It was a decent week on all fronts: My knee continues to come around, spring is here, hopefully to stay….finally, and the kids and dogs didn’t drive me crazy, even with more single parenting this week. That’s definitely a win. Here’s how the workouts went:
Monday: Rest
Tuesday: Run 4.5 miles + Strength
Wednesday: Yoga
Thursday: Run 5 miles
Friday: Rest
Saturday: Run 6 miles
Sunday: Step Mill +CrossFit
While we weren’t entirely snow-free this week, we ended on a warm, spring-like note. Technically it’s been spring for over a month now so let’s be done with the snow already, yes?
We had a breakthrough…maybe…with the teenager’s track coach. I told you before the teenager suffered season ending injuries her freshman and sophomore years. This year we’ve been very proactive in keeping her body aligned, strong, and healthy and she’s been beautifully injury free (knock wood) for over a year now, running better than ever. Despite being left out of the team’s pre-season conditioning program, she had an amazing indoor track season. However since outdoor season started, her coach is allowing her to long jump (and she’s rocking that) but she hasn’t been put in a single race. While she’s been a good sport about it, you can imagine how sad it makes my daughter to see other (slower) girls given 3 and 4 running events while she gets zero. You can probably also imagine how cranky this mama bear is about it. I may be dead wrong (doubt it) but it seems to me someone is holding a grudge about her being out injured last year.
The teenager begged me not to intervene so, begrudgingly, I’ve bit my tongue. At the same time I’ve begged her to talk to her coach to see WTH is going on. Finally last week she did and my suspicions were confirmed.
Right out of the box the coach said “you’re hamstring is iffy”.
Teenager “I’m 100% healthy. I ran the entire indoor season and I run in practice every single day.”
Coach “But you wear a compression sleeve.”
Teenager “I wear it for peace of mind and support, not because I’m injured. I’m doing all of the workouts and haven’t complained once.”
Coach: Well your times are certainly up there. I guess we’ll put you in something, but you have to prove yourself.”
The teenager has two meets coming up this week. I haven’t seen the roster yet to know what (if anything) she’ll be running, but if nothing else, she questioned the coach and got an explanation…sort of. It’s been a learning experience for her too. Life isn’t fair. There are times we don’t get what we feel we deserve (hate that word). There are haters out there and people can be petty. Some take their personal issues out on others.
Forgive me for ranting about this here but it has weighed heavily on me. I hope writing it out will help me release my frustration and move on.
Moving on…
Let’s get back to my own running. Since I only have a 5 mile trail race in May and nothing else on the horizon until RnRChi in July, I’m toying with keeping running miles low for now, with a long run of 6-8 miles. I said toying, so don’t hold me to it, necessarily. The idea of no pressure really appeals to me at this hectic time of year.
I celebrated Earth Day by finally getting some seeds started for the garden. Since we don’t have any big trips planned this summer (other than college visits) I should be able to keep the garden plot under control…unlike last year. Leaving a garden to its own devices for 3 weeks is never a good idea…just saying.
This week
Between the two kiddos, we’ve got a track meet every single day this week, Monday thru Saturday. I’m tired already. But excited at the same time.
Carlo the Wonder Dog officially turns 18! Isn’t my “old guy” handsome?
How was your week? Would you have intervened with the high school track situation? Or is it better to stay out of it? How did you celebrate Earth Day?
Join us this Friday for the Runfession Friday Linkup! I promise you’ll feel better!
I forgot it was Eaeth Day. Sigh. Coaches. Ugh. We had the same penalizing/personal issues with our youngest and baseball. Just let the kids play. Looks like a nice week of training for you! Thanks for linking!
That situation sounds frustrating. I’m glad your daughter stood up for herself and said something! It sounds like things are going well for you coming back from your injury. It seems like a smart plan to keep the mileage low for now!
I’m going to run a half in Busse Woods on May 20. NO pressure…
That is so ridiculous about the high school track coach. I can’t even stand it. It’s high school, for God’s sake!
Good for your daughter for speaking up for herself (even if the coach doesn’t sound like the best coach — seriously, benching her because she’s wearing compression sleeve?).
Carlo the Wonder Dog looks way too cute to be 18. Happy Birthday, Carlo!
I know after all the endless training of last year, this year for me has felt really weird with not much training and even less racing than normal. Eventually there are big things on the horizon.
