in: MMaxwell; MMaxwell > 2008-03-05;
| # Posted 2008-03-06 05:44:41 | |
| DInglis: | I take it that means something to the effect of "Screw you, coaches! I want to run longer!"
...? |
| # Posted 2008-03-06 05:46:04 | |
| MMaxwell: | no, plug it into google translator... (except that its blocked at school)... |
| # Posted 2008-03-06 05:47:13 | |
| DInglis: | I get:
Next week, I feel that I may not, but I do not know yet |
| # Posted 2008-03-06 06:54:15 | |
| MMaxwell: | Next week, I think that I might not do it, but I still don't know. |
| # Posted 2008-03-06 06:57:45 | |
| TBorish: | think that you might not do what? are you possibly ditching me and track? and if so, for a week or for the season? |
| # Posted 2008-03-06 07:14:21 | |
| HKuestner: | Wait Max, are you thinking of not doing track? *confused* |
| # Posted 2008-03-06 07:55:48 | |
| MMaxwell: | "think that you might not do what? are you possibly ditching me and track? and if so, for a week or for the season?"
Only track, Tori, never you. Only thinking. Please, not ditching, differently choosing to do or not (a sad attempt at humor) Here is a summary: Issue: Not doing track this season Pro: 1) More time. I find myself in a frighteningly busy state, and would love to have a bit more time. Track takes a solid TWO AND A HALF HOURS (including warmup and changing), which is far more than just running. I am feeling busyer than I like to feel, and as junior spring is gearing up, I would love to have enough time to get ahead of the assignments (please no comments about how I could be doing HMWK instead of writing this, there is a rational system of prioritization). This is the time, if there is to be any, when I should most focus on my studies. 2) Ability to run with some of my best friends. Though I get to run warmup with Tori an william, the vast majority of my workout is with other people. In addition, sprinting is not conducive to conversation. 3) Flexibility. If I am not doing track then I can miss a chunk of workouts here or there if I am really overloaded. Also, I need not start at precisely the same time each day and end at the same time each day. 4) Distance. In track, I find Ted's workouts to be too much. However, in doing short distance I run far less distance in far more time. This is frusterating, and not very satasfying. In addition, though I may be, I do not feel as if I am getting as solid a workout as if I ran 3 miles (despite any aching I may feel). 5) Freedom. My coaches are paying little attention to me, as they have far more pressing matters (ie the person who is actually tripping over the hurdles), and as such I get a semi-arbitrary workout (today's included diving under a rope, rolling, getting up, and then jumping over it). During the orienteering season I was really enjoying the ability to control my own workouts. 6) Orienteering. I love running with a map, and finding the points. I love running through the woods. Neither of these can I do while doing track. CON: 1) Progress. Before I came to lakeside, I could not even run a mile on end. During my freshman year I did track and improved by great amounts, but was by far the slowest member of the team. However, by the end of the season I was no longer finishing last in every race I was in. In sophomore year I did cross country and track. Before the XC season I had never run three miles on end. By the end of the track season I managed to get my 400 time down to 60 secs, and actually won a hurdling heat, and got third in 300 hurdles at all comers. Junior year: I am fit and could probably get to metros, my long time goal. By not doing track this year, I will not be able to this year (maybe next?). I am identified as a track runner, and part of my identity is a track runner. 2) People will be dissapointed. Ted, Tori, William, Andrew F-C, Dimitri, maybe Sally (Coach R.). 3) I love the feel of the pure speed of a dead sprint. However, even if I don't do track, there is no reason for me not to sprint every once in a while. I think that's it. What do you think? |
| # Posted 2008-03-06 08:05:04 | |
| DInglis: | If you don't want to do it, don't feel pressured to do it.
However, I do think that if you think you have a shot at Metros, you should go for it. Doing track probably isn't going to make that big a difference in your studies. If you really feel strongly that your workouts aren't worth it, I'm sure there are other people that feel this way. Talk to them, and approach Sally about getting alternate workouts. I bet that she'd be willing to meet once a week, plan out a harder workout for you for the week, and then leave you alone while you did that. You could probably develop faster with less time spent if you got a more specific workout. |
| # Posted 2008-03-06 08:24:50 | |
| catherineols: | My advice is probably not helpful, since I am myself of two minds with regards to what you should do.
One part of me is jealous that you are able to run track, and sprint, and be part of a team, and are not constrained by dysfunctional lower extremities of the kind that might prevent you from taking part in organized sport. The organization provides structure, and as you said, progress, and awesome things like making it to metros. This part of me wishes I even had the CHOICE whether or not to do track, and is living vicariously through you all, and thus says "stick with it!" But the other part totally sympathizes with what you say... about time and flexibility... about the sheer joy of running through the woods, of navigating on the fly... and of course, about friends to enjoy it all with. If I hear correctly, Holly is already in the process of doing structured orienteering throughout the week instead of track. So if you tagged along with her, you would still have structure. Plus there's the whole notion that orienteering is the sport of a lifetime, whereas not many people are still sprinters at age 65 =P |
| # Posted 2008-03-06 08:24:53 | |
| TBorish: | I definitely should be doing homework right now, but like you said, other things take priority.
I completely understand where you're coming from. Truthfully, the only reason I'm still doing track is because I feel obligated to the team (since I'm one of the few seniors who has done it all four years) and more than that, to Margo and Ted. I love getting in shape (like track allows me to do), but as you said there are other ways to get in shape. I think what's different for me this year over last year is that less of my friends are doing track (Holly, Natalie, and Audrey all quit) and as much as I love Margo, Clarkie, Marjorie and the other distance girls, it's just not the same. Also, we were running pretty consistently over the winter, and I've never had that many friends to run with so often not during a sports season. Junior spring is a busy time, and I know I didn't get enough sleep last spring, and I started to do worse on my chem tests. i've been getting home between 6:30 and 7 from track every day and that's silly when i could get a good workout and get home two hours earlier. i'm sure it's similar for you. Looking at your pros and cons, you have a lot more pros to not doing track than cons. It seems to me that not doing track would be the best option for you, as much as I hate to say it. This is my last year with the team, and like I said, I don't want to let Ted and Margo down so I'm going to stick with it, even though the last week and a half, every time I've seen Holly and Drew off running with maps, I regret not being able to go with them. And people will get over any disappointment they have. You need to do what's best for yourself (though I know saying this is somewhat hypocritical of me). I would love it if you keep doing track since the number of my friends on the track team keeps dwindling, but I completely understand if you quit and I'm not going to be disappointed or hold it against you. Everyone else will understand too. (after reading Drew's comment): On the other hand, there is something to be said for trying to get to Metros if it's been one of your big goals. For me, my only goal this year is to PR. I want to get to Metros just because it would be sad to get worse than I have the past two years, but I really don't care how I do. For me, I do running sports because I love to run, I love to be in shape (mostly for orienteering, but just in general too), and I love improving my PR each year. Placing doesn't matter much to me, but I don't know how important it is to you to get to Metros. And you could try talking with Sally, see what she can come up with, and try track for another week before deciding. |
| # Posted 2008-03-06 09:01:26 | |
| MMaxwell: | "Think where man's glory most begins and ends,
And say my glory was I had such friends." -Yeats Thanks |
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