When cross country season started this year, I struggled a lot mentally, trying to combat my anxiety. Fully convinced that my severe anxiety would always hold me back from being the best athlete I could be, no matter how much I practiced, I came very close to quitting.

If it weren’t for Coach Jones and the support she showed me, I don’t think I would still be running.

Whether it was crying at practice or before a meet, throwing up out of nervousness, or frustration over my performances at meets, Coach Jones never failed to ask me what she could do to help.

She’s always there to remind me that I’m capable of accomplishing what I work for, no matter how hard it may be, as long as I just lock in. Despite her not always understanding my “mentalness,” she’s always put in effort to help me and make me feel valued.

Similarly, when I got injured during track and soccer season, I struggled with the idea that if I was no longer an athlete, then I was no longer capable of proving to myself and the people around me that I was good enough.

She never once tied my identity to my performance in sports, and was always there to remind me that I’m so much more than just a runner or a soccer player. She’s also been there every step of my recovery. Whether I was happy about news the doctor might’ve told me, or crying about the bad news I received, she supported me and made my injury and my feelings about it feel valid.

We’ve had countless conversations about my mental health and what I can do to get to where I want to be, both mentally and physically. She’s shown that she genuinely cares about me as a person. While I don’t always follow her advice, lol, she’s always trying to help me.

While Coach Jones’ job is to make me a faster runner, she’s made so much more of an impact on me when it comes to being a better athlete and person, and the importance of seeing the value in myself, no matter what I can do or the times I run. I will always remember her for not only the athlete she’s helped me become, but also everything I’ve learned from her about life in general and how to get the most out of it, as long as I live like Madeline.

Thank you, Coach Jones, for being a person I can talk to when I’m struggling, have a story to share, super hype about something or just want to talk about random things. I’d be a lot more of a mess if it weren’t for you, tbh, and you’re the goat.

Lil Hud