When I started track, I had one goal, the Olympics. When I look back now, I see how narrow of a goal that was. After injuries, different coaches and self-coaching I saw that there were so many more things to do in the sport. I had my high school highlights and my journey as an unattached athlete on the D1 stage, but I never knew about Masters Track and field.

When I set my goal, I was 14 years old and knew nothing of how to achieve it. Over time I was told so many things and given unrealistic expectations and timelines for those goals. As I look back, I would have told my younger self to not be restricted by the 4 years of high school track nor the 4-6 years of college track. Making state or nationals during school didn’t mean success to me anymore.

I’ve achieved State, Regional and National champion titles all post high school and college. I feel better and happier for it. I coached myself to those wins and could really enjoy them without the “team” and having to do what the “team” needed. When in school, track and field is sold as a team sport but when you are done with school it’s actually an individual sport. There is only you against everyone else and the clock. I learned that early in high school being hurt and clawing my way back my senior year to medal at invites and conference. When in college I understood the assignment and focused on myself as I knew I would run past college. I tried out for the team but after each time I scheduled out my track meets and focused on my personal goals and what I wanted to achieve.

In conclusion I am better for the challenges and injuries I had in high school and college. Winning races now and competing at a high level has shown me not to limit myself to the “system” and focus on my goals and take on new challenges and opportunities. I train to win and focus on executing races to be at the top of the medal stand. I don’t do this for my health, and I don’t do this to catch up on what I thought I missed. I do this sport to win races, titles, medals and compete.

Nathan Johnson