See Part 1 for a review.
When I started jr. high in 7th grade I considered myself athletic. So I went out for every sport. And, it turns out, I’m not as athletic as I thought I was. At least not when it comes to team sports involving balls. And I was cut from every team. Track didn’t have cuts though. They could find something for everyone to do. I was definitely not a hurdler. That ambition never materialized. But I could run distances. So I ended up running the 800m, the 1600m, the 4x800m relay, and the anchor for the 1600m medley relay (200, 200, 400, 800).
Our junior high had a dirt track which actually gave us a slight advantage when we ran on real tracks. And there was a hill on the northeast corner of the track that we’d have to run repeats on. And our coach loved to have the 4×200 and the 4×400 relays race against us long distance runners so that we were going up against fresh legs regularly. We moved at the beginning of my 8th grade year and I did track again at the new junior high as well.
I enjoyed going to the meets. I had a lot of fun being with the other runners but I liked that for the most part how I did on an event was all up to me. My mom came to all of them and my dad was there for as many as he could be. I had a cooler they’d pack for me with oranges and Gatorade in it. I had issues with shin splints so my dad would rub Icey Hot on my legs for me.
After junior high I continued running with my dad in the mornings during the summer and doing 5Ks when they’d come up but I didn’t pursue track in high school. My senior year of high school I dislocated my knee and it took a long time for me to come back from that. Knowing what I know about injuries now I should’ve done some physical therapy but the doctors never suggested it.
Next up: Running during college and my first three marathons.
I am an educator and PhD. I quilt, belly dance, run, read, and try to grow things. I am a Mormon. I am infertile. I am a daughter, sister, aunt, grand-daughter, friend, wife, and mom.
Brett L. Dennis
Mama g
Giggles
AmandaStretch
I forget: were you class of ’96 or ’97? :brett:
1996
Oh, man. I wasn’t athletic at all and always ended up in PE classes with the tennis team, or the basketball team, or the field hockey team, or the softball team. And those teams were made up of many of the same people… Also, I had flat feet and was a little knock-kneed, so running just hurt most of the time. It would have been nice if I’d been able to run, I think, but now, with my asthma and my right knee doing weird things, it may never happen. Oh well. In the next life, I guess!
Pingback, 2 February 2019 at 10:29 pm
Me, the Runner, Part 3: College and Beyond | Random Giggles
Pingback, 10 February 2019 at 5:04 pm
Me, the Runner, Part 4: Marriage and Children | Random Giggles
Pingback, 15 February 2019 at 2:18 pm
Me, the Runner, Part 5: Running With Dad | Random Giggles