All Pepped Up (Pepper Jones #2) by Ali Dean

Author:Ali Dean [Dean, Ali]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Amazon: B00LP2HHJO
Published: 2014-07-09T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

Coach Tom pulls me over to talk after practice later that week. I knew I couldn’t avoid this conversation much longer.

“Have you thought about your goals for the season?” he asks. We’re sitting in the bleachers by the softball field, and I watch my teammates stretch on the other side of the field.

“Not really,” I admit. “What do you think my goals should be?”

He shakes his head. “You know that’s not how I like to do this, Pepper. First, you tell me what you’re thinking, and I’ll let you know if I think those goals are reasonable. Then we talk about a plan for the season.”

I sigh. “I know. I just don’t want to have any goals this season. Is that an option?”

“Why don’t you want to have any goals? You’ve always been a goal-oriented athlete, Pepper.”

“I just want to have fun. I want to enjoy it. Everyone else seems to have expectations for me. Do I really need to put more on myself?”

“Goals aren’t expectations, Pepper. You know that.”

He’s right. Maybe if I can focus on a goal, I can forget about other people’s expectations.

“Okay, how about winning the 2-mile at State?”

Coach nods in approval. “That’s a great goal. You placed second last year in 10:45. And how about the mile? You’ve doubled with those two events the past two years.”

“Can I just focus on the 2-mile and relays? I’ll probably be in two relays this year, right?”

“I can put you in three events max at State. So, if you do the 4 x 800 and the DMR, the 2-mile will be your only individual race.”

“That’s fine.”

“Okay. But why don’t we put you in the mile at Districts then? You can shoot for first at that meet.”

“Sure. Whatever.”

“What about times? We can’t control who your competition is, but the beauty of track is that we can shoot for some time goals.”

“You said I ran 10:45 last year?”

“Yes, that’s your PR in the 2-mile. And it’s 5:02 in the mile.” PR means personal record in running lingo.

“How about 10:40 in the 2-mile and breaking five in the mile?”

“The State meet record is 10:36.”

“Fine! I’ll try to get that, then.”

Why does this feel like a negotiation?

Coach shakes his head. “Look, Pepper, what’s going on? You’re doing well in practice. You ran some great splits on the relays. I don’t understand why you’re so reluctant to talk about your racing plan for the season. We normally would have had this conversation weeks ago.”

Ignoring his question, I ask the one I really don’t want to hear the answer to. “What about Nationals? Should I be thinking about that?”

“Only if you want.” Coach goes on to explain that there are two major national meets, and when and where they take place. But I zone out after I hear the words “only if you want.” I don’t want to train for Nationals. Just the thought of it exhausts me. And if Coach isn’t pushing it, then I’m not going for it.

“Judging by the look on your face, I’m guessing you don’t want to put Nationals on the racing agenda this season.

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