To a runner, a pair of shoes is everything. It's the only piece of equipment that is really needed and sometimes, due to circumstances a pair of shoes can acquire great sentimental value. For me there's one pair that comes to mind. Naturally like any story, I had no idea that when I bought my first pair of Nike Air Max Motos that I would one day hold them in my hands with tears in my eyes.
It was a late August day and Cross Country had just begun. I skipped out on practice to go hangout with a friend, Cody, who lived out of town. While I was staying at his house we decided that I shouldn't totally miss practice so we came up with the idea that I would just practice with his team. However, because of state regulations I couldn't practice with the team, so I just did my own workout.
After the workout we went back to Cody's house and raided the kitchen cupboards and the fridge. As we sat there chowing down, Cody looked at me and said, "Dude one day you're going to be in the Olympics. I need something of yours with an autograph so I can make some money!" Instantly I knew what I should give him. I untied my old worn out Motos that had served me so well through the previous track season and summer training and handed them to him. He then made me sign one of the shoes as if I were signing a contract stating that I would become an Olympian and make him a lot of money.
The years flew by and Cody and I stayed great friends. It was also because of Cody that I would eventually meet the people who I now call my best friends. Cody and these friends would come up and visit and I'd take trips down to visit them. Every time I stayed at Cody's he would take me to his room to show me that he still had my shoes hanging up over his bed. Now I honestly don't know how he did it since as any experienced runner knows, a used pair of trainers really don't smell like fresh roses. Still there they hung, right over his head and he never forgot our agreement.
Sadly even though he hadn't forgotten our agreement, I had. After running my best races in the 1600 meter, 3200 meter and the 10k, I pretty much hung up my shoes when I wasn't accepted anywhere to run due to my low GPA. I lost all my drive and my goal of making it to the Olympics became nothing more than a fantasy. A few times I was close to getting back into shape only to quickly lose motivation.
Then one Super Bowl Sunday I would receive news that brought me to my knees. My friend who had believed every word I had ever told him, the friend who backed me up on every crazy idea that had come to my mind had died. That night all I could think about was the promise I had made him with that pair of shoes and how I had let myself go so far that even the idea of running a sub-5 minute mile seemed daunting let alone run fast enough to make it to the Olympics. The next day my mom and I drove down to Cody's house and as we sat there with Cody's parents, Cody's mother Linda told me that there was something she had to show me.
Walking up the stairs to Cody's room would be one of the hardest walks I have ever taken, but finally there we were sitting on Cody's bed. Linda dug in the closet and pulled out this old worn out pair of shoes and placed them in my hands. It was like I was reliving the day I gave my shoes to Cody in reverse. She went on to tell me how after years of them hanging over his head she finally said enough was enough and put them in the closet. As she told me this I examined my old companions, feeling the worn out soles and the meshing on top. I rubbed my hand over the signature that sealed our agreement that I would one day become an Olympian. While examining the shoes Linda went on to ask me if I would mind if the shoes could be buried with Cody. I agreed and later asked for one of the shoes so that I could always have a link to Cody, and of course Cody got the autographed shoe.
My shoe now sits on my piano by my bed where I can see it every day. I don't know if I'll ever be able to keep my end of the bargain. Still I feel it is an obligation of mine to at least try to honor my word. Since Cody's death I have been whipped into shape and am currently training for my first marathon. Naturally some days are tougher than others, but I just look at that old shoe and I'm reminded of what I must try to do. For me, the ultimate motivator is the thought that every time I tie up the laces and go out there and give it everything I have, Cody lives again...
It was a late August day and Cross Country had just begun. I skipped out on practice to go hangout with a friend, Cody, who lived out of town. While I was staying at his house we decided that I shouldn't totally miss practice so we came up with the idea that I would just practice with his team. However, because of state regulations I couldn't practice with the team, so I just did my own workout.
After the workout we went back to Cody's house and raided the kitchen cupboards and the fridge. As we sat there chowing down, Cody looked at me and said, "Dude one day you're going to be in the Olympics. I need something of yours with an autograph so I can make some money!" Instantly I knew what I should give him. I untied my old worn out Motos that had served me so well through the previous track season and summer training and handed them to him. He then made me sign one of the shoes as if I were signing a contract stating that I would become an Olympian and make him a lot of money.
The years flew by and Cody and I stayed great friends. It was also because of Cody that I would eventually meet the people who I now call my best friends. Cody and these friends would come up and visit and I'd take trips down to visit them. Every time I stayed at Cody's he would take me to his room to show me that he still had my shoes hanging up over his bed. Now I honestly don't know how he did it since as any experienced runner knows, a used pair of trainers really don't smell like fresh roses. Still there they hung, right over his head and he never forgot our agreement.
Sadly even though he hadn't forgotten our agreement, I had. After running my best races in the 1600 meter, 3200 meter and the 10k, I pretty much hung up my shoes when I wasn't accepted anywhere to run due to my low GPA. I lost all my drive and my goal of making it to the Olympics became nothing more than a fantasy. A few times I was close to getting back into shape only to quickly lose motivation.
Then one Super Bowl Sunday I would receive news that brought me to my knees. My friend who had believed every word I had ever told him, the friend who backed me up on every crazy idea that had come to my mind had died. That night all I could think about was the promise I had made him with that pair of shoes and how I had let myself go so far that even the idea of running a sub-5 minute mile seemed daunting let alone run fast enough to make it to the Olympics. The next day my mom and I drove down to Cody's house and as we sat there with Cody's parents, Cody's mother Linda told me that there was something she had to show me.
Walking up the stairs to Cody's room would be one of the hardest walks I have ever taken, but finally there we were sitting on Cody's bed. Linda dug in the closet and pulled out this old worn out pair of shoes and placed them in my hands. It was like I was reliving the day I gave my shoes to Cody in reverse. She went on to tell me how after years of them hanging over his head she finally said enough was enough and put them in the closet. As she told me this I examined my old companions, feeling the worn out soles and the meshing on top. I rubbed my hand over the signature that sealed our agreement that I would one day become an Olympian. While examining the shoes Linda went on to ask me if I would mind if the shoes could be buried with Cody. I agreed and later asked for one of the shoes so that I could always have a link to Cody, and of course Cody got the autographed shoe.
My shoe now sits on my piano by my bed where I can see it every day. I don't know if I'll ever be able to keep my end of the bargain. Still I feel it is an obligation of mine to at least try to honor my word. Since Cody's death I have been whipped into shape and am currently training for my first marathon. Naturally some days are tougher than others, but I just look at that old shoe and I'm reminded of what I must try to do. For me, the ultimate motivator is the thought that every time I tie up the laces and go out there and give it everything I have, Cody lives again...
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