When I was in high school, I had a cross-country coach named Mr. Baker. He wasn’t just a coach; he was a motivator, a mentor, and someone who always knew how to push us to be our best. One of his favorite sayings—one that I still carry with me to this day—was: “Work the hills.”

For a runner, those three words were simple but packed with meaning. Hills test your endurance, your strength, and your mental grit. While some runners dreaded the incline, Coach Baker taught us to see it as an opportunity. His booming voice would echo across the course: “Work the hills! Attack them!” He wanted us to lean into the climb, to push harder, and to use the hill as a way to outpace the competition.

But Coach Baker’s words held another piece of advice about hills that was equally important—“Work the downhill.”

You see, most runners breathe a sigh of relief once they reach the top of the hill. They slow down and let gravity carry them. Not us. Mr. Baker drilled into us that the downhill is where races are won. It’s when others rest, and we push harder, widening the gap and building a double advantage. His strategy was clear: Work the uphill, where others struggle, and work the downhill, where others rest. That mindset has stayed with me, not just in running, but in life.

The Hills of Life: An Opportunity to Thrive

Life is full of hills. Some are steep, and some seem never-ending. But they’re inevitable—moments of struggle, challenges, and opportunities to test our perseverance. When life gets tough, I hear Coach Baker’s voice: “Work the hills.”

But life also has its downhill stretches—times when things feel easier or when others take their foot off the gas. Those are the moments where true greatness happens. Just like in running, working the downhill moments in life—pushing when others pause—can give you an edge. Whether it’s staying focused during a slow season at work, using quiet moments to learn something new, or doubling down on your effort while others take a break, it’s in those moments of action that real progress is made.

A Message for Kids (and the Kid in All of Us)

I wrote my upcoming book, 120 Positive Quotes for Kids: Guiding Words from Leaders and Legends, to inspire kids to adopt this mindset. Kids face their own “hills” every day—challenges in school, sports, friendships, and personal growth. This book is full of powerful quotes and reflections to help them build resilience, confidence, and grit.

From historical leaders to modern legends, these quotes offer timeless wisdom to help kids not only face life’s hills but thrive on them—both the uphill battles and the downhill stretches. It’s about teaching them to embrace effort, lean into challenges, and never let up when they have a chance to push ahead.

120 Positive Quotes for Kids: Guiding Words from Leaders and Legends will be available on Amazon in the coming weeks. I’m excited to share it with you and your family. Whether you’re looking for inspiration for a young athlete, a budding scholar, or someone in need of a little encouragement, this book is for you.

And when life throws its hills your way, remember Coach Baker’s advice:
“Work the hills!” That’s where the race is won.

Stay positive and keep climbing,
Parke Cross