Official Track and Field practise #1

[Jack]

Jack had transferred to PHS# 774 for three reasons in particular some sinister while others the complete opposite. Firstly there was his own ambitious goal, the second was the fact that the PHS #774 excelled in sports while school in other parts of the country didn’t do so well and thirdly taking the track, football and basketball teams to the nationals was a realistic goal at this college while he would not be able to achieve the same recognition that he would at any other college.

Jack was jogging around the track it was his first official scheduled Track and Field practise session and Jack wanted to be nice and early, after all a good first impression always went far. He was wearing his running shoes, running shorts and #552 T&F singlet. His spikes were packed away in his bag along with his drink bottle, towel and a change of clothes.

Jack crossed the finish line of his second lap in just over two minuets he had another 2 to go. He was thinking when the rest of the team would begin to show up, he thought to himself about the types of athletes that would show up, strong hammer throwers, or discuss maybe even shot putters. It would be good to be part of a track and field team as prestigious as #774.

Jack was also thinking that maybe he would be able to talk to the basketball coach and some of the unfit basketball players would be able to benefit from some track and field training which in short would increase the size of the track and field team as well as the basketball’s fitness. There was nothing like a good solid work out, some track training and a good game of Basketball to get fit, not to mention the world game “Football”.

Jack’s plans was to be a leader to the track and field, he held the junior 100 M sprint record and 40 M Jack would work extremely hard to bring any team he was in at the forefront of that competition. His dream of being in a team that would be the fittest, strongest and fastest in all competitions was a realistic goal, within the next season or so Jack would have a better understanding of the school’s capabilities and how much improvement he needed.

Jack sighed to himself as he continued to run the remainder of the third lap crossing the line once again. It wasn’t a sigh because he was upset but in fact it was a sigh of relief as a large team of 15 men ran down the hill onto the track. Jack would drop back into the group who were undoubtable the track and field team. Jack said his hellos and introduced himself as he continued to run another three laps before dropping out with the team.

The team would go water up before they began to stretch.

[Jack]

As the coaches showed up, one of them motioned to the track and field shed with all the hurdles, javelins, shot-puts, blocks and any other gear you needed to run the track and field team. The coaches huddled around and started to talk amongst themselves when one of the more junior coaches walked off to un lock the sheds. The coaches continued to talk amongst themselves.

Jack would continue stretching, placing his legs about double shoulder width apart, he pressed his palms down flat on the floor. Slowly easing into it he would continue to bend at the elbows until they touched the floor. Easing his legs further down he would eventually have his groin about two inches from the ground holding the stretch for 20 seconds. Once he was done Jack would push up from his elbows to his hands, stabilizing himself in that position he would balance his whole body on his palms before pushing up and standing straight. Next he stretched his triceps, biceps, shoulders, neck and chest. Lastly he began to work his calves and quads doing various static stretches and dynamic stretches. Placing all his weight onto his left foot he slowly begun to bend his leg at the knee while keeping his right leg horizontal to the ground he would go right down to the ground so his but was about an inch or two from the floor. Pushing up he would stand straight again repeating it four more times on his left leg before turning around and doing it on his right. Jack would do two jumping squats and then spring up into the air.

The coaches approached the large group there was one head coach two track coaches and two field coaches. Each had a clip board with various notes and stats on it. The head coach approached the group and everyone stopped what they were doing. They all walked over quietly to the head coach some continued to do static stretches while other just stood up straight. Jack was impressed with the discipline of the team. It was something he had dreamed about for a long, long time.

“Right ladies and gents, welcome to the first training of this season. We expect a few more athletes to show up in the coming weeks, we’ve estimated our numbers about 30-35 for this season which is a good improvement.

There’s a few faces amongst you from the high school track team, welcome to college ladies and gentlemen, A few new student entirely to #774 welcome to our school and our track team , those of you from last year, welcome back”

The coach reached behind him and was handed a clipboard he took one look at the front page and nodded to himself.

Okay listen up, I’ll introduce myself and the new coaches for anyone who’s just come into the team and then we’ll get right in it.

