From the athlete perspective, track is one of the most technically difficult sports you can 'play'. There's a certain strategy to running a race, throwing an object, or jumping over something. You simply can't just decide this is something you want to do one day and be successful. It take years of practice just to get the simple techniques mastered. For example, let's talk cadence. The most efficient runners' feet will hit the ground 180 times per minute. Not 179, not 181; 180. Go out and try this for a 400 meter run. It's excessively difficult to time your steps, length of stride, arm swing, torso angle, etc. Also, try running full speed for 800 meters without knowing anything about strategy. See how that works out for you.
Training is an entire different story as well. Does anyone think a high school kid WANTS to miss out on a Friday night with their friends because they have to pile on to a bus at 6 am to go to an all-day Invitational? Or not be able to eat because they are so nervous about their track meet that starts after school? From my observation, most football players and soccer players never had this issue.
Injuries are also a factor. I have been known (as well as many other track athletes) to suffer through catastrophic injuries and long rehabilitation periods, while still showing up to practices to sit on the side lines and cheer for their teammates through their tears because they know they worked for months in the pre-season.
As a coach, my athletes inspired me every single day. I was one of the faster kids at my high school and was able to insulate myself into my self-indulgent 'super-star status', so noticing the struggles of some of the other kids was not really an observation until I had the opportunity to coach. One of my favorite kids, Don (he won't care that I used his name, he knows he's one of my favorites), showed up on his first day not being able to run for more than a few minutes, but every freaking day that kids showed up, never complained, and frankly, added so much to our team that we dragged him along to the meets that he didn't even qualify for. Kids like this enrich the fabric of the team and everyone is a little better because of them.
Lastly, as a parent, I find it perfectly offensive that one person would essentially de-value an activity that kids were participating in. I don't care if my own children are running track, in the band, or on the debate team. As long as they are not sitting around the house, or getting in trouble, whatever they want to do is fine with me. Who is to say that one sport or activity is superior to another? Certainly not me, and certainly not some hack writer. Shame on anyone that puts kids down for wanting to participate in something with their friends. Shame on Lancaster News Papers for perpetuating our football culture and re-emphasizing gender role stereotypes. We need to work together to make all of our kids feel included, appreciated, and encouraged or we will keep repeating the cycle of feelings of inadequacy, insecurity, and lashing out.
Change the story. Go for a run.
Read the article here: http://tinyurl.com/lt7896f
