Finally, after weeks and weeks of early morning practices at the U of I Armory, it's outdoor track season!

Outdoor season is the biggest reason I love track.

The track team I am on, the girls sprinting team, is most likely the "teamliest" one I'm on of the three sports I play each year.

It might be because there's a special bond among the sprinters, or maybe it's because we're a group that's made of the right mix of people.

At any rate, track is the only team I'm on where there are no cliques, bad-mouthing, selfishness, or friendships that obviously close out everyone else.

This is what makes running together out in the nice weather every afternoon enjoyable.

The fact that the track team is coed makes it feel like the girls team is even closer. At practice, the girls usually run together to Urbana High School's outdoor track and meet up with the guys there, sharing things and just having a good time along the way.

But, one thing that just plain sucks about track is when the day of the meet it is absolutely freezing. Being outside for four hours where you can see your breath and there's a slight drizzle is not fun. But you can always try to make the best of it.

When the weather's crappy at a meet, the first thing I'd turn to is cuddling up with my teammates, specifically ones who brought blankets. Someone always brings Panera bagels too, so we usually end up under a pile of blankets, coats, or bodies, nibbling Cinnamon Crunch until our race.

Then there are the times when it's SO hot outside.

I remember jumping in the huge fountain by the Alumni Center last year with some of the girls to cool off. It relieved our heat stroke, but the water smelled like chemicals!

All this fun converts itself to hard work in the end. Sure there are days when I can't help but slack off. Yet I always feel so proud of myself when I know I'm working hard, and making myself better.