We have Mr Simon Overland - Head track coach, Mr Philip Mason assistant track coach, Mr Jason Morrow – head field coach, Mr James Carson assistant track coach and my self Greg Fields.

Right, now all the track athletes with Mr Mason and field with Mr Carson

[Jack]

The track athlete's gathered together, what ever stretches they hadn't done they finished off while their coach gave them a few moments to do so. About a minuet past before the coach, Mr Mason spoke up, he was a large man, around six foot, reasonable build, short corporate hair and cleanly shaven.

Right gents as Mr Fields said, my name is Philip Mason, You can call me what ever you like, Phil or Mr Mason will do. Now a quick role call just to see who's here and then we'll start working out what everyone's good at.

A quick roll call was called, everyone was called except Jack and a few other of the new kids. Jack only thought this to be natural from today onwards they'd all be added to the list, they were only new after all.

Right anyone I haven't called out please come over here with me the rest of you off with Mr Overland.

Jack, all the new transfers and the seniors from last year who were now college freshmen bunched up in a semi circle, he went around gathering the names of all the new guys, staying to chat for only a second or two before moving on adding each new athlete to a list, finally stopping at lucky last, Jack.

Well Mr, O'Connor I presume?

"That's correct Mr Mason"

Congratulations on winning the varsity sprinters award last year, you excelled in the one hundred, two hundred and four hundred however your eight hundred and four K were lacking, however that's understandable having to run five events in a day would of been hell, not to mention you're a sprinter!

Mr Mason said the last bit with a power and enthusiasm that Jack had not seen in a track coach for a very long time.

"Thank you sir"

Right, work hard and you'll be on the senior team in no time. May even be our fastest sprinter by next season who knows.

"Thank you sir"

Right we'll put you on sprint training for today, go over to Mr Overland

"Thanks sir"

Jack walked over to Mr Overland who in the short duration had split all the athlete's up and who were now doing their own thing. Mr Overland was going over sprint technique with the sprinter.

Some of you lacked this last season and due to this your times were a bit off. There's definite improvement. Some of you should be around the 10 mark some even the 9.9 even 9.8 mark. A good start will allow you to generate a lot more power in your push, which in short will shorten the time it takes to reach your max speed. Mr O'Connor this was one of the reasons you nearly lost last year, if it wasn't for your strength and being able to power away in the second leg of the sprint you would have lost, by improving your start your time will improve by .1 or maybe even .2

Jack would only nod and listen intently.

Right now lets get some rough times down, Carl you're on stop watch

Everyone would set up a boy who was injured for whatever reason, walked to the other side of the straight waving when he was ready. One after another, each sprinter would shoot off. The senior runners were running 10.2's and 10.1’s, while the fastest freshmen was running 100 in 10.5's. It was Jack's turn, he got on the line as any normal sprinter would do, placing each foot in the block. When Mr Overland yelled GO! Jack powered off looking at the line, as he pumped his arms, kicking his legs out as far as they could go with every stride he carried himself closer to the line. Keeping his abs tight and his body straight to avoid unnecessary movement Jack cross the line. Jack's initial time was 10.27, not bad for a first trial run. Panting Jack slowly walked back as he watched more and more sprinters with slower times then him run by.

[Guy Nottingham]

The fluttering of wings overhead drew a set of excitable hazel hues. The perking up of a smile at the chirping noise of that irritating little bird that of course needed the attention of a newly born child. But no attention was given, not right at this moment, rather his eyes deemed fixated on the small group of athletes all standing, stretching, preparing. It seemed like a breeding ground for the folk as they exchanged times and measures cleats like a right of passage, Guy had seen such in the animal world many times a circular series of events that mirrored a bravado. Mating rights too of course. He'd grin sheepishly, hands crossed over one another leaning his torso over the ledge of the metal bars watching transfixed.

"I gotta get me a rep," He'd exclaim boyishly a grin of jovial energy bursting outward as he'd hurtle the ledge plopping to the ground with a crunch.

