Gasping for breath I bent over, my hands on my knees, perspiration drenching my t-shirt.
"Nice run. The girls had to leg it out to beat you." Michelle said.
"Thanks." I replied between breaths.
I'm in my first year of teaching at Owens High School, my first job since graduating college. It's a small school in rural Pennsylvania, and Michelle has been a mentor to me. She's been teaching health and physical education, in addition to coaching girls' track, for almost 20 years.
I really wanted to become involved in student life. However, I was a little skeptical when she asked me if I would be her assistant coach when she introduced herself during my first week of teaching. She looks the part of a track coach -- fit and well-defined. On the other hand, I am a bit skinny and gawky with no experience playing sports. I am the stereotypical math teacher, the role I had been hired for, but I gladly accepted her offer.
Now in the final week of the season, only the few girls who qualified for state championships are continuing to work out at this point. I was running with them to help keep their pace as Michelle coached. Mercifully, we were at the end of practice and the girls were leaving for the day.
"I thank you for helping me this season. I was in a bind when my assistant left last year. You've been a great help." Michelle said as we walked along.