My first year coaching I was 22 in Bloomington I really didn't worry about much. I was young, I had some crazy notion that I was still in shape enough to jump....lies all lies...worst idea in my whole life. I co-coached with another guy who actually was in shape to jump which is most likely where I got the idea I could still jump. We were a young staff and we had fun. I got a girl out of sectionals without much stressing and that was a major victory.
Move to the fall when I moved back home and was hired on as a junior high coach. Junior High is a completely different beast than High School Track. More kids, younger, more wild, way less coordination and I even coached sprints...I know anyone who knew me in high school knows how hilarious that though is! When I came on board the girls team was coming off County wins and undefeated seasons and the boys were trying...bless their hearts. For three years the girls continued that streak, and the boys continued to drive me crazy...I mean tried to win and be as awesome as the girls!
Then came this awesome opportunity...to coach the very event that I competed in for 4 years at the very same school. I had an opportunity to go from coaching 100 athletes to 15...so I went for it...I jumped and hoped it would worked out!
Well it did...it was has been such a great experience to coach for the team that I jumped for so many...okay not so many...years ago. I feel so blessed to have had this opportunity.
There has been so many challenges and successes this year that I can't begin to count...but last night was by far the hardest....sectionals.
Unfortunately, none of my girls were able to advance to Regionals next week and I by no means thought going into the meet that all 4 would advance no problem and it be a cake walk kind of meet.
For those of you who know me...I try to be tough...I like to joke that I'm tough because I wear too much eyeliner to cry. Well...last night that was not the case. I don't ever remember there being so much emotion in track. Now that is not to say that I didn't cry when I was in high school because let's be honest...I was in high school. But I don't think that I ever made Carp cry! Now I'm not sure that my girls know this but I kept my sunglasses on most of the night because I had evidence under my eyes from the tears. There was one point during the night that I went to watch the shot put and asked if crying would be involved because I couldn't handle any more crying...then our girl rocked a huge throw...happy tears were almost involved!
It is always sad to see so much hard work end in disappointment. As a high jumper especially it is tough because no matter how well you do you will always end on a miss. As I continue to coach long jump and mind you I have always been very blessed to get some of the best athletes who just have passion and drive...I feel like no matter how far they jump they always will look to the end of the pit and see that there is still sand left to jump in and know that there is room to improve.
I'm not going to lie to you...I went to bed last night defeated...we won the meet, we had lots of girls advance...but tomorrow at practice my girls won't be there at the pits asking me to wobble (yes it happens) or calling me "Fairy God Mother"...again I can't make this up even if I tried. The nice thing was that I woke up to a text that reminded me that the doubts I was having weren't true and that no matter how things ended this season was a success.
So it's off to bed because after all the boys are back at it tomorrow and while they don't call me their Fairy God Mother...which would totally be weird...I need to be well rested and ready to be the ball of nerves I was just last night ready to get some athletes out of Sectionals.
With Love Always,
Alex
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