Ka’Deem Wynn │Sports Journalist

“Run with a purpose, and run because you love it. Purposes vary with different runners but that's what makes us unique and what drives us to become not only better runners but better people.” - Adair Lyden.    

The Start Of A Bright Future

Lake Nona junior cross country and track runner Adair Lyden has been running competitively since the sixth grade. “My dad is a former state champion in cross country and track for Westminster Academy so the idea of running has always, pardon my pun, run in my family.” said Lyden. Born with the running bug, it was only natural for her to follow her father’s footsteps. Running for Westminster Academy, Adair ran her first 5K, crossing the line at 30 minutes and 36.51 seconds. Though that was an impressive run for a girl in the sixth grade, it wasn’t enough for Adair. It was only by instinct that she wanted to run like her father.

Once Adair ran 30 minutes, she never looked back. She dropped a total of 7 seconds that season, not only ending with a then personal-record of 24:32.37, but her first win. Adair would have many more wins to come her way. In the spring, she ran a handful of meets, and made it to the region meet, running a then personal-record of 13:01.01, placing ninth. Her other best times included 3:11.13 in the 800 meters, and 6:30.05 in the 1600 meters.

In the seventh grade, Adair continued to get better. After opening the season with a 22:34.44, she accelerated and ended the season with a season-best time of 20:10.74 at the state meet. Though this was her first state meet, she would be returning for many more ━ in cross country and track.

In the spring, she ran a time of 5:37.60 in the 1600 meters. She qualified to the state meet in the 3200 meters, where she ran her then personal-record of 11:41.98. “Each of her middle school

running years, she demonstrated an increasing seriousness about running, and a growing skill in leadership,” said Adair’s former coach at Westminster Academy, Kenneth Key. “Adair demonstrated much of the same seriousness and commitment to running that her father had, with a side streak of middle school silliness that was such fun to have around.”

Running With A Purpose

Adair Lyden appears to be like most teenage girls. She’s very pretty, very confident, and she’s a top-notch athlete. But there’s something that makes her not only so good, but sets her apart from the rest ━ her profound relationship with God.

“Running is my way of worship,” says Lyden. “Every time I run, I run for Him because He takes all the pressure off and allows me to run free. Running has definitely helped me grow and thrive in my faith.”

Even though winning races and championships are great, Lyden doesn’t exactly run for those things ━ or times. At the end of the day, she just wants to make not only herself and her father proud, but her heavenly father as well. “I most enjoy

reading and hearing about how her faith in Jesus impacts her outlook on life in general, and her running in particular.” said Key. Her goal is to run for Him. To give her all, and allow God to take her to incomprehensible heights.

Over the next 3 years, Lyden began to look like she was on her way to be like her father, who was dubbed “Lonely Lyden” at one point. Now a freshman in high school, Adair’s times kept improving. “When I first met Adair I was really excited to work with such a young, talented athlete,” said her current coach, Janell Grasso. At the 2013 Flrunners Invitational meet, Adair blazed through the course, and ran her personal-record time of 18:42.90. Amazingly enough with a time like that ━ for a girl ━ she finished 12th overall. This was Adair’s second time running under 19 minutes in the 5000 meters. Her first was at the cross country state meet the fall of her eighth grade year, when she ran 18:47.10.

In the spring, she ran her then personal-record of 5:24.60 in the 1600 meters, and 11:18.32 in the 3200 meters. She qualified to run at the state meet, but again only made it in the 3200 meter. Just as she began to gain some speed, Adair hit a wall. A wall that would take a year to climb over.

Praise You In The Storm

Even though it’s not hard to notice, Adair Lyden is a small girl. Along with being a small girl, she’s a teenage girl, and her body is maturing and changing. It’s almost impossible to run good when you’re body is changing on you and trying to grow.

“Last year my performance was not what I wanted it to be,” said Lyden. “I experienced a lot of struggles and hardships both mentally and physically.”

Even though she didn’t run the times that she had wished for, Lyden went into every race with the attitude and idea of giving her best and nothing less ━ even when her body couldn’t.

Last year, she still had a very good cross country season. She ran a season best time of 19:18.23. She made it

back to the state meet, but fell a bit short as she ran, finishing with a 20:15.85. “It was my worst state meet ever,” Lyden recalls. “It was not my year.”

With the first half of sophomore year here and gone, and not the kind of success that she was looking for, Adair began to doubt herself and her abilities and had a fear of failure,since she didn’t improve from freshman year. It was then that her father sat her down and talked to her. “My dad kept telling me ‘Adair. I believe you have what it takes, but I can't be the only one.’” Lyden recalls. “‘You have to believe.’”

It was in that moment that Adair realized what her father was saying. She realized that in order for her to accomplish her goals, she must be the one to believe that she can do anything if she believes in herself and trust in The Lord.

With The Lord her focus, and 1 Corinthians 9:24 in her heart, Lyden had a new approach to her set back. She ran her heart of every race as she had before, and was thankful for each experience no matter what the outcome was.

As she still struggled, she was able to push out some great times. In the 3200 meters, Adair ran a season best time of 11:26.59. This year, she had more success in the 1600 meter run. Lyden ran at the state meet for the fourth consecutive year; this time however, qualifying in both the 1600 and 3200 meters. At Hodges Stadium, she ran her best time yet of 5:19.91 in the 1600 meter run placing 13th. She later ran 11:29.18 in the 3200 meter run, placing ninth. Though she didn’t go home with medals, she ran for The Lord, and that’s all that mattered.

Not So Lonely

Adair’s father, Sean Lyden, got the name “Lonely Lyden” because no one could run with him. You could try, but you would only be able to hold on for so long. After that, you wouldn’t see him until after you finished.

Though Adair is getting to that point, she has her team to run with her when she gets “lonely.”

“I absolutely wholeheartedly love my teammates!” said Lyden. “They are the people I look forward to seeing everyday after school and the people that never cease to build one another up. I'm so excited for what the year has for us as a team.”

Adair is looking to lead her team not just out of districts, but out of regionals, and lead them all the way to states.

You’re Gonna Hear Me Roar

Last year may not have been the year for Lyden, but this year certainly is. After a year of set back, Adair Lyden is back. She is fired up, spiked up, and is ready to roar like a lion. “Junior year is a big year,” Lyden says. “Colleges start to look at you and academically it's stressful. I'm looking to excel in my running, improve on last year’s performance and lead my team to the state meet.”

After physically and mentally recuperating, Adair is ready with a can-do attitude. She opened the 2014 season with a 18:57.60 at her home meet,  the 3rd Annual Running With The Lions 5K. At her next race, she backslid and ran a 22:56.30 due to being sick. However, sickness isn’t going to keep this girl down. Adair is still coming back from the sickness, and this past weekend, ran 21:29.70 at the Hagerty Invitational. With Adair back in action, she begins her attempt to be the next Lyden to run along the “Lonely Lyden” trail.

“I'm looking forward to proving not only to others, but also to myself that I have what it takes to be one of the top in the state.”

With cross country season in full swing, Lyden isn’t going to hold anything back. Her coach agrees. “I really like Adair’s want and drive to be the best. She has enough

drive and motivation for two teams of athletes,” Coach Grasso said. “She is also realistic about being the best and willing to do the research and work to reach her goals.” Adair is now looking at colleges, and has an eye for Samford University. The reason being: her father went there. However, she isn't 100% set on it, as she's still looking at other colleges and opportunities. 

They say that hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard. Though she has a God-given talent, she doesn’t use that as an excuse to not work hard. With her dominating faith and trust in The Lord and her focus fixed on the future, Adair returns this fall to finish what she started.