Coach said today would be an easy day. He said that yesterday too, and it was not easy. When I pointed that out, he asked me what I thought our workout should be and I clammed up because there was no way I was going out on a limb to suggest 40 minute jog. For the record, it was 2 quads and five laps in the Smelly Woods (and 3 quads for the warm-up, which I always forget to mention). That's roughly 4 miles in total. Unfortunately, after the first quad (the workout quad, I had already completed the warm-up) I discovered that my attempts to develop a bladder of steel had failed. I REALLY had to go to the bathroom. So I asked and Coach said, "Ok. Go up to the school. The bathrooms down here are locked," because really, he couldn't just tell me to pee in my pants. In my defense, i ran the 1/4 mile uphill to the bathroom (admittedly, more because I had to pee than because I have a spectacular work ethic) and I ran back down when I was finished. When I came back down, the other girls had finished their 2nd quad and were somewhere in the Smelly Woods, according to the injured/tired girls who were sitting out. "Should I do my second quad?" I asked.
"Screw it," they said. "Just start in the woods." Two girls who had decided they were done resting joined me. I ran with them at first, but they were going rather slowly and stopping to walk frequently, which I don't blame them for, but still, I do want to get at least a little faster before the season ends. So I started running by myself. The woods are pretty big and dense, so it's easy to feel very.. lonely inside. I also found it was harder to push myself when I wasn't trying to keep up with someone else. They're also kind of creepy, because sometimes you can hear people, but you can see them, so it feels like they're constantly sneaking up on you. Once during Winter Track last year (I wasn't there, obviously) Mr. Speedy hid behind a big, old tree while the girls were running through the woods and jumped out and scared them. They'll never forgive him for that. Well, maybe they will when he wins a gold medal at the Olympics. We'll see.
Anyway, I was the last one to finish my 5 laps because the other girls either started earlier or gave up earlier than me. As I finished my 4th lap and approached the clearing where coach was waiting with a few stragglers they cheered, "Homestretch, baby! You can do it! Finish it out!"
"I have 1 lap left!" I yelled as I ran past.
"Oh," they said lamely. "Keep going, then!"
When I finished they cheered again, and then offered me a hair tie, gesturing to the pile of matted hay-- I mean hair-- on my head. I turned it down: I never tie my hair up. It' s just a habit.
"That was a good run," Coach said. I don't know if he meant I ran well, or he set a good, hard workout.
"You're becoming a good long distance runner," he added. Once again, I'm not sure what he meant. This is kind of getting annoying.
The thing about our Coachis that he's really nice. He wouldn't hurt a fly, even though he looks really tough. He's a Special Ed teacher during the day and he coaches with a passion after school (or in the morning, as is the case now). He's like 65% of the reason I'm on the team. He's just great. He's proud of us in a quiet way, very unassuming and very, VERY encouraging. There is no such thing as bad to him, only things that "could use improvement." Which is why I'm afraid to interpret his "compliment" literally. To him, "good" does not necessarily mean "fast." It could mean a host of other things, such as determined, improving, or hardworking. While it's nice to be all of these things, I'd rather be a fast runner. Considering the speed I started out at, just "improving" isn't going to make me a County Champ anytime soon.
So, for now, I'll just assume he meant I'm improving to the point that I might be an average runner (hallelujah!!). When I'm a county champ, I'll let you know. Though, you'll probably hear from me sooner that Mr. Speedy broke a world record.
Friday, September 4, 2009
XC-Day 4
Today's precribed workout: 2 victories, 1 quad, 1 lap in the Smelly Woods. The entire team was running together at a decent clip for the first victory, but people started dropping like flies when we started the 2nd. Some of them actually stopped to take a break. I noticed recently that there is a group of girls who don't finish the workouts. They don't even try, it seems. They just.. stop. On my first day, there were a couple of girls my grade who I recognized as being some of my fellow Athletic Failures. When I saw that they were joining XC, I was surprised to say the least. In the words of one, "well, I'm not that good at running, so I want to start getting better." I fought the urge to say, "Now is not the time to start getting better. That time was 2 months ago." Some people don't seem to understand that XC is not something that you can take lightly. You're on the team, or you're not. You can't kind of be on the team. It's not like one day you can't even finish a mile and the next day you just decide, "Oh, I think I'll just run this 3 mile race. Shouldn't be much of a problem." Note, this is NOT that kind of sport. That sport is called football.
Needless to say, they've already quit.
