we had two.we had the BEST high school cross country team in the public high school leagues. came in 2nd at state every year behind the private catholic school that recruited all across the state of california, you know, Jesuit? Because we had the best coach. He knew what to do because like, he was a regular ultramarathoner. Did ironman. All that shit. We had steep hills to race on. English teacher saw Coach J at a local fun run, and I will not deny she was a good runner (came first in her age group, men and women. I ran fun runs from age 10-17 and it’s a small enough town everyone knows everyone. Like i was out on my bike today and ran into a woman i haven’t seen in 20 years, she literally moved into town last week and was walking her dog. she thought everyone she knew had left town), English Teacher got a crush, and wangled her way into being the girls’ coach at the high school the next year.
First year, i’m told they behaved. Would run with the students unless they were doing fartleks, because instead of fartleks the team tradition was to play tag in the park for an hour and then do hill charges.
Second year, (my first year) they would send the kids off on runs and sneak into the locker room to fuck. The high school locker rooms. That were unlocked because cross country, football, soccer, several clubs, etc. would have practice. They got caught several times and were fired not just from the coaching jobs but from their teaching jobs for conduct unbecoming (if you’re going to cheat, do it where students won’t catch you. also, one of the people who caught them on campus was his daughter. in my grade. we did music and drama together and were in the same elementary class like 4 times so like, we’re still friends even though we haven’t seen each other in forever. so like, the entire team was out for blood).
Next year we got new coaches. Men’s coach taught physics, women’s coach taught PE. Special varsity coach was hired, I’m not sure we ever learned his name. We just called him Mysterio (he was into comics and loved it). Also one of the English teachers would come down and set up a water table for us (and was absolutely obsessed with sunscreen and other sun protection. i think her sister had just gotten a melanoma so i get it. well, i get it now. i’m that obsessed now about hats as sun pro). On hot, sunny days we would take our shirts off and try and fail to tan as we ran, which would upset the English teacher and cause her to go back to her room but like, it’s our workout leave us alone. The physics teacher would follow her up and the PE teacher would go back to her office and monitor the locker room for fucking (i wonder why they needed someone for that) and Mysterio would hang out by the track.
Three godsdamned weeks was all it took for the physics teacher and the English teacher to start. So like, my experience is English teachers are town bicycles. I’m sure not every one is, but like shooting 2 for 2 here for the ones i got to know.
Actually i know one more, but i have not inquired as to her wheeled status. she’s shy about that.