Chapter 25

49 3 0
                                    

Right now I am deeply regretting my decision to let Erik coach me. My lungs are on fire and my thighs feel like jelly. I'm on the verge of collapsing; Erik is seriously pushing my limits here.

When we started my training yesterday, I wasn't expecting full on, no mercy, no fooling around Coach Carson. Yes, I actually have to call him Coach Carson. Outside the gym it's me and Erik doing whatever. Once we step inside the walls of the gym though, he's all business. He even calls me Collins when he talks to me. We are on a last name basis only inside these walls and it's annoying. I tried goofing off with him once, and he made me do a wall sit for a full minute.

Basically, Coach Carson sucks.

He claims that he's been going easy on me but I beg to differ. After the workout yesterday, I went home and took an ice bath in attempt to sooth my sore body.

Erik, I mean, Coach Carson, had me run suicides in under 40 seconds and I couldn't stop until I made it in 40 seconds or less. Then he had me do 30 mountain climbers, which are not fun at all. There were multiple other things he had me do that all resulted in me being extremely sore. I could barely move afterwards.

Today is no better.

"Collins, you have 30 seconds. You can do it this time. Get ready."

I drag myself to position on the baseline and get in a running stance.

"Go!", he shouts.

Pushing myself off, I hurry to the first line. I bend down to touch it quickly and hurry back to the baseline and then touch that line before heading to the half court line.

"You got this Collins!", he yells in encouragement.

I focus on my breathing and push my legs harder.

In, two, three, four.

Out, two, three, four.

I repeat this breathing pattern to keep myself from collapsing onto the wooden court floor in exhaustion.

When I reach the baseline again I bend down, tap it, and quickly turn back around and head for the third line.

As I reach the third line, he hollers out, "Nineteen seconds, Collins! Come on, push harder!"

Sprinting back from the third line, I push myself a little harder, making my breaths come quicker.

"Fourteen seconds!", he yells as I touch the baseline.

Pumping my legs even harder, I run hard to the opposite end of the court. My breathing is becoming ragged and my chest is starting to hurt, but I push through the pain and run faster.

I reach the opposite end and tag the baseline as Coach Carson shouts, "Eight seconds! Give it all you got, Collins! Move those legs!"

Gathering my last bit of remaining strength, I push my legs to go faster and try to take deeper breaths. My lungs are burning. I run with everything I have left. My feet are pounding against the court floor and my heart against my chest.

Just as I fly across the baseline he yells, "Time!"

Finally, by the fourth try, I did it. No more suicides for today. Hallelujah! I collapse onto the floor and raise my arms above my head to open up my lungs. Erik's face comes into view above me with an amused look on his face.

"Already tired? We haven't even got started yet."

I groan in response. Haven't even started yet? We've been here for an hour!

"Get up and get yourself some water then we will move into arm exercises," he commands.

Dragging myself to my feet, I head over to the bench and grab my water, taking small sips. I notice Erik has his back turned as he sets stuff up for the next portion of today's training. Maybe I could run and hide in my truck. Honestly, giving up and leaving sounds like a great idea. Before I can bolt out of the gym though, he turns back around.

Begin AgainWhere stories live. Discover now