Wednesday, June 06, 2007

I thought summer was suppose to be stress-free...

Today, my dad and I went to the Bellin Health Sports Center to sign me up for summer soccer training. Dad and I have this deal: I try out for soccer, he pays for training. We met my trainer, and he showed us the building, which is amazing. Then, in the middle of the tour, after explaining the muscles I'll need to work on to improve my keeping skills, he said, "Squat." I know I stared at him blankly for longer than I should have, but did as told, because he scares me. "No, you're doing that wrong. You have to use these muscles as keeper, not those. Now do a lunge." So, timidly, because I figured I'd do that wrong too, I did a lunge. "Okay, that's a side lunge. This is a lateral lunge." He continued to show me everything I was doing wrong until, basically, I realized I've been taught nothing right. Not to mention, my trainer reminds me of Mr. Murphy. The whole time, from initial handshake to signing the medical release forms, he did not once crack a smile. When he made jokes, I did not know whether I was allowed to laugh. And he warned me that sessions start on time, as if I was planning on arriving late to something my dad's paying for.
I know trainers are supposed to be tough. That's their job. And this is really important to me. But this is a completely different world than I'm used to. Two years ago, collegiate sports was never anything I considered doing, because I never saw myself as a serious athlete. I was the girl that told her dad that the one-act play was her sport. Now I'm in training. I'm going from "all-nonsense because it's acting" to "no-nonsense because it'll kill you if you actually suck." I'm going from "ask Ashley, she'll know" to "you know nothing, you're at the same level as 14 year-olds." And I'm really worried about my asthma getting in the way. I try not to think about it, but last time I did that, I almost had another bad attack. I can run to the beach from my house, and back, up all the hills, without wheezing now, but can I make it through a game?
8-week session, 2 days a week. My initial assesment is on Monday. I've got to be able to do this.

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