Lauren Paul

Steve Virgen

In cross country, patience is essential, sometimes the

difference-maker. Runners must gauge how to start a race, maintain a

pace or when to kick into high gear.

Most runners learn through race experience. Lauren Paul, a senior

at Newport Harbor High, came to know about patience off the course.

From her freshman year to the track and field season last spring

Paul had been known for her dedication and her passion for running.

She has also been upbeat and positive for the Sailors. But those

attributes were in limbo when doctors told her that her heartbeat was

too slow and she would have to sit out the track and field season.

From January to May, Paul did not run. She only watched.

“That was probably the worst feeling I ever had, just watching

people do what you can’t,” Paul said. “[Running is] my life. And,

when you can’t do something like that you get upset.”

Paul had hope she would get cleared to run again, and in May, she

got the OK. That’s when she started to train for this cross country

season. She began with a three-mile run to become familiar with her

stamina again.

“Not running for five months and then going out really hard, that

was hard for me, but I loved to have that feeling again,” Paul said.

“It was a liberating feeling because it was so new again. It was

fresh. Sometimes you get caught in a rut and everyday seems the

longest. But coming back made me look at [running] in a totally new

light. It was such a great feeling to get out there and do what I

wanted to do again.”

Paul also gained great motivation to reach and surpass

expectations.

“My appreciation for it and the I-can-do-it was enough for me to

go out there and push myself to the max,” Paul said. “Why not? It’s

fun.”

Paul showed the results of her motivation with a personal-best

performance at the Woodbridge Invitational Sept. 20. She finished

second in Division II in 17:56 and gave credence to the words Newport

Harbor Coach Eric Tweit delivered before the season.

Tweit said Paul is one of the top cross country runners in Orange

County.

“This year, she has come into her own,” Tweit said. “She lacks the

leg speed of a half-miler, but she’s so strong. I think her better

days will be in college. She is a true distance runner and will get

better as the distance gets longer.”

Paul, the Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week, continued her comeback

Sept. 27 when she finished third (18:54), leading the Sailors to the

Huntington Beach Invitational title at Central Park.

“I’ve never been happier,” Paul said. “I’ve gotten way more than I

ever expected so far this season.”

Paul has also received another challenge this week. She learned

Thursday she will have to sit out seven to 10 days because of

tendinitis in her foot. She will be wearing a boot. But she has

comfort because she knows she will be back soon.

“I’ll be OK,” Paul said. “Everything is fine.”

In Paul’s world, it’s hard to believe everything won’t be.