Faraz Iqbal | Mechanical Engineer

My running career began when I joined my school's cross country and track team on a whim. My friend managed to convince me to join with him, and it may have been the best spontaneous decision I made. I made the varsity team for cross country in my sophomore year, and then did the same for the indoor and outdoor team the following year.

 

Having collected a fair number of accolades in high school (such as the Male Student-Athlete of the Year Award and the Cross Country Most Valuable Athlete Award), I have continued running competitively, entering some local races and some larger, high profile races such as the Boston Half Marathon. 

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My high school coach would often be heard at meets yelling his infamous catch phrases such as "Good swing good speed!", "Drive drive drive!", "Tuck the chin!", and countless others, all while having heavy legs and burning lungs in the middle of a race. Needless to say, none of us were very fond of hearing his voice in the moment. However, I sometimes find myself thinking back to those painful moments whenever I need motivation when life decides to throw me a curveball. It's funny how such a spur-of-the-moment decision led to having such a major influence in my overall personal development, and I am beyond thankful for all the lessons this sport has taught me over the years.