To prove my point, we were ready to die by the end of today's workout. I was keeping up with the fastest group until about 200 meters into the 2nd victory. Then I decided to run with the 2nd fastest group, which was still pretty fast. They were very nice, though. They didn't mind my running with them, though they were an intimate group of 2. One is a 3000 runner usually. The other is a violinist. I don't know how the latter decided to join XC.
After a while, we became the 3rd fastest group, because the 1st fastest group split into 2 groups: those who are just naturally fast, and those who are harder workers holding on for dear life. Meanwhile, coach walked in the opposite direction to cheer us on. At least he wasn't running with us today. He runs too fast. (Think: sub-5 minute miles.)
I felt mildly nauseus by the end of the workout, but at least accomplished. Coach again seemed surprised to see me not at the back. At one point I was running directly behind Ms. 3000 and Ms. Violinist because there wasn't enough room on the sidewalk to be next to them. This was the point at which we passed our Coach. He yelled, "Come on, keep up! You can do it!" I couldn't tell whether he was telling us as a group to keep up with the group ahead of us, or if he was talking to me and saying, "Stay with that group!" I suspect the latter.
Needless to say, they've already quit.
To prove my point, we were ready to die by the end of today's workout. I was keeping up with the fastest group until about 200 meters into the 2nd victory. Then I decided to run with the 2nd fastest group, which was still pretty fast. They were very nice, though. They didn't mind my running with them, though they were an intimate group of 2. One is a 3000 runner usually. The other is a violinist. I don't know how the latter decided to join XC.
After a while, we became the 3rd fastest group, because the 1st fastest group split into 2 groups: those who are just naturally fast, and those who are harder workers holding on for dear life. Meanwhile, coach walked in the opposite direction to cheer us on. At least he wasn't running with us today. He runs too fast. (Think: sub-5 minute miles.)
I felt mildly nauseus by the end of the workout, but at least accomplished. Coach again seemed surprised to see me not at the back. At one point I was running directly behind Ms. 3000 and Ms. Violinist because there wasn't enough room on the sidewalk to be next to them. This was the point at which we passed our Coach. He yelled, "Come on, keep up! You can do it!" I couldn't tell whether he was telling us as a group to keep up with the group ahead of us, or if he was talking to me and saying, "Stay with that group!" I suspect the latter.
XC- Day 3
Phew, today was harder. Coach didn't say it would be easy, but he usually warns us when it's going to be hard. Actually, it was only about 2 miles, but there was a lot of uphill in those 2 miles... I was very proud of myself, though, because I managed to keep up with the fastest group. (This year our XC team is big enough to have distinct groups! We have almost 20 people! That's a big improvement over 6 members!) I was working harder than them to keep up, but I think it was worth it. We finished the 2 miles in about 16 minutes, give or take 30 seconds. I think Coach was a little surprised to see me not at the back for a change. Then we did 2 laps in the recently renamed Smelly Woods (5 laps in the woods=2 miles) and then worked out in the weight room.
The boys team practiced with another high school today, thank god. It's so crowded on our 115 acres with them! :) Still, they are kind of annoying. Their coach is in a situation that's the opposite of ours. He just watch all of his best runners, including the legendary Mr. Speedy, graduate last year and now... his team is a little disheartened. One girl, observing the boys team running victories said, "Look at their XC team.. It's kind of pathetic this year. They're not as good as they once were."
"Why? Do they usually have more people" I asked as I watched all 40 of them run past.
"No. They just usually have [Mr. Speedy]" Mr. Speedy is one of the best athletes our school has had in a long time. Actually, scratch that. He's the best athlete we've had. Ever. He's a mid-distance runner, which means that he can basically crush anyone in any race, because what he's really good at, he's #1 in the country at, and what he's ok at, he's better than everyone else in the state at. I don't know the specifics of his accomplishments, but based on what I saw at track meets, the Boys' team's strategy was as follows: Clone Mr. Speedy. Put him in every race. Watch him win every race. Bring home big, shiny trophy.
It was, overall, very successful. They were one of our school's few teams that we could talk about without being embarrassed. Our school newspaper couldn't run enough stories on Mr. Speedy. In fact, now that he's graduated, the people in the sports section don't know what to write about. "Girls' Volleyball Team Loses Another Game" or "Football Team Naps on Athletic Fields" wouldn't make very good headlines.
Mr. Speedy is now on a full scholarship at some beastly track university in the south, and his fellow former teammates are left abandoned, staring desolately into the Smelly Woods.
