Summer comes and goes, and before you know it, it's the middle of August. You've been running all summer (or occasionally), and you have been eating really healthy (about one night out of the week), and you're ready to get back on campus and let the fun begin!! Once you pack up the car, drive out, and get on campus, you pass the stadium, and all of a sudden, a rush of uneasiness comes upon you..

Welcome to the 8 Stages of Pre Season....

1. You face reality that you are not in shape

It's August 10th, and pre season starts in a week. You should be outside working to improve your mile time. Or even better, practicing the dreaded beep test... But of course, you aren't!! Instead, you're sitting inside on this beautiful August day, eating a whole box of colby jack Cheez-Its, watching re-runs of Grey's Anatomy in your sweats. You think this painful thought of practices would get you off the couch, but instead, it actually does the opposite.

2. Excitement about seeing everyone hits you

Yeah, okay, this is going to suck.. But just think!!! You get to see all of your best friends and meet all the incoming freshman. And come on, there isn't a better feeling that knowing you get to see your soulmates in less than a week. You get excited and determined that you might just get "skinny" and get "tan."

3. Fear and tears begin to generate

Fitness test. Cone sprints. Mile. Suicides. Push ups. Beep test. Oh my!! How are you possibly gonna survive the coming weeks? Vomit starts to slide up your throat.

4. Extreme hunger and savage eating routines

Your plan that you had in your head to loose weight and eat healthy is shot. You just finished your second practice of the day, and your stomach is eating itself. You walk into the dining hall, and you loose it. One of everything please!! (Plus dessert and fries, but make sure coach doesn't see!!)

5. Exhaustion and laziness in the most terrible way

After dinner, your night is over. Straight to your bed, and you even consider skipping a shower, cause hey, you're just gonna get sweaty tomorrow???

6. Pain EVERYWHERE

Everything hurts. Ice baths are your friend, and you look forward to tomorrows nap after practice. Hearing the alarm on your phone go off tomorrow morning is your worst nightmare.

7. Determination

After the pain of pre season starts to come to an end, you start to feel a little better about yourself. Yeah you went through a few weeks of hunger, terrible sleep, terrible tan lines, and fear of dying, but you made it!! If you made it this far, you can make it through the rest of the season!

8. Happiness and love

You start to realize you love your family, and that nothing is better than suffering and working hard with these girls. Pre season has come to an end, and you're all ready for an amazing season and amazing memories.

With love for all my college athletes getting ready for the best time of the year to come around!!