I’m training for soccer. To hopefully make it on the girls JV team for my sophomore year of high school.

Now let’s keep in mind I haven’t touched a soccer ball since I was like 7.

That’s- wait how old am I? Right. 15.- like 8 years!

I’ve loved the sport for a while now and I’ve just been content with the feeling that because I stopped playing peewee park district footie when I was in second grade I would never be able to play it now, since all of the girls that are trying out and that made the frosh team last year have been playing since they were INFANTS. Okay not really, but you get my point.

But ever since Olympic soccer started and I got to watch the true skill, aggression and strength of girls like Abby Wambach, Hope Solo, Christie Rampone, and my favorite, Megan Rapinoe I began getting stupidly and hopelessly inspired. I mean I don’t wanna be an Olympic athlete (even that would be dumb awesome), I just wanna be strong and powerful and as badass as them.

Damn you Olympics for inspiring me outrageously for shit that will never happen. Damn you Megan Rapinoe, you amazing BA girl who gave me a complete rush of excitement with the first goal I saw of the Olympics. Damn you Hope Solo for having such an amazing body :(

So, with all Olympic talk aside, here’s what I’m doing it for. ONE! The team feeling- you know. Just friends. Friends are cool. Feeling apart of something is amazing. TWO! Extra curricular activity. Need some’a those for college. THREE! Fitness of course! I have no idea why I had to choose F’ING soccer- the most demanding sport of all. I’ll need to train for endurance, strength, speed, flexibility, ball skills (HAHAHAHAH okay I’ll stop being immature).

It’s everything I’m gonna need to get fit and healthy and slim and toned. Cardio. Weight training. Conditioning. Focus. And most imporantly, drive. A passion to do something about this cloud of insecurity and lack of confidence that constantly engulfs me.

When I say “I can do this” I normally don’t doubt myself. But I’m not gonna lie- I do now. It’s tough, so tough. Running 5-7 miles in a soccer match and going up against girls that have been doing this their whole lives. Facing one of my worst fears because it seems like everyfreakingperson talks about this at tryouts- throwing up. I hate it so much. But I’m gonna train my butt off so I don’t HAVE to throw my head in a trash can and heave up yesterday’s lunch (how’s that for a pleasant image?).

I get so much anxiety about these kind of things, like performing in front of people who are FAR more experienced than me. It’s gonna take a whole lot of walks to the soccer field at my local elementary school, a whole lot of miles on the treadmill and on the road, a whole lot of blood, sweat and tears.

And even if I don’t make the team I’ll come out fit and healthy with good endurance and muscle strength. Which is what I originally wanted to do.

It’s like that saying that’s totally astronomically incorrect.. “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.”

I’m trying hard not to make a cheesy NASA or Apollo joke right now. Trust me it’s hard.

TO THE MOON, ROBIN!

xo, Kat. :)