I walk out of the apartment at 1 am to mail a letter and retrieve my laundry from the dryer.
The rain has stopped and the air is left slightly damp, fresh, and clean.
I tell myself most of the world retired to bed hours ago.
I look forward to when I may go to bed and wake-up on different days.
Life is not simply ahead.
It is here and now.
Even at 1 am in Upland.
Becoming a Lefty April 2nd, 2008
I knew coach wanted to make me a sprinter.
I didn’t know I’d be drafted for the 4×100.
That’s right, folks, we’re putting together a 4×100 relay. It’s official. We even practiced hand-offs this afternoon and I’ve counted out my steps. Since I’m running second leg (so that my long legs are on the straightaway) I have to carry the baton in my left hand. For the past six years I’ve only done open hand-offs in the 4×400 and 4×800 which means I receive the baton in my left hand and immediately switch it over and carry it in my right. Now I’m carrying it in the left hand and doing blind exchanges. It’s taking a lot of faith.
me: How far do I back up, coach?
coach: We want you full speed when you reach Andrea’s mark for the fly zone
me: [turns around and continues walking down the backstretch]
coach: [throws head back and laughs]
… so it may take me a little longer to accelerate….
Yesterday I realized D.Bow has done an amazing job recruiting for the long, triple, and high jumps. All other girl sprinters jump. I don’t. Yesterday I practiced with just the guys. Slightly intimidating at times. They’re ridiculously fast. I’m… well, still finding my feet.
But coach has said three specific things to me over the past two days that have provided an immense amount of needed encouragement through this venture.
During the 150’s all-out Tuesday I ran past coach at the finish line. He leaned in and simply said “that was great“. Great. Such a powerful word when I feel lost in an unfamiliar world. I have it. I can do it.
During hand-offs today- “That’s a great spot to be in. As long as we can get you running like you did during practice yesterday we’re in good shape.” There’s hope.
After practice today leaving the locker room “good-bye, sprinter”. [I’m in…] Bye coach. I’ll see you tomorrow.
“Becky, when’s the last time you ran the 100?”
“Maybe freshman year of high school, Voss.”
“Yup. Drive the knees.”
“Yeah, but you’ve only been a sprinter for three days, so…” thanks, guys
I’m excited about making a fool of myself this weekend.
I like new adventures.
At least new adventures of this variety.
Home Again March 30th, 2008
Yes, it’s true. I’m once again back in Indiana. The past ten days with the team have been phenomenal and the best TUTF spring break trip I’ve had by far. Yet with the realization that it was my last, it’s been terribly hard to come back to classes. The chance to live in close quarters and have constant interaction with my teammates provided numerous occassions for growth and encouragement. It’s the time in each season where we reaffirm and seal our status as a family. A family. Wow. Although I know we’ll always return as a tighter knit group than when we left, sometimes I forget just how drastic and wonderful that change and growth truly is.
Details on the events of the week will follow later, but for now there’s a bit of unpacking and sleeping to do.
I wish there were adequate words to describe the joy and excitement I have welling up inside me. For now I think it’s just sufficient to say “ain’t it great to be a tracksta…”
Pre-Spring Break March 19th, 2008
Day 3 of sprinter Becky and I am loving my life. The workouts are fast and keep my on my toes-literally- but it’s worth it. I love the speed and the feeling of truly pushing myself to my limits like we did today- 300’s ’til failure. Coach had to cut Kelsey and I off. We were hitting consistent splits- some even negative. Wonderful feeling. Absolutely wonderful!
After practice we headed to the grille and had a great team dinner and shared the anticipation of our fast-approaching spring break. Then Vanna, Deb, Rach, Erin and I headed to Wal-mart to pick up some essentials for our trip, namely suntan lotion. It’s hard to believe it’s my last grand trip with the track team. Did time really pass that quickly? I’m out to make the best of it. And given that I have an amazing small group, my much-hoped for kitchen duty throughout break, and I’m running under Bowers for the week, it’s already shaping up quite nicely.
Workout tomorrow, class, meeting, pack, and we’re out of here by 6pm and headed to Effingham, ILFri & Sat- meet at Rhodes College in Memphis, TNSun-Thurs- training in Panama City Beach, FLFri & Sat- meet at Emory University in Atlanta, GASun- drive home to Upland
So here’s to my last whirlwind TUTF tour.And here’s to spending that TUTF tour with my amazing trackstas.
Wabash Relays March 16th, 2008
Saturday we traveled down to Crawfordsville, IN to compete in the Wabash Relays- a lovely little meet where the weather is always unpredictable. Thankfully this year we had near perfect weather for mid-distance/distance runners- mid-40’s and overcast. It was a little windier than desired, but you can’t have everything.
We managed to put together two relays in addition to the field events and hurdle events. Tabs, AJ, Alyssa and I ran the 4×800 and Distance Medley Relay together- our standard races- with standard times. All in all, not a bad performance for the first outdoor meet of the season. It takes a few practices to mentally adjust race strategies to the larger track. I got to run the 400 leg of the DMR. Apparently Coach and Cinders were happy enough with my performance that they’ve decided to pull me down from mid-distance to practicing with the sprinters… at least for a bit. Between the new drills and knocking over speed hurdles, it will be quite a show. But even with the drastic change that that will require, I’m super excited for the move. Hopefully the speed work will not only improve my turnover in the 400 but my overall time in the 800 as well. That would be ideal.
I’ve been hoping to get back to the 400 for quite some time now, but I’ve always been needed more in the 800. Now with a team of 11 girls, 4 of whom are currently training for the 800, they can afford to switch me to the 400 where we currently have… no one… competing. Oh the benefits of small teams.
Besides the excitement of changing events, I was reminded today of how much I love praying with the other relay teams after we race against each other. Such an amazing opportunity to compete hard, cross the finish line, and then join together in earnest and thankful prayer. Reason #472 why I love TUTF (women’s edition).
Oh, and by the way… 4 days until we leave for TUTFPCBSB2K08.[Taylor University Track and Field Panama City Beach Spring Break 2008]Get excited!
No comments:
Post a Comment