Guy would start off with a short trod distanced enough from the group to stand out from them. An outsider, looking in. His light grey shirt bounced as he moved in the same motion as his black work out shorts. Something he stole from his PE class earlier today.

Gotta make a good impression, gotta make a good impression. He'd grin still not letting the thoughts strike where it mattered most. His bouncing body projecting each step forward till he stopped by the largest group where one of the coaches stood watching the sprinters line up and take off. One of them blazing by most notably.

"Wow..." Guy's jaw dropped open still in a semi-smile wanting to race him.

"Sorry I'm late coach, Guy Nottingham, I'll be running Hurtles for you." The boy exclaimed all to excitedly ignorant of the level of competition that they were in.

[Jack]

Jack walked back to the starting line, hands behind his head, chest open allowing more and more oxygen to fill his lungs as he slowly paced his way back, not power walking yet not walking like a snail. As he paced his way back to the couches he noticed a very charismatic sort of boy bound across the track to the coach. Jack had just gotten within ear shot when the boy spoke to the couch.

"Sorry I'm late coach, Guy Nottingham, I'll be running Hurtles for you."

The couch looked at the younger male instantly sizing him up, was it possible that he had missed any track athletes in the freshmen year? While the boy could pass for a college freshmen any older was wish full thinking without any idea.

"Name?"

The couch would ask as he gave his clipboard a quick once over, everyone was here and accounted for. So who was this boy, Jack changed his destination walking toward the new boy, curious as to who he was.

"Age and Year?"

The coach would finally ask after the boy responded to his first question.

[Guy Nottingham]

Well to start it wasn't a bad deal though the coach seemed to be a bit direct and too the point no doubt unwilling to conform to a school boy's small talk and ideals of grandeur if there were any to be found in such a mind. Granted he looked a bit ditzey from an outward perspective projecting an innocent grin.

"Guy Nottingham, 16 years old, and sophomore."

His matter of fact tone showed him to be a bit too proud that he could fully pronounce and highlight the accented features of both his name and age something that could get on people's nerves if they weren't all too interested in what made the boy so upbeat.

"Like I said I'd like to hit up some hurtles, I figure I'm tall and flexible enough to manage that."

Guy had never been the sort to pound down the tracks, though he could fit into a long distance racer he lost interest when they dragged on longer that but a few moments. Hurtles was his kind of deal, swift and took all his body to determine the end of the race.

At that point Guy began doing pre-race stretches right before the coaches showing his willingness to go through whatever tests he had.

[Jack]

"Guy Nottingham, 16 years old, and sophomore."

At the mention of the boy's name, the coach dropped his eyes back to his clipboard scanning through the names. Why hadn't he heard of this boy before? He seemed comfortable so he was obviously familiar with the track team. His question was answered when the boy gave his age. So he's a highschooler this explained both why he didn't know of the boy and why he had never seen him before. Unless you were exceptional in highschool or a senior the coach rarely noticed you after all he was too busy developing the seniors for college track and field and the college runners for their seniors races.

Ahh so you're in high school, you do realize this is a College track and field team, the high school team trains tomorrow and again on Thursday

"Like I said I'd like to hit up some hurtles, I figure I'm tall and flexible enough to manage that."

The boy's charisma won over the couch, looking up he saw Jack linger around the group, the coach thought about yelling at Jack and making him sprint 800 meters for slacking off. But then a ingenious idea came to him.

O'Connor!, What do you think, If you were a sophomore and you wanted to train with the seniors what would you do?

"I'd ask to train, and if I was allowed to I'd run until I couldn't run anymore, always trying to get closer to the seniors if not better."

The couch smirked.

Right you take Guy here for a quick warm up and then introduce him to all the hurdlers

"Got it." Jack would say as he walked over to Guy, "How's it going man, I'm Jack"

He would say outstretching his hand.

[Guy Nottingham]

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSIIIIIIIIIIICCCCCCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!

So it looked as if Guy would be getting his chance to show his true medal and not just among his own age group but rather with the big kids. The big kids thus being Seniors and college level athletes which was indeed quite the momentous occasion. Something of a giddy smile rushed to his face as he trotted over to the boy coach had been so absorbed around.

