Harrison Kelchen: How Running Changed My Life

Harrison Kelchen shares how running changed his mindset.

Over the summer, I had another fight with my parents. I knew the consequences would be great. When I was sitting in my room, my dad walked in and gave me a piece of paper that said “Marathon Training.” I hated running so much. I wanted to scream. 

I ran the first few weeks because the training was easy and I wanted to get out of my room, but as the weeks went on, I knew I had to find a way out of running this marathon. My dad and I drove to the track to do a seven-mile run one Sunday afternoon. As I walked up to the track, I quickly stretched and I was off. In my head, I had told myself that this was too hard and there was no way I could do it. At mile three, I decided to quit. 

When I walked back to the car, sweat and tears dripping down my face, I realized that I always took the easy way out, but I really wanted to change that and prove to myself that I can do anything. That night, I felt horrible and I knew that something in me had changed. I was used to doing everything for other people and not for myself, but now I wanted this for me and only me. 

The next morning, I jumped out of bed, threw on my running shoes and asked to go to the track instead of getting dragged there. Before I left, I told myself that I can do this. I got to the track and took off. By the time I hit the halfway point, there was no stopping me. As I rounded the corner on the final lap, I felt invincible. I learned that I could do anything when I believed in myself. I also learned that I will always have running. With a Perspective, I’m Harrison Kelchen.

Harrison Kelchen is an 8th grader at Kent Middle School who stays active by playing sports, logging miles on runs and fly fishing out on the water.