Dear Carol,
I am in the 8th grade and I want to sign up for track! I am afraid that I am not fast enough, though. I am not slow but I don't want to be on the track team if I am not going to win any races. So could you please email me back and tell me what you think I should do? Or could you please give me some tips on how to make myself faster?

Dear Claire,
DESIRE, STRENGTH, COURAGE, SPIRIT, and DETERMINATION! Let these values be your guiding light. Join the team, try your hardest, believe in yourself and make that first track team experience an optimistic one.

You have expressed your desire, so take the first step. Sign up, go to practice, do your best. If getting faster is your goal, it will happen. Please don't fret now, about winning. Your rewards will come from being on the team regardless of your place at the finish line, that is, if, you embrace a positive attitude and giving it a go is the only way that you will find out if being on a team is for you!

There are many levels of winning, but to be sure, your coach will give you tips on getting faster. AND racing, itself, will make you faster.

Just follow your dream. It's the right thing to do.

If you want to see some of our 'getting faster' tips visit our advice/training section
Training Page
and here are a couple of pages about being on a team which might be helpful to you.
Why Team?
Ten Teamwork Ideas

I hope to hear from you later this year, with a little note about all the wonderful things you are learning about being 'part of a team' and about how much fun you are having. Good luck.

Feel free to email the kid's editor at rwedit@rodale.com.