"How's it going man, I'm Jack"

"Hey, I'm Guy." The boy would thrust his hand out quickly to meet the greeting still holding pace to align himself next to the larger boy.

"So what'd you had in mind for warm ups? It's been awhile since I've done something like this so be sure to go full speed on me." A jovial chuckle left his lips.

Despite being one of the more happy people Guy was purely unafraid, he wanted to test his limits and go as hard as he could always. Much like the coach said he'd go as hard and as fast as he possibly could in order to leave his mark behind. Something others simply would not.

[Jack]

"So what'd you had in mind for warm ups? It's been awhile since I've done something like this so be sure to go full speed on me.

"I want you to run a lap around the track and then give me thirty slow push ups, and repeat it twice. SO that's three laps and ninety push ups in total. Got it?"

Jack would begin to jog with Guy, holding what ever pace he was running at. Such enthusiasm even in the younger years. This is certainly going to be a great year for me. Jack would think as he continued his run.

"So tell me Guy, why did you want to join the track and field team even though you can compete with us?"

Jack would ask as the two continued to run their simple lap. Jack studied the boy from head to toe. He stood roughly six one maybe six two, reasonable build and seemed athletic enough. However how would he fair against real athletes?

[Guy Nottingham]

"I want you to run a lap around the track and then give me thirty slow push ups, and repeat it twice. SO that's three laps and ninety push ups in total. Got it?"

Guy would take off with something of a giddy wide-eyed grin, his pace first a bit faster than a job perhaps something of a premature sentiment of excitement before he eased to met Jack's speed itself slow and steady but still at an elevated poise.

"So tell me Guy, why did you want to join the track and field team even though you can compete with us?"

Between battered breaths of stability as he jostled about. Up and down keeping pace he'd open the grin to speak normally in between puffs.

"I've never been one to take no for an answer." He chuckled boyishly belittling his own statement despite the words meaning much more.

[Jack]

"I've never been one to take no for an answer."

"Well kid after training with me, you might just wish you did"

Jack would push forward, bringing the pace up to a semi uncomfortable one for even Jack. Even for someone as quick as Jack this was not a comfortable pace, it must have been hell for Guy to keep up.

They would past he finish line and Jack would drop and push out thirty fast push ups before getting to his feet. Yelling at Guy to get up they would push forward Jack was getting fired up, something about training another person always got him going.

"Cmon Guy push it, lift those knees, pump those arms, you've only entered the gates of hell!"

Jack would slow down the run and drop behind Guy, screaming at him to speed up Jack would force Guy to a full sprint as they began their second of three laps.

He has great potential, I see in him a great future as an athlete with the right training and dedication he could become great. I wonder how strong he is physically, maybe just maybe I could hone him into an elite hurdler and lift this whole team to the championships. Maybe that would put me in a better position for Track Captain.

Jack would think to himself as he screamed for Guy to run faster.

"IF I catch you, I'll make you run three more laps and give me 100 more push up! NOW MOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!"

[Guy Nottingham]

"Well kid after training with me, you might just wish you did"

"Huh?" Guy's only retort was before the pace picked up to such a degree he lost his footing in the evenly met jog and found himself a few meters behind Jack that distance growing ever farther as they continued on. A heavy breath as Guy began to inhale and exhale much more till the point he could feel the acing beginning in his side. Though he had more endurance than that the specific thing he was lacking was speed. Keeping up with Jack was the biggest difficulty reaching the line a good hundred meters short of Jack he found himself obediently following to the trudge of progress.

"Cmon Guy push it, lift those knees, pump those arms, you've only entered the gates of hell!"

'Holy Crap....' Guy would think to himself as he pressed into doing the push ups, tendons in his arms stretching and growing more numb as he pressed on. Damn he was only starting but it felt like he'd been at it for quite some time... 'This guy is a little crazy....'

A stupid grin showing once again as Jack pressed him to start running again a full few seconds before Jack dropped to his flank. What was going to happen now? The curious streak as Guy paced himself just enough to avoid heaving up a lung.

