to run the mile. However, little did I know that in highschool, I would be called captain of the track team.

I was a loser in elementary school, always bringing up the rear. You might have called me the biggest loser. I think that my subconscious was affected by watching the olmpics and seeing track stars glide over the track and hit the finish line as if they had conquered all lf the hardships of life in about fifty seconds or less. For some unknown reason, I had a vison of myself flying aross ground and winning in this way. Therefore, in spring of my freshman year of highschool, I got on the track team. No tryouts were required and I began to become a runner. However, I still lost every race. I never one a medal for running, and I ran for about three and a half years. I was still the biggest loser, but I kept on running.

To back up some, in my sophomore year, I ran cross country, and practiced running not one mile, but 3.2 miles everyday. One time, I took so long to finish a race, the officicals starting taking the the ribbons and signs down before I came finally sprinting in.

Losing as a runner taught me a great deal about winning. Here is want losing can teach you.

Determination.

Often the race is not given to the swift. It is ability to keep on going that is more important,. Therefore, if you are met with any failure along the path, you will know that winning isn't everthing, but if you stop trying, you could lose more than the race.

Individuality

Losing can teach you to set yourself apart from the crowd and not depend on it thinks about you. You might be embarrassed as you lose, but losing will help you practice humility. In most battles in life, the person who will mostly be affected is you. Therefore, as you fail or lose, practice not caring what other think.

Courage

Losing can teach you to approach big tasks without fear because the worse that can happen is that you can lose and you have already had that happen to you many times.

Lastly, losing can give you something that you never imagined. Along the way of trying for something that seem unwinnable, often there are rewards that you never even dreamed of. For instance, as a Cross County runner I did receive one award at the end of the season. It was not a medal, but a trophy. On the gold plate beneath the poised running figure were the words, "Most Courageous and Dedicated Runner." It is the award that I am most proud of in my twenty-four years of living. Furthermore, while I was a runner who a bit heavier than the other runners, I also was a discus thrower. In my senior year, I broke the school record for farthest discus throw. As I mentioned before, in my senior year I was a track captain.

I did not forsee any of these accomplishments while I was losing every race, but as I kept on trying, I reached goals I never dreamed of. You can do these things to. Therefore, if you find yourself losing, just keep on running.