Hey, remember last time I posted a blaug like this? Yeah, I got in a lot of doodoo for that one. But I can't get in trouble now because I'm already IN trouble!

So I'm a distance runner. *gasp REALLY?* I love distance, I love cross country, and I love the people who run distance in track. But I live in a backwater farming town straight out of Friday Night Lights - football (and, as an extension, basketball) is THE big thing. Football is the only true sport, everything else can go rot in a hole. For the spring season, most football players do track. They either sprint or throw. They're the "popular" kids.

This season, a girl in my class volunteered to take pictures and document the team's season, making posts on Facebook, Twitter, etc. My initial thought: "Yay, everyone will see every aspect of the team, including distance!"

What actually has happened: pictures of the girl's friend, pictures of the popular throwers, and pictures of the popular sprinters. Out of hundreds of pictures I could count distance and pole vault pictures on one hand.

Here's some facts: off the top of my head, I can think of two throwers that are genuinely "good" and that is it. This year in distance we have one of the top guys in the district for the 3,000m (he might go to state) and other runners (including myself) fill the top ten list for the 800m and 1500m. We have one freshman girl who has broken FOUR RECORDS this year and is within a few seconds of the 1500m record that was set by a senior. Our 4x800m relay team and our distance medley relay team could both break decades-old school records in those events. And we get no recognition. None.

I was mad.

I really debated how to write that sentence. Put "mad" in bold font? Underline it? Increase the font? I realized that I could do all of those things and that would still not express my anger enough.

So I made a post on the Facebook page:

800m = 2 laps

1500m = 3 and 3/4 laps

3000m = 7 and a half frickin' laps

 

And we can only get one or two pictures of distance per race, if at all? But God forbid we don't have pictures of throwers and sprinters on the line. Equal representation - distance tends to get this team a large chunk of the points. Y'know, because we win our races and stuff.

 

Also nice to see that you've caught on to this little tidbit: [superior freshman athlete] has broken multiple freshman records and came close to the 1500m school record. As a FRESHMAN. Can't make a quick post about that?

 

We realize that distance is boring to watch, but when it is one of the reasons other teams lose to [school], it seems kind of silly to have so few pictures.

In retrospect, some parts of that could have been left unsaid. But I was tired and seeing the lack of pictures representing one of the best parts of the program because we don't have popular kids left me in a red haze. But looking back over it, I mean everything I said, and everything said there is the truth.

So I got a note today through the school saying that I needed to go speak to one of the head coaches immediately.

Weeeeell shit.

I think that conversation is going to be a repressed memory, as I cannot remember most of it. What annoys me most about the conversation we had, however, is that I got no say. I was grilled and the coach left me no room to voice my opinion. It started off with him saying "Why don't you read this out loud for me?" And he handed me his phone, which had my post already up. Boy, that was fun.

Of what else he said (and I paraphrase here, of course)...

"We have one girl taking pictures and she has other duties to do."

Hmm. Get another person to help her, perhaps?

"We've only had a few meets and little time to take pictures."

That doesn't explain why we have four-fifths of a meet's pictures being of the same three throwers repeatedly. Move around at the meets.

"You were a coward to say this online. Be a man and talk it out in person."

If there is one thing I hate, it is being scolded/lectured. Again, I cannot put enough emphasis behind "hate." If there is a second thing I hate, it is being called a coward. But that is for another time.

First, I explain myself much better online (although that doesn't really ring true in this scenario). Second, I addressed the problem (a lack of pictures on Facebook) at the site of the problem (Facebook). I wanted to make it a public issue as I knew I would have support from my fellow runners, and I did have their encouragement. So I made the post on a public forum to get opinions.

"I'm baffled that you would do this."

Do what? Question as to why one of the best parts of your program gets no love in exchange for the same handful of popular kids hundreds of times?

You've embarrassed the program (general summary of his entire speech)

A program full of people that I hate? Yeah, maybe. I just want people to acknowledge us. If they get butthurt over it, that is their problem. My intention was NOT to make people upset.

But, of course, offline I'm the good kid. I couldn't do anything but sit there, try not to break down, and nod my head. I finished with "Yes, sir. I understand. I was out of line and this kind of thing won't happen again." And when I walked out of the room I uncrossed my fingers. I didn't do anything wrong. I voiced my opinion about a public problem. Whether or not I dealt with it in the "best" way is another question.

Before some white knight makes a comment about how stupid I was or offers a better way I could've dealt with the situation, don't. Just don't. I've had enough of this butthurtedness and already talked it over with the coaches.

So for most of the day I was alternating between being pissed, apologetic, fearful, and depressed. Needless to say I did not have a good day.

Until I walked out to my car.

I'm not quite sure who vandalized my car, but judging from various other graffiti on it I have a good idea. , if this was you, you made my day infinitely better.

So I suppose my letter to Celestia would be this:

Yo Princess Celestia,

 

You can be a jerk to a large group of people, get in massive trouble for it, and still feel good at the end of the day because of your awesome friends. So don't plan to murder everyone you know, as some of them can still be of use someday.

 

A hooman in Equestria,

 

Kolth

- Kolth

P.S. As a distance runner, my heart goes out to the runners, spectators, and anyone else near the bombings at the Boston Marathon today. I heard that many runners refused to leave the course, and I can understand why - getting into Boston is a great feat, and I myself would risk my life to complete that race. Thoughts and prayers to all the families affected. <3