"IF I catch you, I'll make you run three more laps and give me 100 more push up! NOW MOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!"

"HOLY BEEJEESUS!!" Guy's pace doubled shooting off like there was a hungry bear at his behind. Jack was scary like this. And in times like these there was only one solution.

'Imagine Jack in pink underwear.....'

"BAHAHAHAHHAH!" Guy tumbled over just in front of Jack, dying of laughter and exhaustion heaving up his breath as he bawled, no doubt if Jack was hardcore on his tail he might just trip himself.

"HAHAHAHHAHAHHAH HOOO HOOOHHOOOO BAAHAHHA"

[Jack]

"HOLY BEEJEESUS!!"

"Nothing Holy about this, in fact I'm the closest thing to the Devil right now. Welcome to hell little bitch!"

jack would scream as he forced him to quicken his pace yet again. Jack would be ruthless with Guy, he had been naive enough to think he could run on equal par with the seniors and here Jack was to burst Guy's bubble. Jack would force Guy to a whole new level, If Guy wanted to survive today he would have to dig deep and pull out a whole new him or Jack would eat him alive.


"BAHAHAHAHHAH!"

And Jack like the Italians Guy took one step forward and three steps back.This was not a time for laughing as Guy burst out into laughter Jack's irritation only grew, Guy would have to do an extra lap and 50 more push ups just because of that. He would only add to his torture the more he fucked around.

"This isn't a time for laughing IDIOT!"

Guy stumbled over, if Jack wasn't so quick he would have tripped over the boy. Instead Jack good stepped to his left avoiding Guy before turning around, Jack would grab guy by the shirt and hoist him as high as he could. Dragging him along the floor if he didn't clear his body. jack could continue to run dragging a laughing Guy. Eventually Guy would have to start running the track was renowned for ripping flesh.

"HAHAHAHHAHAHHAH HOOO HOOOHHOOOO BAAHAHHA"

"two more laps and one hundred more push ups don't make me add sit ups and then suicides, START FUCKING RUNNING!"

[Guy Nottingham]

Seems as though bawling over and tripping Jack up hadn't stopped the furious power that was clearly the Varsity Captain. Didn't even seem to phase him except encroach upon his grumpy side. Regardless it wasn't intentional perhaps the mental imagery was but the reaction to such was clearly not his intention.

Not even a stop as Guy's collar suffered a rough tug from behind leaving the man still bawling but that'd be stopped soon enough as Jack kept running tugging Guy along for the ride.

"two more laps and one hundred more push ups don't make me add sit ups and then suicides, START FUCKING RUNNING!"

"Fuck fuck fuck fuck...." Every few meters in the track as Guy's body jostled along behind him trying to regain footing but always managing to plant his face to where his foot should be.

By the time they'd gotten through two-hundred meters his face was boasting a fair amount of scrapes and scars with the rubber and sand insulated into each slash.

"Okay okay, gimme just there...!" The boy popped up with his breath retained and without a second to spare took off once again at Jack's heels.

Bloodied and broken he was more stubborn than persistent still going without a chance of break and the way things look he'd be getting no mercy out of this exercise. Clearly Satan became a hard-ass when the heat was on.

[Jack]

Okay okay, gimme just there...!"

Jack released his grip on Guy as he continued to run with him, lessening the pace so Guy had a chance to actually keep up with him. Jack laughed as they ran, he could feel his body heat up, the sweat on his brow build he loved running because of this, because at the end of the day his reward was the fruits of his labor.

"OKAY thirty push ups!"

Jack would drop and pump out thirty moderate paced push ups, the aim was to get a nice burn in his arms not kill himself and not just thrash them out. He would stand up and wait for Guy to finish his own push ups. Then they would start running again this time back to their original pace.

"Cmon Guy keep up, don't fall behind, there are no weaklings on the College #774 Track and Field team. Even the slowest and the weakest of our members try their hardest to improve. Don't put their efforts to shame by not trying."

Jack would call as he continued his run.