For the love of Track

It's funny how an asthmatic loves track so much. Kind of ironic I think. And if you're one of my close friends, I think you know how obsessed I am with the sport. I. Am. A. Thrower. I started throwing shot put in 7th grade. Started throwing disc in 8th. Started throwing hammer and weight as a freshman in college. Well, I'm still am a freshman in college, but we'll get to that. In high school I was involved in everything. Marching band, winter guard, motor city brass band, Dearborn youth orchestra, Spanish club, student council, and then, track. A jack of all trades, and master of none. I guess you could say I was searching for my niche. I had always been following in my sister's and brother's footsteps. More or less, I was a pudgy little girl that wanted to be like them, so I joined the track team. Throwing was easy. But my sights were set on soccer my freshmen year, and dropping throwing all together. When soccer conditioning came around my freshman year, my asthma wouldn't let me keep up. No excuse I know, but I wasn't experienced enough to try my best at controlling it. So, I stuck with throwing. Some point along the line, I realized how much I loved the sport, and I started getting serious, taking myself to clinics, quitting winter guard so I could do off season training... blah blah blah. Then the decision came to do it in college. I was close to not doing it because I knew how much time and work you had to put into college track, and I was leaning more towards doing marching band. But somehow I decided to give myself a year on the track team to see if I could handle it. Little did I know, I would struggle so much, I would have to make myself do 2 weeks of it before I could decide to quit. The beginning was awful. It was intimidating walking on to a team of truly amazing throwers. But when the second week was over, I had become apart of the team, and couldn't simply "quit track" and be alright with myself. I'll be the first to admit that I didn't think I would make it, but I did. It's still hard, but I'm just used to working harder now, than I used to before. The workouts are terrible, conditioning is a killer, the strength cycles are frustrating... But I LOVE throwing. I couldn't quit this thing I had found so much passion for. And it's all paying off. I was one of a few freshmen in the MAC who had just learned hammer, who was already four turning, which is a more advanced skill. I was extremely close to making it to the MAC Championships for hammer, but I just couldn't knock the people down. So, in the end of my freshman year, I have no regrets. I feel like if I didn't stick with it, it would have been the biggest mistake of my life. I think my parents had no doubt about me sticking in there. The fact that I am the first in my family to be a collegiate athlete is an accomplishment I never even thought about my junior year in high school. I actually recently went back to my high school to help them towards the end of their season, and a girl that I had thrown with the year prior, came to watch me at a meet close to home, and says that she's trying to fill my shoes, and that she wants to throw in college like me. I think people describe this as me being inspirational, but the way I see it, is she's my inspiration. I push myself to drive her a little farther, make her want to be better than me. It's not everyday someone from Southgate Anderson makes it to the college level. And I am so incredibly honored to show them that it's not completely impossible. You'd be amazed at where a little hard work and dedication can take you.

And what about college?

I'll tell you what! It's not what I thought it would be. Brittany has a pile hair laying on her bed. And that's how I feel about that. I haven't done much partying, or hanging out with friends. But in a weird way, I'm kinda alright with it. It's funny how my dad thought I would transition to college the best out of the three of us, and end up being the one that cries every time I have to go back... haha. Once a big baby, always a big baby. I've come to find how unhealthily attached to my family I am. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it can be disrupting, when I start crying while doing my homework. But, I think I'll save the whining for another time. Being in college is one giant task to take on. But being on a college track team is a whole other story. I guess I never considered how much time I would need for homework, studying for exams, and maybe even a social life. But, track has already made those timely decision for me. Wake up, class, practice, eat, homework, bed... do it all over again. Although, I can't complain. I love it. I love being able to say I'm a college athlete, even if the Division 1 athlete title still doesn't feel real. I love the sense of accomplishment I have after a workout, especially when I thought I wouldn't be able to make my first two weeks of them. I got through it, and put my physical capabilities to the test. My asthma doesn't agree with the idea of it most the time, but its another challenge I have come to terms with. In the end it's all worth it. Throwing is something that shows me my results, my improvements, and even the cold shoulder. It's love and hate. But if I didn't love it, I would have given up a long time ago, back when I took myself to clinics once a week so I could get a college coach's help, back when I spent my weekends at the rings, and spent all winter lifting with the football team. I never had to do any of it, but it's my niche. And that's how I feel about that! In other news. I'm talking to a really nice guy for about five months now. We'll keep his name a secret for now, see how things play out. I don't get to talk to my friends much, but he's good at keeping me company, and making me smile, don't even need a reason. I remember when I used to say "oh, there's just something about him." But I can tell you what it is about him. He apologizes for no reason! It may seem silly, but for some reason, it means a lot. He apologizes for the littlest things, even when I wasn't that concerned about it to make sure I'm still in it. His laugh is infectious, smile contagious. It's not about the physical relationship. I'm not being used for my body. It's about his, and my personalities clicking, for whatever reason. I think we're both unsure about what's happening, or how it will. But I'm sure that the river will take us where ever we're supposed to end up. I don't care to push anything right now because on two separate sides of the state. But I have high hopes for summer, when we'll both be back home. I don't want to over think things though. We'll just see where we go :) But as for me, I need to head to bed. I have an 8 am in the morning... o.O And that's how I feel about that! Goodnight all, Love, lins.