Jogging with a teammate
“There are some girls from another team like ours that challenged us to a game,” Julia tells me as we run. We agreed to meet today and though we did practice during the winter, I can tell I am out of shape.
“Really?” I ask. Our run is an easy one, more like a jog. Since we are around the same height, we are able to keep the same pace, though I think that Julia is finding it easier me. I will need to run or at least jog more often. It’s easy to look outside during the winter and decide not to go. I will have to fix that.
“Yeah. Do you think the others will want to do it?” she questions.
I nod. “Definitely enough for a team.”
She nods and is silent for another minute before saying, “You’ve come far from where you used to be. Are you ever going to try out for at least a semi professional team?”
I frown, thinking it over. Charlie and I talked about it, though we didn’t really come to any resolutions. I still want it though and I know most athletes do their best in their twenties and early thirties, according to the books I have. That means that in a few years, I won’t be playing anymore, unless I am someone like David Beckham or that one girl in the states, Mia Hamm.
“Are you?” I respond to her question with one of my own.
“Training has probably already started but if I can, yes,” she answers. “I’ve been working hard during the winter and I think I have a chance. I think you do too.”
“It’s not that easy,” I remind her. “I have a job now.”
“Which you could quit and then focus just on football.”
“And I’m married,” I continue.
“You aren’t going to go professional right away and play for England’s team, though I bet in time you could. You wouldn’t be gone all the time. Just a few days here and there,” she gives a shrug.
“He just doesn’t seem too happy with the idea,” I admit. I haven’t really talked to anyone about this, aside from Katie and Caley. However, I feel close to Julia. Close enough to share that at least.
“So talk to him. Get a schedule of one of the teams and show him how often you might be gone. He knows you love it, right? Besides, think of it this way…you won’t practice for eight hours a day, so you should have more time off.”
She has a point. I know there are long practices involved, but not eight hour ones. I would start later in the day or be home earlier.
“I’ll do my best. Besides, we are talking as if you are certain I will make it. There is no certainty I would even make the first cut.”
“Stop being pessimistic,” she tells me firmly. It isn’t hard to see why she seems to be our captain. Then, she smiles at me and she is back to being my friend again. “Come on, I’ll race you to that tree.”
With that, she takes off running and I chase after her, my feet hitting the pavement and then the graze as I follow her off the cement path and onto the grass. I do love football and it wouldn’t be as if I would always be gone. There are times during the year I would only practice most likely, without games. Charlie and I would both have to agree to make this work and I would have to be accepted on a team. I know it would be hard work, but it would be worth it.
“Really?” I ask. Our run is an easy one, more like a jog. Since we are around the same height, we are able to keep the same pace, though I think that Julia is finding it easier me. I will need to run or at least jog more often. It’s easy to look outside during the winter and decide not to go. I will have to fix that.
“Yeah. Do you think the others will want to do it?” she questions.
I nod. “Definitely enough for a team.”
She nods and is silent for another minute before saying, “You’ve come far from where you used to be. Are you ever going to try out for at least a semi professional team?”
I frown, thinking it over. Charlie and I talked about it, though we didn’t really come to any resolutions. I still want it though and I know most athletes do their best in their twenties and early thirties, according to the books I have. That means that in a few years, I won’t be playing anymore, unless I am someone like David Beckham or that one girl in the states, Mia Hamm.
“Are you?” I respond to her question with one of my own.
“Training has probably already started but if I can, yes,” she answers. “I’ve been working hard during the winter and I think I have a chance. I think you do too.”
“It’s not that easy,” I remind her. “I have a job now.”
“Which you could quit and then focus just on football.”
“And I’m married,” I continue.
“You aren’t going to go professional right away and play for England’s team, though I bet in time you could. You wouldn’t be gone all the time. Just a few days here and there,” she gives a shrug.
“He just doesn’t seem too happy with the idea,” I admit. I haven’t really talked to anyone about this, aside from Katie and Caley. However, I feel close to Julia. Close enough to share that at least.
“So talk to him. Get a schedule of one of the teams and show him how often you might be gone. He knows you love it, right? Besides, think of it this way…you won’t practice for eight hours a day, so you should have more time off.”
She has a point. I know there are long practices involved, but not eight hour ones. I would start later in the day or be home earlier.
“I’ll do my best. Besides, we are talking as if you are certain I will make it. There is no certainty I would even make the first cut.”
“Stop being pessimistic,” she tells me firmly. It isn’t hard to see why she seems to be our captain. Then, she smiles at me and she is back to being my friend again. “Come on, I’ll race you to that tree.”
With that, she takes off running and I chase after her, my feet hitting the pavement and then the graze as I follow her off the cement path and onto the grass. I do love football and it wouldn’t be as if I would always be gone. There are times during the year I would only practice most likely, without games. Charlie and I would both have to agree to make this work and I would have to be accepted on a team. I know it would be hard work, but it would be worth it.