Being a student-athlete is hard work. I wake up at 7 am to go to my 8 am workout on Monday's, Wednesday's, and Friday's, which is followed by one or two classes in the morning. It doesn't even end there, I then have a couple-hour afternoon practice and then an evening class to finish out the day. However, I don't really mind. It keeps me busy, organized, and helps with my time management.

Whenever I tell people that I can't hang out in the afternoon because I have practice, I get variations on the same question: "What sport do you play?" I then answer with "Track". The conversation moves on, they look me up and down and ask me which events I run. I often have to withhold rolling my eyes at this. It seems like such a silly question to me.

To give some context, I am 5'8" with a muscular build and killer calves and a little overweight. Do I LOOK like I run?? Hell no! I look at the person and I proudly admit that I am a thrower.

Throwing is probably one of the most underrated sports in history.

For anyone that doesn't know, track has a second component that usually takes place in the field; hence, Track and FIELD. I know. Who would have guessed? These events range from jumping to pole-vaulting to throwing. The throws consist of 5 different events, which vary depending on the season: shot put, weight throw, discus, hammer throw, and javelin. These events are measured by a distance over 3-6 attempts, depending on the type of meet.

I may be a little bit biased but in my opinion, but throws are the best events out there. Nothing compares to the rush of adrenaline, the power you feel holding the implement in your hand, the rush you get when you release it, and the mix of fear and excitement when you turn back to watch it hit the ground. There is nothing more satisfying than going out to the field after a long day and releasing all your stress and frustrations in your throws. The field is a place we go to forget about the struggles of the day and simply just be. The field is more than just a plain of grass with some white lines on it. The field is more than an empty sector with some dents and holes in it. The field is a home.

One of the hardest things about being a thrower is probably repetition. There is so much precision and technique that goes into every throw. You constantly have to focus on the technique, but it can be frustrating when you fail to make progress. You practice over and over again, throwing the implement about ten times with no sign of improvement. You think you're fixing an issue when in reality you might actually be creating a different one. Sometimes, the technique is perfect, but you're just not strong enough to make it go further. In that case, it's time to hit the weight room. Again. No matter where you go, it seems like there will always be people bigger and stronger than you. The only way to combat this is to practice and get stronger every day, for yourself and for your team.

It's not only about repetition, but also when you're in the circle or the runway, you have to think about seventeen things at the same time while also clearing your head. "More speed, keep your elbows up, open up your chest, pop your hips, make sure you get a good flick, don't be flat-footed, use your other arm, start low, finish high, faster, harder, higher! Wait. I'm thinking too much. Now I'm thinking about how much I'm thinking. Oh no, I have to throw. Wait. How do I do this again??" I don't know about other people, but that's what goes through my head EVERY SINGLE TIME I have to throw. It's honestly exhausting.

On top of all this, most of our hard work goes unnoticed. In high school, the field was hidden away behind the bleachers of the track. We had around three people at most that came to watch us and one of them was usually my dad. In college, the throwing field is completely separate from the track. In fact, it's like a five-minute drive in the opposite direction, hidden away behind some soccer fields. Can you get any more separated?

Although it's often a silent struggle, I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. Throwing is my passion and one of my favorite pastimes.

So, for anyone that asks: Yes, I do track, but no, I don't run. Why run when you can throw?