I Miss My Team

My team. My teammates. My people.

Iowa State University Track and Field teammates, Then. 2002-2006

My team saw the best of me. The worked so hard, accomplished big dreams part of me. The leader by actions part of me. The motivated, determined me. The healthy and strong me. They saw the shinny gold me.

My team celebrated with me. They jumped and danced and squealed because of me. Just for me. Alongside me. We hugged, high-fived and scarfed down an extra large victory Blizzard together. Frequently.

My team commiserated with me. They cried and apologized because of me. Just for me. Alongside me. We hugged. We ugly-cried. We binged watched How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. Frequently.

My team saw the worst of me. The couldn’t keep up, failing part of me. The excuse making, finger pointing, complaining part of me. The depressed, discouraged me. The broken and weak me. They saw the darkest shadows of me.

My team saw every part of me. Even the parts very few others have ever seen. My team, my teammates, my people; they never walked away.

My team never gave up on me. They pulled me up. Pushed me forward. Even when I preferred sitting down.

My team let me be courageous. I was free to dream. Free to try. Free to fall and do it all over again.

My team kept me accountable. Kept me humble. Kept me driven to something bigger than myself.

I miss my team.

No one knows the me that my team knows. No one understands my why like my team. No one gets all I’ve been through to get to where I am today. No one, but my team.

ISU Teammates. Since then.

For all those years, I did all I could for the betterment of the team. For a united goal. For a prize awarded to “us.” Through it all; the elation and desperation, the fatigue and failure, the praise and adoration, my team was working for me. Helping me. Loving me. Shaping me.

I miss my team.

I miss my teammates.

I miss my people.

But I am forever thankful they let me be me. Forever thankful they are MY team. Always.

Why was your team so special to you?

Play Now. Play YOU!

XO, Coach D

Please send some love to your former teammates and share this with them.