By Rebecca Hext
Staff Writer
Senior Lauren Hagedorn has been plagued by a range of injuries since her freshman year, but she is now finally able to compete as she finishes her last season of high school cross country.
Hagedorn began running cross-country in middle school and fell in love with the sport. Inspired by her older sister Shannon’s participation on the Mira Costa cross country team, Hagedorn decided to pursue running herself.
“To me, there is nothing more invigorating than extending my stride and hearing the rhythmic melody of my feet hitting the pavement,” Hagedorn said. “I love feeling the euphoric ‘runner’s high’ that follows the release of endorphins and pushing myself beyond the point that I think is possible.”
During her freshman year, Hagedorn suffered a leg injury two weeks before freshman summer training and was unable to compete until the last meet of the year. When track season came around in the spring, Hagedorn was not able to compete due to a hip flexor strain.
“There is no way to explain the disappointment I felt in myself,” Hagedorn said. “I felt a lot of frustration for naively thinking that if I ignored the pain it would disappear. That made me feel trapped by my own body.”
Hagedorn was unable to compete in a single race due to shin and toe pain her sophomore year. After four serious injuries in just over a year, her parents convinced her, after much resistance, to let go of her cross country ambitions. Hagedorn decided to join the girls water polo team and give her legs a break from the high impact of long distance running. She also decided to join the swim team instead of track in the spring.
“Though it was fun to challenge myself and learn a new sport, I still wanted to run,” Hagedorn said. “It was incredibly difficult for me to think about anything other than cross country.”
After an injury-free summer and pre-season, Hagedorn joined the cross country team yet again during her junior year and had a major breakthrough race at the Central Park Invitational, finishing in first place. However, after her race, Hagedorn suddenly felt a shooting pain in her toe.
“It seemed like some cruel twist of fate after having my best race yet,” Hagedorn said. “I could not even finish my cool-down because of the pain. I remember trying to hide the pain because I refused to admit that I was injured.”
Hagedorn’s injury was too severe to allow her to compete, so she was forced to miss yet another season of cross country. Determined to compete in her junior year track season, Hagedorn spent the winter recovering by creating and executing her own running program. After much time and determination, she was back to running the team’s regular mileage.
“Lauren’s passion for running is infectious,” senior teammate Sarah Locke-Henderson said. “Her determination and positivity is an inspiration to every single person on the team.”
This season, Hagedorn has placed in the top five for Costa’s varsity team in every meet and is so far injury-free. She was able to run in the Palos Verdes and Mount SAC meets for her first time. Her goal for the season is to be able to compete at the state meet with her teammates in late November.
“Through my disappointment I’ve come to know my body, my desires and my spirit more intimately,” Hagedorn said. “I’ve learned to appreciate the time that I am running, and my success this season is a testament to the power of perseverance.”
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