Coach Part I

Some people on the team ran after the season was over, but for the most part, by February everyone was all too absorbed with the upcoming track season to even think too much about cross country. I, not so inclined toward the endless laps around a 400 meter distance, thought on the blissful fall every second. However, the reunions were so few and far between for all the true cross country runners that when they came, I was sure to clear my schedule of all obligations.

"Are you going to the meeting tonight?" Jordan ran into me in the hall as she gobbled a bag full of wheat thins and washed them down with a nalgene full of water. "Coach Schwartz is going to be there!"

"Am I going to be there? What kind of question is that? Especially since Coach will be there. Creech is driving me up the wall." We waved to a few of the track boys as we walked past, but continued to discuss what Coach might have to say. New training plans? A summer fundraiser? A new assistant coach?

After school, the small Health classroom was packed with our fellow cross runners, sitting on desks and swapping winter running tales. How joyous for us to be all together! The snow and wind and rain didn't often have much on us, but one could only run with their teammates so often when the roads were iced over. Coach Schwartz came in, sporting his teaching clothes and looking less frazzled than was typical.

"Hey guys. Uh.. thanks for coming out today. I'm glad to see you all here and hope you've been training well this winter." We exchanged half sheepish looks with each other, then turned our focus to him again, anxious for his words.

"I just, uh, just thought I needed to come talk to you all in person, and really thought you should know before everyone else." His voice was void of the usual excitement he usually used when presenting a new workout or challenge to us. What was going on? "Things are going really well for my painting business and family life is getting really crazy with Caleb and Cameron running around faster than I can keep up. Anyway, it's not the time to make excuses, I just uh... " he paused and his eyes trailed to the back of the classroom, somehow missing all of ours. "I just, uh, been doing a lot of thinking and, um, it's just best. I have resigned from my coaching position and will not be here next fall."

The room exploded. My body froze. Lynnea lunged foward in her desk, grasping the edges and getting as close to Coach as she could. Always the spokesperson, she burst out louder than anyone else.

"WHAT? Coach! Next season is our season! You've got us to where we are! You're leaving!?" It was almost like she just crossed the finish line, she was so out of breath.

Coach put his hand on his hip like he always would when we were talking too much during his shpeels. But this time, instead of the endearing, "Am I going to have to make you guys do planks?" his exasperation came out in a sigh as he ruffled his bleach-blond tipped hair.

"I know this is really hard for you to hear. It's harder for me to say! I just need to do what's right for my family, and you guys are strong enough as a team that you will still dominate no matter what happens next season with the coaching staff."

We left the room dejectedly. None of us said much to Coach, not out of anger or frustration but just because for the first time in our existence as friends, we didn't know what to say. Lynnea and I slugged down the hall together. She was crying. I was just remembering to breathe.