It was the last rep of the day, Logan, our long jumper was towing me on the bungee when it happened.

Bungee pulls are used for overspeed training. You use a buddy and elastic to slingshot you faster than you can run normally.

Unfortunately, things happen.

I remember the pop, closing my eyes, screaming, opening my eyes, all the while still being towed, and then hobbling to the fence.

I don't remember the in between through my eyes. It's like I was a drone looking down seeing it happen. Like a bad car accident. A train wreck.

Our head coach walked over, felt the swelling, knew immediately what had happened: torn hamstring. Season over.

How could this have happened? What did I do wrong?

The warm up was great, the weather was fantastic, I was running fast and feeling good.

Why was this happening to me? I'd been in a boot for six weeks between indoor and outdoor for a stress fracture and was just now feeling good and healthy.

Here's what the 2022 version of me would tell the 2014 athlete crying with an ice bag on their fresh battle wound:

It's not your fault this happened. This hurts. It's a tragedy. But it'll help you help others someday. Don't be discouraged. You'll never want to feel this way again.

You'll never want anyone to feel this way.

Learn from this, help save someone from this pain.