For those of you who do not know who I am, my name is Canaan Meester-Kitterman. I usually just go by Canaan Kitterman. Canaan (KAY-NIN)

I am currently a junior at Bayshore High School in Bradenton, FL.. It is my third year running XC and track for Bayshore. I started running back in sixth grade. I was excited starting middle school at the idea of playing sports, but I had no idea exactly what sport I wanted to try. During the first few months of school I heard on the morning announcements that cross country tryouts were coming up. It sounded like a great idea, running. I went home and said “Mom, I think I want to do cross country.”

She came back with, “Are you sure? Wouldn't you rather do track? Track has lots of different events and distances to try. Cross Country is running.... and running a long ways.”

I said, with a laugh, “I know, that's what I want to do. Also Mom, there is an annual Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning. It's free.... do you think you can take me? I really want to try it.” She asked how long of a race it would be, and when I told her it was 5 miles I think she thought I was crazy because she went on and on about how someone can't just show up and run for 5 miles when they haven't ever tried to run one mile. My mom is pretty great though, and she took me.

I ran that Turkey Trot, and it was hard, and it was a long way. I did have to jog/walk a little of it, because I didn't know anything about pacing myself. In the end I finished in the top of my age group and about 100th place out of over 200 runners. As soon as I finished that race I knew I wanted to keep running.

When I returned to school after the holiday break I went to school tryouts and I joined the team. I didn't really take running seriously yet, it was just something fun to do. The first year I did XC I happened to be on the county championship winning team and placing 5th overall as a 6th grader. I had a lot of fun running and wanted to do it the next year...and so I did. This time the team didn't do as well as last year but I placed 5th overall again. I still thought it was something fun and did it the next year as well. This time it was my 8th grade year and I took 1st at the county championship..... much to my surprise.

As I was entering my freshman year in high school I knew that I wanted to do XC again. Early in the season I sprained my ankle at an after school practice while running bleacher miles. I didn't have any kind of a “standout” season, but I took first in a couple of the JV meets. My coach was really trying to get me to run Varsity, but I felt like I wasn't fast enough. Even though I had taken some first places on the JV races it was a little intimidating thinking of running as Varsity. My fastest 5k was a high 18.

After cross country I decided to finally give track a go. In Middle School the coach for XC was always asking me, begging me, to please tryout for track. After running XC, I just didn't think I would enjoy running on a track as much....... but I was wrong.

My High School coach convinced me to run varsity for track freshman year after doing pretty good with cross country.

Well...I kinda started to stand out in Manatee County then. I began winning varsity track meets in Manatee County for the 1600 and 3200. I some how managed to get my time down to a 4:39 for the 1600, and a 10:09 for the 3200, without much training. I was still just running races because I loved it, and winning was making me love it more. I went on to win the Varsity County Championship (1600/3200) and advanced to Districts. At districts, it dawned on me just how fast some of the runners from other counties really were. This was a serious meet, with serious competitors, who wanted to make it to regions. This would be my first introduction to strategy in track. Being from a small team and not having people to keep up with me didn't get me too much experience with strategy. I do not remember any situation or race where my coach talked with me about race strategy.

As soon as the 1600 meter run began the four top runners made a box in lanes one and two, successfully keeping me from passing them. I didn't have the knowledge or experience to know what they were doing or how to stop them. So I kinda just chased them through the run. When we got to the final two hundred meters they all drifted out and covered the first four lanes keeping me from sprinting past them. I came in 5th one spot away from moving on. I literally missed placing within 10ths of a second. When I finished I quickly realized that I and the other four kids had separated pretty far from the other runners. Honestly, it was heart breaking for me. I felt like an amateur. I was an amateur.

The 3200 was a different story. I had to face three of the same runners, but they were missing their 4th. It gave me a little hope at the start of the race, thinking maybe this one would be different. However, it seemed they teamed up with a kid from a completely different team. The plan was to have the slowest fourth runner have a fast first mile and have me chase after him. After the first mile the others would swoop past us and box me in again. This worked as well as the box did in the 1600, and I did not qualify for regions. Again, by a hair.

The whole experience was hard to take as a freshman. Getting put into your place and having to except defeat. I learned a few things that meet, from how to lose as a good sport, to strategy, to needing to work a lot harder if I ever wanted to make it to state. I told myself I need to become better and find a running group or something, so that I could run over the summer.

And that's what I did. I found a local running group to train with called the Sun Coast Striders. I ran all summer determined to come back as fast as possible.

When XC season came my sophomore year, I did come back improved. I won a majority of the local varsity races I ran in. (Venice Cross Country Invitational 9-17-11, Lemon Bay Invitational 10-1-11, Manasota Invitational 10-8-11, BRC Invitational 10-22-11, Manatee County Championships 10-29-11, Class 3A-District 9 Champion) I placed 8th at Regions and I had qualified for State Championship where I placed 24th overall for 3A division, running a 16:19. I was really happy about that, and super excited for track.

When track season began I had a good start and my mile time was dropping. I thought I was ready for districts, regions, and states.... but instead; I sprained my ankle three weeks before the district race, putting me out for two weeks. I don't really want to tell you this, but I will, I sprained my ankle playing catch with a tennis ball while waiting for the JV meet to start. Yes, messing around, passing time, cost me the rest of season. I did get to run Varsity County Championships the days before, taking first in the 1600, 3200, and a leg of the 4x800 relay team. I tried to come back after rehabbing my ankle but struggled with districts. I barely made it to regions in the 1600 and 3200. I was not able to advance out of regions. I was no longer in performance condition. I finished sophomore year track with SB times of 2:05/800, 4:30/1600, and 10:07/3200.

My sophomore year was filled with attention and coverage in the local papers for both XC and track. I received the “Bill O'Brien” award for area's best Male XC runner. I had a lot of support and recognition from my teammates, coaches, family, and friends. Everything except the injury part, it was a great year.

After taking some time off after track, I began doing the distance runs that I enjoy over the summer. I became a board member for the local runner's club that I had joined the summer after my freshman year. I completely love running, not just the competing, but running in general. I like the hard work, and I like to see the benefits of it. I can't imagine that I will ever stop running. I have now entered my junior year of XC. So far I ran a season best time of 16:06 (that is also my PR). I have a personal goal of breaking that 16:00 barrier this season, and can't wait to see if I can. And that bring us up to present day...

I know this blog post was a long one, but I'm assuming if you are not from my county or near it, you probably do not know who I am. I know that there are runners out there that are so much better, stronger, and smarter runners than I am. Runners who have names that just about everyone who loves running in Florida knows. I admire those runners. I am inspired by them. I have so much more to learn about the sport, and so much faster I would like to be. I plan to continue learning and working hard. I just want to be the best runner that I can possibly be.

Canaan Post-Race Interview at FLRunners 13

FOLLOW CANAAN ON RUNNERSPACE HERE:

Canaan's PR's:

800 2:10.21

1600 4:30.68

3200 10:07.28

5K 16:06.50