Hi, my name is Van Schneider, and I am a middle-distance runner in the class of 2026 from Glenwood High School in Chatham, Illinois. My PRs in high school track currently stand as 4:22 in the 1600 and 1:54 in the 800—my 3rd 800 over the span of 24 hours and the school record. Both were done when I was an underclassman. As a cross country runner I ran three miles in 15:08. In July. At 10 PM. I am exceptional in the classroom, sitting at 6th in my class of 365 students with a 34 ACT and a published novel (it is Mr. Football Part 5, and you can find it on Amazon if you are interested). Everyone—including myself—was expecting a Junior year filled with All-State-level success. That did not happen though. Because after the 15:08, I began experiencing the one problem that everyone seems to give different opinions, rehab plans, and prognosis on: Plantar fasciitis. Junior year fall was a grind but not in the same way that it has always been. Standing on the sidelines for two months, watching my boys compete without me trumped any the pain of any workout, race, or lift. I was determined to get back out there, and despite not running for two whole months, I went out there and dropped sixteen minutes flat. From there to the end of the season, I crawled my way to a 15:24—on paper not impressive, but to me, one of my greatest achievements. Over this past winter, I bounced around from treatment to treatment, hoping that I would find the one “magic bullet.” I did not, but I still managed to split a 1:57 in our 4×8 despite the fact that I did not actually start running until late-March. After scouring the internet and using professionals in the plantar fasciitis field, however, the answer is becoming clearer and clearer. After recently talking to Todd Rundell, a professional in the plantar fasciitis field, my tight hip flexors have been the surprising culprit, and I know that I will bounce back tremendously this year. 

My coach told me two things. One, that every storm eventually runs out of rain. And two, that everything happens for a reason. Being in the midst of an injury with a duration like this is the most difficult thing I have ever dealt with in my life. However, I know that when I get over this and I think back to all the hardships, the time on the sidelines, and endless hours stretching my foot, that I will be motivated. I will be driven, and this experience will be fuel to my fire. And my fire is running a 4:10 in the mile and 1:50 in the 800. I know that it will not be easy, but again, I know that nothing will compare to the despair that this injury has brought on.  

With this being said, I would be an asset to your team. I will bring not only fast times, but motivation and team camaraderie. This past year, I started and designed something called the Teammate of the Week award. Each week, votes would take place, and one teammate who stood out amongst the rest would be given the award on Fridays before the meet. This displays my true morals and how much I value team camaraderie. Adding onto that, I will be a great fit for your school as I am a well-rounded student athlete, not only excelling in both academics and athletics but also squeezing plenty of time for family and friends.  

With that being said, I express great interest in your school. I have a bright past but an even brighter future, and I know that your school will help me get to where I need to be in life. For more information, please email me at vanschneider2026@gmail.com.