Ah, much better.

Today was my second track practice. My legs finally lost that icky jelly feeling they had, along with the painful, dull ache. Now they hurt just a bit, which is good enough for me.
Of course we stretched first. Then we did ab work as a warm-up--25 short, 25 long crunches in these three forms: legs flat on the floor, legs straight up in the air, and legs at a 90-degree angle. That's...wait, I'm thinking...150 crunches. Wow.
Then we did a warm-up run, ten minutes around the school. It was funny, because I was expecting it to be kind of painful, but I fell into a routine. I walked about an eighth of each lap and ran the rest (I walked from the corner of one building to a signpost about ten feet away). It was nice to turn the corner and go, "Oh, my God! We're done already?" when I saw about half the team getting ready for our daily sprints/form work/ab work stuff. It was actually really, really cool. Then we did all that daily stuff. I was so proud of myself for actually being able to complete a ladder today--and we had to run farther! Ten minutes of sprinting and jogging up a hill.
After that, we split up to do long-distance and sprinting. It felt so good to sprint, even though my time was kind of screwed up because I tripped. 9 seconds, 3...whatever comes after the seconds. I'm not sure how far we had to go, though, so it makes it kind of pointless to even try to deliniate it. And then we got to stretch and go home! Yay!
I have to say, I really hope I make the team. I've made some friends on the team already and I would hate to have to say good-bye after only two practices.
Anyway, I'd better go. It's getting late (for me, anyway--we have to wake up really early tomorrow morning!) and a good runner gets plenty of rest. Yeah, right.
Love,
Caiti

A reprieve of sorts (yes, already!).

Today was a half-day at school, which means we were granted a reprieve from track. The next practice is Friday.
I ache so much, I can't even walk down the stairs without whimpering. (I'm trying, though.) And my arms, my legs, and even my tummy hurt. I've been stretching, though, and that helps--every night before bed, every morning, and now, whenever I'm watching TV, to help keep myself limber. I don't watch TV that much, though, so it shouldn't be too bad...
I'd just like to mention that, since we jogged around the fields fifteen times yesterday, and one lap sprinting, the total was four miles around the fields and probably another from the warm-up. Can I just say I haven't run five miles, well, ever? To do it and all those warm-ups in three was harsh, but I'm sure I'll get used to it. I don't want to discourage myself early on, although being cut from the team probably wouldn't be very fun. We'll have to wait and see, I guess!
Love,
an achy, pained Caiti

I hurt.

Today was my first track practice, along with the news that, since the track team has grown exponentially since last year, twenty of the fifty-two girls that showed up will be cut from the team.
Fingers crossed that it's not me--fingers crossed that it's me--oh, I'm going to go back and forth all day.
For warm-ups, we ran around the school for ten minutes and stretched (although stretching isn't recommended by professionals). Then we did ab work, form work, and sprinting--ladders. Ladders are, basically, sprinting up a hill and jogging back down, first in thirty seconds, then in twenty-five, and so forth. After that, we ran around the football field, softball field, and baseball field probably ten times. Then we stretched out and did a hundred crunches to top off this delicious ice cream sundae of pain.
My brand-new shoes are so muddy.
Love,
Caiti

A slight setback, but all systems go!

Yesterday was my first track meeting. I wish I could tell you about it, but I didn't go. I had to get a physical first. There was a slight inter-family conflict (i.e., it was believed I'd had a physical and I really hadn't) so I got a physical yesterday.
I'll be going today after school, which is good. I'm very excited about it!
Love,
Caiti
P.S. I just checked the weather. At 3 p.m. today, according to weather.com, it should be about 47 degrees Fahreinheit--but it will feel like 43. Grr!