Heart of an Athlete
Jennifer Barringer
|
"Integrity is revealed when you make unplanned decisions when nobody's looking." |
University of Colorado
Cross Country, Indoor/Outdoor Track
Chosen Attribute: Integrity
Dictionary Definition: “Steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code.”
My Definition: “Living by strong moral principles no matter who is or isn’t watching; honesty throughout.”
Favorite quote about integrity: “If you always tell the truth, you never have to remember what you said.” – My dad
Favorite Scripture that deals with integrity: “May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope is in you.” – Psalm 25:21 (NIV)
Why I chose that passage: “If you are honest and upright, standing firm on your morals, then you will live a life above reproach, and it will protect your image and your character. That Psalm is an example of that.”
How I apply integrity to life: “Each day we are all faced with seemingly ‘insignificant’ decisions that, when collected together, define who we are. When you get the free water cup at a restaurant and fill it with lemonade instead; when you take a test late and ask a classmate what to study; when your roommate is out of town so you treat yourself to her cheese.
“Everyone can give examples of defining moments when they were honest or when they wish they had been; but I think it’s the repeated little victories that I’m most proud of. Integrity is revealed when you make unplanned decisions when nobody’s looking.”
How I apply integrity to running: “So much of running is just that: running. The bulk of our success undoubtedly comes from the thousands of miles we pound out in our careers. However, there are other elements to training. A constant commitment to sleeping and eating well along with weight training and drills set the talented and elite apart from the talented and lazy.
“Putting a lot of effort into running and working out is important, but when I add to it the other areas of training and a healthy lifestyle, it creates integrity in training and helps to finetune an already talented athlete.
“It’s often tempting to take short-cuts because I’m tired or I want to rush home to watch the addicting TV show ‘24.’ It’s a test—especially when my coach isn’t around—of my own integrity and character to do what I’ve been asked to do with the best of my ability. In the long run, I know the faithful commitment will have its reward.”
About the Athlete: University of Colorado All-American Jennifer Barringer has made quite a name for herself. As a freshman, Barringer won the 2005 NCAA Outdoor Steeplechase title with a time of 9:53.04, was named All-Conference and All-Region in cross country, and also was selected as the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year. She continued her success as a sophomore in the fall of 2006 with a second-place finish at the NCAA National Cross Country Championship.
Regarding FCA, Barringer attends CU Huddle meetings and Bible studies regularly. “FCA has helped me stay involved in the Christian community,” says Barringer, who first began attending FCA meetings as a middle school student in Oviedo, Fla. “When I moved away from home to go to college, it was important to me to find a community of young adults that I could plug into. I’ve always felt comfortable with FCA, and its national reach makes it an easy way to relate to other Christian athletes at different schools.” 