Right now I just want sunshine. We had it today but unfortunately I was indoors (or in the car) for the majority of the day. I’ll soak some up tomorrow. Wish it would hang around but not sure that it will.
Parenting totally sucks, especially when your hunch about the coach’s “priorities” (?) are confirmed. We live in a fairly small town, and the partiality some of our coaches (and dance instructors, just saying) show to their loyal tush-kissers is obvious. I am not one to intervene, because I don’t want to be the “high-maintenance parent,” but it is frustrating. Like you said, it’s a valuable life lesson…this stuff doesn’t just happen in school-related sports, it happens elsewhere as well.
Anyways, I’m excited for RnR CHI!!
I think you and your daughter handled the situation appropriately. Hopefully her coach will give her the chance to run in a meet that she has EARNED. Please let us know if she gets a chance to rock her run 😉
Meanwhile, I hope the venting helped you. It’s not easy being a parent and watching the kiddos take on the world for themselves. Good job!
I would’ve asked my parents to stay out of it at that age. I know parents want to protect their kids, but it was a good opportunity for the teenager to get to the root of the problem.
Oh, I completely understand your frustration but Wow! on your daughter speaking up for herself. I hope she gets to run and kick as[phalt] this week. I really do hope spring is here to stay.
Carlo looks extremely fit and healthy! My oldest is 14 this year – blind and deaf but still enjoying life! I am so glad your daughter spoke up – and what a mature girl you have. Love her responses to the coach and I personally feel he is being ridiculous. That’s my 2 cents anyway!
Although I don’t have children, I can totally understand your frustration with your daughter’s track coach. I hate when people use false logic to argue a point. so because she was injured last year, she can never run healthy again? If he sees her putting in the work and clocking great times, it’s crazy for him NOT to put her in anything. i hope that things start to turn around for her now!
I’m so excited that you are doing RnR Chi and hope to see you there in July!
Aww, your dog is 18! That’s wonderful!
Happy to hear your daughter stood up for herself. Hopefully she gets the chance she deserves to race.
It’s so hard to sit by idly when you believe your child is not treated fairly. I could sure argue it both ways based on past experiences as well. Kudos for her for standing up for herself. You have taught her well! Hope you both continue to run injury free. Now you have me wanting to do RnR Chicago but it must be super hot huh?
Way to go Momma! It’s so hard to bite our tongues but so good for our kids to speak up themselves. Man though, that coach…
Happy birthday to Carlo! I’m so glad your daughter talked to the coach. I would have wanted to do the same as you. My daughter is quiet too and plays varsity soccer both as a 7th and 8th grade. Her coach isn’t the best coach either. The boys’ coach actually coached me in high school and oh how I wish he would take over the girls’ team. Sigh. I hope all over her track meets go well for her this week! I know if feels good to be running again too!
Good for your daughter for standing up for herself! It must be hard to not get involved and let her manage it – fingers crossed her coach sees the light!
What a handsome pup! I’m so sorry about your daughter but I definitely give her props for talking to her coach. While I feel like those sports are great, it can be hard to keep coaches from being partial and favoring some kids over others. Hopefully she will continue to speak up for herself and get the chances she’s earned!
It’s so hard to sit quietly when you feel your children are being treated unfairly. Hats off to you though for using it as a teachable moment and allowing your daughter to be her own woman and try to work it out for herself.
I don’t have kids, and I can see the coach’s side of it, but I’m also surprised and frustrated the coach didn’t even want to try. You should be proud that she stood up for herself though, that’s hard to do even for some adults!
I’m not sure I could bite my tongue with the track coach, but good for your daughter for saying something. That must have been tough. We had a (sort of) similar issue when my youngest was a junior in high school. We went to Spain the week leading up to the State championship football game. We literally touched down (late) in Chicago and asked our cabbie to “step on it”. He got us home from O’Hare in 20 minute flat (usually at least a 35 minute drive). My son quickly grabbed his gear and we just about flew to DeKalb for the game. His prick coach wouldn’t even let him suit up to stand on the field with the team because he missed practice that week. he knew we were in Spain. For f**k’s sake…he was a junior and not a star player. It wasn’t as if he was going to play anyway. So fast forward, his team won the game. He was the only kid on the field not in uniform. But hey–at least he was easy to identify in all the pictures! OK–rant over. Glad your knee is behaving!!!