To be continued, by Ashley McKinstry — Whisper Running | Sport Psychology

On my morning run, I took a tour of Seattle’s notoriously vibrant Capitol Hill, made my way to Leschi to inspect the water, and completed my journey, breezing down Lake Washington Road, waving to trees in the arboretum. Six years ago I would have patterned my run with 200 sprints or a tempo, preparing for the track season ahead. Today, I jogged along reminiscing on wearing bright yellow socks and hair ribbons, thankful for the ability to get out into the city without the constraints of looming competition. I miss my days of wearing the Whisper uniform and the friends I looked forward to seeing at practice and am excited whenever I get my siblings updates on the community. Catching snippets of the world I used to be so present in, gives me perspective on how much has changed since I have left. The streets of Seattle occupy a space in my mind, evicting the road names of Camas and Vancouver, I once knew so well. I still see my favorite running buddy a couple times a week, attempting to hold on to a bit of home in the chaotic track of growing up. Taking in the city together, we reassure each other about the heavy uncertainty of the future and circle career paths. We have both missed our days on the starting line and were easily roped back into the world of racing by the opportunity of the Boston Marathon in April. Training for the marathon has brought structure and running overall has kept me sane throughout this period of my life.

I came to college and rushed the process of grounding myself in the city, getting an internship, job, volunteering and finding others who call this place their home. I picked up unconventional means of income, hosting children’s science birthday parties on the weekends to supplement hobbies of cooking, rock climbing, and music related ventures. During the week, I attend classes, working towards my majors of biochemistry and marine biology. I also spend some of my day at a cardiology lab, where I research the effect of genetic mutations on the heart. In everything I participate in, I try to make my life exciting, taking classes that pique my curiosity, and being actively engaged in research.