The boys team practiced with another high school today, thank god. It's so crowded on our 115 acres with them! :) Still, they are kind of annoying. Their coach is in a situation that's the opposite of ours. He just watch all of his best runners, including the legendary Mr. Speedy, graduate last year and now... his team is a little disheartened. One girl, observing the boys team running victories said, "Look at their XC team.. It's kind of pathetic this year. They're not as good as they once were."
"Why? Do they usually have more people" I asked as I watched all 40 of them run past.
"No. They just usually have [Mr. Speedy]" Mr. Speedy is one of the best athletes our school has had in a long time. Actually, scratch that. He's the best athlete we've had. Ever. He's a mid-distance runner, which means that he can basically crush anyone in any race, because what he's really good at, he's #1 in the country at, and what he's ok at, he's better than everyone else in the state at. I don't know the specifics of his accomplishments, but based on what I saw at track meets, the Boys' team's strategy was as follows: Clone Mr. Speedy. Put him in every race. Watch him win every race. Bring home big, shiny trophy.
It was, overall, very successful. They were one of our school's few teams that we could talk about without being embarrassed. Our school newspaper couldn't run enough stories on Mr. Speedy. In fact, now that he's graduated, the people in the sports section don't know what to write about. "Girls' Volleyball Team Loses Another Game" or "Football Team Naps on Athletic Fields" wouldn't make very good headlines.
Mr. Speedy is now on a full scholarship at some beastly track university in the south, and his fellow former teammates are left abandoned, staring desolately into the Smelly Woods.
XC- Day 2
Day 2 was a 35 minute run, once again, not a problem. We did a victory and some laps around the combined softball and soccer fields (aka the Quad), but nothing too exciting. And the woods still smell.
Coach asked if anyone ran over the summer and I raised my hand, but I don't think he saw it. I'm not trying to hide it from him, it's just that considering the amount of running I did over the summer, I should be a lot better than I am now. And I don't want to get his hopes up and then disappoint him, right?
Especially since we found out that the Spring Girls' Track team was co-league champion with our neighbors across the pond, GC Girls' Track. This is huge for us for 3 reasons: 1) we used to suck. big time. As in, we were last in the league every year for the last twenty years.. until now! 2) we're league champions!! Never mind the Co part! Our school isn't really known for its, uh, athletics, so in our community, this is a pretty big deal. 3) We tied GC!! GC girls' track is well, the Resident Unassailable Beast of the local track scene. No one beats them. Still, our season records (11-2) were the same! (Just wondering, who on EARTH could possibly BEAT them??) Anyway, they're pretty pissed, because they're used to being League Champs, Division Champs (which we almost were, too!), County Champs, and sometimes State Champs. They're not too hot on this "Sharing the Title" thing.
Coach asked if anyone ran over the summer and I raised my hand, but I don't think he saw it. I'm not trying to hide it from him, it's just that considering the amount of running I did over the summer, I should be a lot better than I am now. And I don't want to get his hopes up and then disappoint him, right?
Especially since we found out that the Spring Girls' Track team was co-league champion with our neighbors across the pond, GC Girls' Track. This is huge for us for 3 reasons: 1) we used to suck. big time. As in, we were last in the league every year for the last twenty years.. until now! 2) we're league champions!! Never mind the Co part! Our school isn't really known for its, uh, athletics, so in our community, this is a pretty big deal. 3) We tied GC!! GC girls' track is well, the Resident Unassailable Beast of the local track scene. No one beats them. Still, our season records (11-2) were the same! (Just wondering, who on EARTH could possibly BEAT them??) Anyway, they're pretty pissed, because they're used to being League Champs, Division Champs (which we almost were, too!), County Champs, and sometimes State Champs. They're not too hot on this "Sharing the Title" thing.
XC- Day 1
I've been a little behind lately, what with having to go to sleep early so I can get up at the crack of dawn for XC, working on that AP World HIstory assignment that slipped my mind until now, and trying to revive my long dormant (and now possibly nonexistant) flute playing skills in time for seating auditions.
Well, the first day went well, but that's not saying much considering we just ran for 30 minutes doing "Victories" (1 victory= 1 lap around the combined middle and high school property, approximately 1.6 miles with enough hills to be annoying, but not torturous). Actually, make that Victory. We only did 1. Then we ran around the track and on the path through the woods. Normally I like the woods (except I trip a lot), but lately it smells like something died in there...
Just so you get an idea of where I"m running, my high school is connected to the middle school, both of which are situated on the extensive (think 120 acres) grounds of an old estate. In other words, our track coach has plenty of land to torture us on. Big whoop.
