WORDS FROM W.W. April 7, 2018
Track practice started this past Monday…middle school track practice. An assortment of short and tall adolescents gathered for the uncertainty of what would happen on the outside oval.
Questions abounded…would the coaches run them so much they would fall down and throw up? Would they astound the world with their performance? Would people be looking at them as they trudged around the track? Would the one of the opposite sex, whose attention they desire, notice them? Would their uniform fit? Did they have the moxy to stay with it?
One hundred and twenty seventh and eighth grade students…wondering about what was ahead!
Coach McKinney gathered them together and shared his excitement about having all of them there. Some of them were grizzled one year veterans, having run as seventh graders. Others had the “deer in headlights” look about them.
“Coach Wolfe, what are we going to do today?” asked a paranoid seventh grade girl who I know.
“I think we’re going to warm up with a five mile run around the neighborhood and then do an interval ladder series, and then probably cool down with a two mile jog.”
Eyes as wide as the Grand Canyon, as she reconsiders whether she can switch from track to intramural golf.
“Just kidding! Actually, I’m not sure, so we’ll find out together!”
Exhale of relief!
Coach McKinney forewarns them that Colorado weather is unpredictable and emphasizes the importance of making sure they have the needed clothing. He makes the point that some days they may need to have layers of clothing. On Friday the temperature drops to 25 degrees with a few snow flurries. The seventh grade girls, who I am the coach for, run to me as soon as I enter the gym.
“Coach Wolfe, we aren’t going outside today, are we?”
“Yes!”
“But it’s cold!” whines the young lady wearing athletic shorts and a tee shirt.
“Yes…yes, it is! So, make sure you put your hoodie on and sweat pants also!”
“But I didn’t bring anything! I didn’t think we’d be going OUTSIDE!” (Emphasize whiny voice!)
“We will ALWAYS go outside unless the school administration says we can’t.”
WHINE: “Coach Wolfe!”
I smile at her and she gets the hint that whining will not change the location of our practice. At the end of practice we pass out team uniforms and sweats. The students welcome the sweats like they are Christmas presents!
As the week has gone on certain runners have impressed. Others have needed encouragement and words that instill confidence in them. Two new students- one from California and one from Florida- have used the week to get used to the 6,000 feet altitude, after coming from sea level. Pained facial expressions bring words of empathy from the coaches.
The coaches time everyone on different days during the week on the 100, 200, 400, 800, and a run around the high school and middle school campus that is close to a mile. Everyone finishes every race!
At the end of Friday’s practice a hundred and twenty students are still smiling. No one has asked for a transfer to golf, but everyone is praying for a warm Monday afternoon!
Words from WW Blog 