The Nolte Fam: Track: a boring sport? I think not.

I will be the first to admit that I'd always thought there couldn't be a sport more boring than track. Well, that all changed over two years ago when I said 'yes' to be a track runner's girlfriend! ha! Ever since, whenever there was a home meet or one not so far away, I tried to go to every one that I could. I've even sat in freezing cold and a light drizzle to watch. But the truth is, I wouldn't have traded it for anything in the world.

Going to all of Matt's meets really showed me that track was more than just watching people running around the track over and over again. It's actually very fun to watch. Although, there's the difference between the Cross Country meets and the Indoor & Outdoor meets--when watching Matt at Cross Country, that over 3 mile event, I'd walk with Matt's parents back and forth down hills keeping up with the course and waiting for them to run by. When watching Indoor and Outdoor meets--there were more events going on!

This is going to sound incredibly nerdy, but while I'm mentioning Indoor Track, it's my least favorite track season because you just can't good pictures of runners inside! haha!

I even overcame my fear of driving on 64 West and down Broad Street to get to the Arthur Ashe center and the Sportsbackers Stadium to watch Matt run. :o)

I never thought I would actually get as excited about watching track as I did. At Districts for Outdoor Track in May, Matt's dad asked me if watching Matt run made me nervous. I said, "no, not really." Well, I don't know what it was about that meet, but I got so nervous watching Matt run--my heart was racing and I was standing and bouncing on my toes--not sure why! ha. Afterwards I told his dad that I got really nervous that time and he said "Oh I know..I looked back and saw you and could tell!" haha...guess I can't hide my nerves very well!

But I must say, it has made me a very proud girlfriend, and of course FAN, to see all that Matt has accomplished through track. (I'm going to brag about him for a minute.) :) He broke 5 minutes in the mile which was a goal he had and I couldn't have been more excited for him. Then, something I learned at his track banquet last week, Matt and one other Senior received the Legacy Award. I had no idea what it was so I was curious to find out! Receiving the Legacy Award means that you participated in Cross Country, Indoor Track, and Outdoor Track--3 consecutive sports seasons during school--all 4 years of high school. Matt and Devin, the other recipient, were the first two, in 25 years, to receive the award! I just think that is so awesome!

Ok, now that I've included enough back ground information on track, I'm getting to the main point of this blog.

The Nike Outdoor National track meet was held in Greensboro this weekend. Every time Matt asked me if I would be able to go, I always replied, "I really don't think I'll be able to go. My parents don't want me to drive down there and neither of them can go." Well, the joke was on him because it was ALL a lie! I'd known for a little over a week that I was going the whole time. He was even asking his parents if I could go down with them, but I would say "No, that's okay. Don't worry about it."

Matt and I hung out the afternoon before he left and as he was leaving I said "well, I guess I'll see you when I see you...if you're not too tired when you get back to Richmond!" When I got back in the house, I said to Abby, "Little does he know, he'll see me sooner than he think!" So Mom and I got up and left at 6am Friday morning and drove down to Greensboro. As soon as we walked through the gate, Matt was standing there. Go figure. And I'm not sure how, but I managed to walk all the way up to him and stand beside him before he even saw me. He looked surprised to me, but I honestly couldn't tell if he was just trying to "act surprised." I've never been good at surprising him. After the meet I asked if he really knew I was coming and he said he didn't, because I had good lies. ;) All I could say was FINALLY. After two years I managed to pull through with a surprise!!

Although it was EXTREMELY hot outside, it was well worth the trip to NC. Matt's relay placed 4th in the Nation! I could not have been more excited. I was way more nervous than the meet about a month ago! haha. Anyway, here are some pictures I took at the meet. Enjoy :)