We all have that friend that every time they open their mouth, you have to shake your head and hold your tongue. If you are a track and field athlete, you have most likely heard some of these questions. Please, never ask these questions for your sake and for ours.

1. Did you die on that last 200 meters?

Did it look like I was alive? Yeah, I didn’t think so.

2. Should you eat that before a meet?

I’m already about to go voluntarily put myself through pain. Don’t question my dietary decisions.

3. Are you sore?

I am living my life in a perpetual state of soreness… so yes.

4. Can we race?

Give me spikes, blocks, a gun at the start and a solid 45 minutes to warm up… then yes. Otherwise, no.

5. Are you suppose to hit the bar?

Yes. We are trying to hit the bar as hard as we can. For style points. Cause that is what they count in this sport. Style points.

6. How hard is a 400-meter sprint?

Imagine you are running away from a bear in an all-out sprint for 30 seconds, and then you think you lose him. Just when you think you are safe, he shows up again, and you have to keep sprinting for another 30 seconds. It’s like that, but people are watching you.

7. Do you get bored running in circles?

I don’t know. Do you get bored asking stupid questions?

The moral of the story is that we absolutely love what we do, regardless of how much it hurts. So please, pretty, pretty please, save us these trouble of answering these questions. I think Google can tell you the answers.