Dear Coach,

As I write this letter to you now I realize that it has been three years since we have last talked. Part of me is still hurt that you left and moved to another state, but I know it was best for you and your family. However, after that realization I have come to another discovery: there’s certain people in everyone’s life that are important to their development but are not truly meant to stay close forever. You believed in me from the first week I came out for practice in my freshman year of high school. I will never forget you pulled me aside after the workout and said, “Kid you got potential. I can see it already if you listen to me and put in the work, you’re gonna be leading this team.” It was that day you put greatness into my mindset. Once I found my events you made me do workouts with a senior captain. Every time I was not pushing myself to the absolute limit you would scream, “KYLE PICK IT UP!” and I would move faster than I thought was possible. I think back to those times now and realize it was not you yelling at me to go faster that made me push myself but I just did not want to disappoint you. See you dedicated your time so that I could reach my full potential and no other coach showed me that much care.

Sophomore year you made me push myself further than I ever thought I could. That season I was racing for a state championship instead of being happy about winning a bronze medal like most runners my age. In the state championships I was less than a second off of qualifying for the national championship. I was distraught over just missing the time, but you came over with a big smile on your face, told me how well I ran and said “Great season. Now get ready to put in more work to be the best.”

But you left. And my craving to be better left. And my ability to give everything I have at practice left. And my competitive drive to fight off other runners from passing me left. See the new coach was not like you. All he saw of me was some kid who was on pace to be elite. But he never believed in me so I never believed in him. I fooled around at practice. I passed on all my potential college offers. However, I will forever be thankful for the lessons you taught me.

You shaped young Kyle to be a fierce competitor. Taught him that he has to work harder than everyone else if he wants to succeed. You taught him how important it is to believe in yourself and others. Most importantly you showed him his full potential. Sports may not be in his future but these lessons helped him push himself in school, in relationships with others, and to be a better person. I thank you for helping my younger self mature and become disciplined. 

I just wish keep in touch meant keep in touch.