Well, the first day went well, but that's not saying much considering we just ran for 30 minutes doing "Victories" (1 victory= 1 lap around the combined middle and high school property, approximately 1.6 miles with enough hills to be annoying, but not torturous). Actually, make that Victory. We only did 1. Then we ran around the track and on the path through the woods. Normally I like the woods (except I trip a lot), but lately it smells like something died in there...
Just so you get an idea of where I"m running, my high school is connected to the middle school, both of which are situated on the extensive (think 120 acres) grounds of an old estate. In other words, our track coach has plenty of land to torture us on. Big whoop.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Eureka!
I just realized why I decided to join XC:
Friend N.C.: "Little Ms. Nerd is doing CROSS COUNTRY?????!!"
Me: "OH, yes. And she is DREADING it. I've been running over the summer in an attempt to suck less at track, and I decided that as long as I'm going to torture myself, I might as well do it effectively and join the XC team. When I die, you can have all of my camp memorabilia =)"
Friend N.C.: "Little Ms. Nerd is doing CROSS COUNTRY?????!!"
Me: "OH, yes. And she is DREADING it. I've been running over the summer in an attempt to suck less at track, and I decided that as long as I'm going to torture myself, I might as well do it effectively and join the XC team. When I die, you can have all of my camp memorabilia =)"
Pre-Season Day 2
Instead of almost throwing up again... oh, did i forget to mention that? After I was so proud of myself for running a 4K in 20:30 yesterday, I was ready to throw up. I read somewhere that nausea is the sign of a good, effective workout, but I'm beginning to have my doubts about that now I've experienced it. At least if I'm going to throw up, I'd like to do it in an unpopulated place where I can puke in privacy. Unfortunately, I do not have my own private track or health club, so in the mean time I'll just have to deal. Anyone know whether I can TUMS or something beforehand so I don't projectile vomit onto my competitors during races? Just kidding... well, maybe not...
So, today I opted not to make myself sick with running disease (also known as an exacerbated form of un-athleticism) and do some weight training instead. That was somewhat rewarding, aside from the part that I couldn't always figure out how to work the darn machines. Thank you to my kind fellow exercisers who pointed out that yes, I was doing it wrong again, and no, the machine was not adjusted right for my height. I also tried the stationary bicycle for half an hour. Not sure what I accomplished. Other than watching The View, that is. Gosh, I wish I was in Disneyland.
At least Mushroom is back from India! It's good to know that she'll be around to douse me with liquid nitrogen should I spontaneously combust on the school track.
XC is only 3 short days away!
So, today I opted not to make myself sick with running disease (also known as an exacerbated form of un-athleticism) and do some weight training instead. That was somewhat rewarding, aside from the part that I couldn't always figure out how to work the darn machines. Thank you to my kind fellow exercisers who pointed out that yes, I was doing it wrong again, and no, the machine was not adjusted right for my height. I also tried the stationary bicycle for half an hour. Not sure what I accomplished. Other than watching The View, that is. Gosh, I wish I was in Disneyland.
At least Mushroom is back from India! It's good to know that she'll be around to douse me with liquid nitrogen should I spontaneously combust on the school track.
XC is only 3 short days away!
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Pre-Season Day 1
I decided today while perusing a Pottery Barn catalogue that the aforementioned furniture mogul is actually the root of all evil. I frequently ask myself while I"m running (especially during races) "Why did I join this godforsaken team?" and now I have my answer. I've always admired Pottery Barn-- not for their lovely furniture-- but for the way they subtly suggest that the people who live in their rooms take great joy in being Honor Roll students and the MVP of their school's every sports team. Or at least that's what it looks like. Why else would they market a specialized trophy case (matches Lilac Bedroom Furniture Set!) or feature corkboards strewn with the evidence of some heinous crime-- I mean, major accomplishment... like being both tan and surfer-ish, as well as an award winning horseback rider? Real people like that do not exist, I tell myself, but then who is buying these things? I can just imagine the girl who lives in one of these utopian bedrooms snuggling in for the night in her Watercolor Paisley Bedding (with matching sham!) and thinking, Ahhh! Isn't it good to be the lead of the school play... and MVP of the soccer team... and MVP of the volleyball team... and an avid photographer?
After seeing all of this, who would be satisfied just to be me, the lowly astro-geek? I play flute, yes, but that's hardly enough to make me worthy of one of their Preppy Polka Dot Bean Bags.
It was on this panicked note that I "facebooked" my friend (who shall henceforth be known by her nickname, "Mushroom".. don't ask) with an urgent, "When are you getting home from India?!" If she doesn't make it back to the states (and I don't mean in a useless jetlagged condition either!) before X-C (<-- f.y.i., cross country) starts, I may just spontaneously combust one day at practice.
