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 =)"
Thursday, August 27, 2009
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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