I ran the 440 for JV track.

[LuckyCharms]

Every once in awhile, the coach would make us train with the varsity guys. To train for the 440, the varsity coach would make you run 660's.

During one session, it was brutally hot, and we were running 660's. Everyone would start fading in the last 220, that is where the yelling started.

PICK UP YOUR KNEES AND BOUNCE! DON'T STOP...PICK UP YOUR KNEES AND BOUNCE!

I picked up my knees and bounced and was running and sucking wind, bouncing along, when a huge mutant bug plastered itself to the back of my throat. After the initial shock, I tried to spit it out. Hacckkkkk hackkkk. Ptooo ptoooo! It was stuck in my throat.

So I tried to swallow it. it was still stuck there.BUGGGHHH IN THROAT BUGHHHH.

Pick up your knees and bounce!

So I bounced over to the skanky drinking fountain, drank some water, and puked it out.

I still have nightmares about this.

[Ohiogal]

1. I'm glad it came back out

and you didn’t end up swallowing it, EW!

Yes that’s nightmare material, all right.

[LuckyCharms]

2. The thing was...

That coach didn't care.

At all.

[TexasTowelie]

3. I suspect that he was the one laughing. nt

[Hoyt]

4. One milestone of growing up is when you accept coaches are full of chit.

How many times did some coach try to spur you on by saying this is the most important moment of your life? Coaches are/were full of it.

[empedocles]

7. Stupid stuff like duckwalks

[LuckyCharms]

10. I just remembered something else after seeing your comment...

Junior High. Probably 8th grade. Not a coach, but a gym teacher.

One time, he PADDLED every boy in the class (all boys gym class at that point).

No reason, except that we needed "toughening up".

His paddle was home made, and he had drilled holes in it. This allowed for less air resistance and a harder paddle. That shit hurt. Bad. He got a real laugh over it.

Sadistic prick.

Can you imagine that stuff flying today?

[SWBTATTReg]

5. Can't help but laugh, thanks for the laughter. I'm out of high school about 40 years or so...

and I'm still running in the 440! Another few years and I'll finally reach the end! Take care!

[LuckyCharms]

6. Keep up the good work!

[Kali]

8. so much good stuff happened before cell phones

[LuckyCharms]

9. If cell phones did indeed exist way back then...

rest assured that I would have found a way to inhale mine while picking my knees up and bouncing.