'hurdles at their full race height' - Common Application - Short Answer - Hurdling

Hello EssayForum! I'd appreciate any help or critique I could get on this short answer. Tear it to shreds if you feel like you need to!

I feel as if the last bit of the paragraph is especially weak. So any help on that would be awesome.

Please briefly elaborate (150 words or fewer) on one of your activities (extracurricular, personal activities, or work experiences).

The first time I saw the hurdles at their full race height, I thought my teammates pulled a joke on me; the frame rose to about four inches above my waist. Unfortunately, they were serious, and I somehow had to jump over ten of these beasts each race. I initially felt scared of the hurdles; it seemed like the bare skeleton of the hurdle framed the dirt behind it, saying, "your face goes here." After a few deep breaths, I positioned myself to take my first vault over a hurdle, took off, smacked the hurdle, then proceeded to eat dirt. But I persisted, continually practicing until landing on the opposite site of the hurdle became second nature. So now, whenever I clear a hurdle, I look back and smile triumphantly. Even if the hurdle was not a literally a hurdle.

Thank you!

But I persisted in overcoming the obstacles, continually practicing until landing on the opposite site of the hurdle became second nature.

apart from the correction above.. i think your essay is really nice

Actually, I now do that for any type of hurdle I overcome.
I now do that sounds kinda confusing. Do what?

Thanks for your input. I took Ginny2345's advice; it does sound more fluid now. I also modified the last bit to be a little less confusing.

I would love any further input. Thanks!

I like the essay, and think it does a good job considering the subject matter. The only think I'd worry about is whether or not an adcom would see the "hurdling over goals" string of thought as cliché.

Other than that, nice job.