Occasionally I’ll put up a story or video that defines the human spirit… and it’s greatness as brought out through sports.

Recently, it was the “Courage of Lauren Hill,” the basketball player with terminal brain cancer who started off the basketball season with the college sport’s first points even though she only has months, maybe even weeks, to live.

As we get into Thanksgiving, I’ve come across what I think is the best sports story of 2014 and it has to do with a long-distance runner.

Kayla Montgomery literally collapsed in agony every time she ran a race and each time she fell into the arms of her coach, Patrick Cromwell, her track coach at Mt. Tabor High in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Softball players and families: you MUST watch this fantastic ESPN feature done by E:60 as told by Tom Rinaldi.

Can you imagine, after every game, walking in the field and falling to the ground pleading, “My legs. Where’d they go? Please help me. Please help me find my legs.”  This is what Kayla experienced every race due to an illness that has no cure, but one that has no dampened her will to succeed.

This 13-minute video will amaze and inspire…

… and make you appreciate what you have, including supportive family members and coaches who drive you to levels of excellence even you didn’t know you have!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdLEmE138xA