Are you a runner? I’ve never really been much of one. When I was younger, and more fit, I used to run now and then, but I think I did it more for the social aspect than actual exercise.

While in junior high, I thought being on the track team sounded like fun, plus, all my friends were doing it, too. I remember the very first day of practice, we were told to just simply run until we couldn’t any longer. I’m not sure if the coaches were looking for the kids with the most endurance, or if they were really just trying to kill off the weak links (me). I thought I was going to die.

I’m not the most competitive person. In fact, I’d much rather prefer everyone cheer everybody on and we all be friends and go out for ice cream after the game. That’s just how I am; can’t we all just get along? But, for some reason, and a bit out of character, when I ran that day in seventh grade, I just had to not be the first one out. I ended up somewhere in the middle of the pack, plunking myself down with a water bottle in the grass after what felt like hours of running (it was probably 40 minutes tops).

I quickly realized track, and running, weren’t really my thing. Later on, I’d try my hand at cheerleading. But, again, I’d feel bad for the other team, so I wasn’t very good at that, either. I wanted so badly to be athletic, that I did a volleyball and basketball camp one summer. They were one or two weeks long, and basically taught basic drills. That was enough for me. I’m pretty sure I ended up injured in some fashion by the end of each camp. I did, however, make some new friends!

Shyness was never an issue, and I never really thought much about how ridiculous I must have looked as I tried my hand at various sports during the most awkward years of my life. My son is now at that age where he can consider what he’d like to do in middle and high school.

He’s thinking about doing track, though I’ve personally witnessed him running, and I know he’ll need to build up his stamina if he wants to do that. He’s played baseball since he was three, and that’s been his love ever since, but now that he’s in middle school, he’s noticing his friends playing other sports, and I’m sure he’ll become interested in soccer or football or tennis.

Luckily, Michael’s got a lot more athleticism that his mom does. I’m hopeful that he’ll have the same amount of guts to try new things too, and the smarts to realize where he doesn’t fit.

Sports weren’t ever my thing. Writing was. I’ll stick to what I’m good at and what I enjoy, and cheer for my boy in the stands as he tries to figure it all out himself.