My best bet for collegiate sports is cross-country running, if any, though wrestling is the next choice in my book. Every single time I do XC lifting sessions with the team, my coach tells me that light and quick with the weights is the way to go. Why not take the advice of my coach, right? He should know what he is talking about after all! The thing about his advice though is that it is followed by two explanations and one is logical, but the other isn’t (not to me at least). First, he says that too much BIG muscle will slow me down on the trail and that, as a female, you don’t want to be all bulked up because it’s terribly unattractive and I won’t enjoy the way my body looks. At this point, I am thoroughly confused: coach, aren’t you supposed to be giving me running advice, not reflections on my perceived happiness? There are very few people I take THAT advice from, and he is not one of them. The thing is though, he is right with his first point. Being immature as I am when it comes to proving people wrong, I want to bulk up and look how I want to, but still run. Overcoming the slow aspect would prove even more that the “big girls” can run, whether its fat weight (last season) or muscle weight (this upcoming season). Though, I do not think I will be able to, though. This summer’s training will be primarily comprised of two regimens: intense running and intense yoga practices. Both with lead me down only one path: lean and long muscle, no bulk. While I would be happy with this, I still want to continue on in my life to be a force to be reckoned with on the mat and in the weight room, so this my not be too conducive to those dreams. Hopefully, regardless of the form my muscle comes to me in, it is helpful to both directions my athleticism takes me.