Ugh, this is the week; track is starting. There are so many mixed emotions brought out by the thought of running track again. The first things racing through my head were disgustingly negative. I don’t want to wake up at like 5 and work. I don’t want to lose sleep, feel bad, or choke on the dry air of the UI Armory. I don’t want to have to spend my valuable free time running around in circles, seeing how everyone is in such great shape while I can barely breathe.
Although the thought of beginning another season brings about a lot of pessimism, there is not a doubt in my mind that I want to run. Whenever my lack of enthusiasm reaches a new peak, I remember all the great things about track.
I really feel like I’ve grown up on the Uni running teams, starting out as a small, silent freshman. I remember looking up to the upperclassmen on the team, wanting to be like them. And they were nice to me, they encouraged, they pushed me to my limits, and they made sure I was working. Even though many people from the team I knew a couple of years ago have left, the distance team still has an incredible sense of camaraderie. Now there are a bunch of younger kids, good younger kids, who are the next generation of the team.
Track as a sport is fun to participate in. Unlike cross country, you get to actually watch your teammates perform, which might be one of the best parts of meets. To be honest, I also like track because I feel less pressure on myself to do well, don’t get me wrong, there is still a lot of pressure, but for the most part you run for yourself instead of a team in track. In cross country, your performance can make or break your team’s score, which can be incredibly daunting to consider before a race. In track, for individual events at least, you obviously have that desire to do well, but you don’t have the weight of the same fears resting on your shoulders. Because of this, track seems much more relaxed.
While getting out of bed at 5 and working doesn’t seem appetizing in the least, it really isn’t that big of a deal. It’ll make me faster, stronger, and happier. Like a lot of things in life, it will be fun and beneficial, all you have to do is get off your ass and go enjoy it.