On the bright side, I did run a 4K in 20:30 today (which, sadly, is an accomplishment for me) and there will be incoming freshmen on the team, who, barring superhuman powers unknown to me, shouldn't be too fast. Oh, right. I forgot. The incoming freshmen (or at least the only one who will probably join the team) is superhuman. She was faster than me before the joined the team. Then again, in my defense, she was faster than most people in the county by that point.
After seeing all of this, who would be satisfied just to be me, the lowly astro-geek? I play flute, yes, but that's hardly enough to make me worthy of one of their Preppy Polka Dot Bean Bags.
It was on this panicked note that I "facebooked" my friend (who shall henceforth be known by her nickname, "Mushroom".. don't ask) with an urgent, "When are you getting home from India?!" If she doesn't make it back to the states (and I don't mean in a useless jetlagged condition either!) before X-C (<-- f.y.i., cross country) starts, I may just spontaneously combust one day at practice.
On the bright side, I did run a 4K in 20:30 today (which, sadly, is an accomplishment for me) and there will be incoming freshmen on the team, who, barring superhuman powers unknown to me, shouldn't be too fast. Oh, right. I forgot. The incoming freshmen (or at least the only one who will probably join the team) is superhuman. She was faster than me before the joined the team. Then again, in my defense, she was faster than most people in the county by that point.
First Ever Post!
Let's make this Day "0"
Just to catch you up on what I've been doing... I joined the track team partly because I was told I needed exercise and partly because my friends physically dragged me down to the track. "You have long legs! It shouldn't be a problem!" they said.
"Legs?? Oh.. you mean these problematic things that TRIP over EVERYTHING!" If there were an award for "Most Likely to Trip Over Shadows" I'd be a shoe in. Unfortunately, there is not. And the only things I accomplished during the spring season were a) not dying (Yay for me!) and b) Not coming in last (No, really. I'm actually very proud of this.)
On my first day I ran the mile with my two friends and said, "Ahhh! What a work-out!"
"That was the warm-up," the captain said as she passed.
"WHAT?!"
"Welcome to the track team," she said smugly, and traipsed off in her shiny running shoes.
Now, as the summer comes to a close I can tell you that I successfully got up early (almost) everyday at Science Camp-- yes, that's what nerds do over the summer, they stargaze with fellow nerds-- and ran. I don't know why I did it. In my school, which is very academic-oriented, the nerds were never made fun-of. In fact, people almost like us! We bring our school prestige with our Intel semifinalists and Math Team awards, but still... I've always watched the girls slipping on running shoes and filling up waterbottles and thought, "Wouldn't it be nice to serve a volleyball without knocking someone out?"
Well, I tried that and it failed. So I've signed up for the only sport that I can do without endangering other people. I've got shin splints as a result (ouch!) and a humongous appetite from miles of running, but in some strange way it makes me happy.
What'dya know! Sucking at something and feeling the burn in my muscles makes me happy.
Just to catch you up on what I've been doing... I joined the track team partly because I was told I needed exercise and partly because my friends physically dragged me down to the track. "You have long legs! It shouldn't be a problem!" they said.
"Legs?? Oh.. you mean these problematic things that TRIP over EVERYTHING!" If there were an award for "Most Likely to Trip Over Shadows" I'd be a shoe in. Unfortunately, there is not. And the only things I accomplished during the spring season were a) not dying (Yay for me!) and b) Not coming in last (No, really. I'm actually very proud of this.)
On my first day I ran the mile with my two friends and said, "Ahhh! What a work-out!"
"That was the warm-up," the captain said as she passed.
"WHAT?!"
"Welcome to the track team," she said smugly, and traipsed off in her shiny running shoes.
Now, as the summer comes to a close I can tell you that I successfully got up early (almost) everyday at Science Camp-- yes, that's what nerds do over the summer, they stargaze with fellow nerds-- and ran. I don't know why I did it. In my school, which is very academic-oriented, the nerds were never made fun-of. In fact, people almost like us! We bring our school prestige with our Intel semifinalists and Math Team awards, but still... I've always watched the girls slipping on running shoes and filling up waterbottles and thought, "Wouldn't it be nice to serve a volleyball without knocking someone out?"
Well, I tried that and it failed. So I've signed up for the only sport that I can do without endangering other people. I've got shin splints as a result (ouch!) and a humongous appetite from miles of running, but in some strange way it makes me happy.
What'dya know! Sucking at something and feeling the burn in my muscles makes me happy.
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