Going The Distance.

Here we go again, it starts on Monday!


Track and Field is what I am talking about. I've been doing Track and Field since I was in grade four. I continued it all the way to grade eight winning multiple ribbons. I have four first place, seven second place, three third place, two fourth place, one fifth place and four sixth place. I also have a bronze medal from our girls relay team. My best events that I went to regionals for every year were the 80/100 meter sprint and long jump. Those were the easy days though.


High school is much more competitive. There are people that you compete with that are the best in the province beating records every year. You're competing against the best, you're competing against athletes with personal trainers, you're competing with athletes that put most of their time training for these events. Myself however, do not have the time.


This year I have decided to join the track team to get back into shape. I feel as if I have lost most of my energy and have turned into a couch potato. My stomach is not the size it used to be, whenever I sit down my "chub" hangs over my pants and I just don't feel comfortable with myself. It's time for me to get up off of my ass and get back into shape! Of course I have tried doing daily sit-ups, but they did not turn into a daily thing. With Track and Field, I HAVE to go to practice, I HAVE to run the track, I HAVE to do circuits and this is the push I need to make myself feel comfortable about my body again.


This year I think I'm going to stay away from the running events. The last couple years my anxiety got the best of me and I would do poorly in my heat. I would get nervous about running against other athletes, my heart would be pounding out of my chest, and it was not a good feeling for me.  Also the sprints would usually take place in the morning when the coldness was unbearable! It wasn't the best thing in the world to have to strip down to a tank top and shorts in weather that was roughly two degrees. So that is why I'm going to stick with Long Jump.


However there is a negative side to this event as well. My right knee, is not in the best condition and that is my jumping leg. I've been to my doctor multiple times seeking answers as to what is wrong with it. I've gone for x-rays that show nothing and all my doctor tells me is that I should do physiotherapy. To begin with, my knee cap is swollen from an incident that I'm assuming happened in gym class. The left corner of it sticks out more than my other knee cap and my doctor told me that it will never be the same as it was. Also I have a feeling that the cartilage between my knee cap and Fibula has been worn down causing them to rub together. The medical term called Chondromalacia also known as Runner's knee. I wouldn't say that's exactly what is wrong, but it feels like it. The pain that I experience in my knee almost on a daily basis now is just aches. More or less joint aches I think. It acts up in cold weather, when it's raining and when I've been standing or walking for long periods of time. I wear a knee supporter that helps a little bit and apply a heating pad to it when I am at home, but it's just an irritating pain that I wish I could get rid of for good.


Despite my bad knee and lack of energy, I'm looking forward to getting back in shape and enduring Track and Field season 2011! :)

Everybody runs in their spikes, I run in my Pumas! :)