Shannon Bids Farewell

I wish I had some inspirational running quote, or a piece of advice from a coach to start my Salute off with. Maybe that would make squeezing three years of memories, people, and experiences into a few short paragraphs a little bit easier. Writing my senior salute has been something I have been dreading since I became involved in Cardinal athletics. I am extremely thankful for the opportunity to be a part of the athletic program at Saint Mary's. Running cross country for the past three seasons has shaped the person I have become and will always hold a special place in my heart. And for that, there are some people I need to thank. First and foremost come my teammates, both past and present. You are the people that have made my life such a joy throughout my running experience. When I struggled through a hard workout, you let me know that it happens. When I had a bad race, you were there to comfort me and cheer me on. When I was injured, you were there to push me further. When I had a problem outside of running, you were still there to offer your support. You are the people that have made running at Saint Mary's such a privilege. In no particular order: Andy, Kate, Karl, Po, J-Fo, Draker, LN, AK, Tera, The Koechelers, Kath, Gosia, Steve, Mags, Anna Curtis. Thank you for being more then just a teammate to me. Next on my list are the people that have come to my races to cheer me on and give me their love and support. Without you folks on the sidelines I would have never pushed myself a little harder, achieved a little bit more, and found the confidence in myself to succeed. Thank you to: Yena, Brooke, Emily, my aunts Kate and Laurie, my Grandma Marty, my parents, and my brother Steve. I love you all very much and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the support you have given me in my life. And what is a Senior Salute without a thank you to the coaches. Ward, thank you for making me feel like a runner instead of just someone who runs. I appreciate all the advice you have given me even if I didn't want to hear it. Brett, even though I haven't known you for very long I have learned a lot from you. Thank you for you honesty and really focusing on helping me become a better runner. Kirk, you are not my cross country coach. However I thank you for all the advice and support you have given me and also for putting situations into perspective for me. To all three of you, thank you for making my running career something I am proud of.