Gym Class Blues

My precious little Kate hates gym class.  Unfortunately, I can relate all too well.  However, my heart is broken because I didn't hate gym until later in my school career.  She is in first grade.  Here is what she tells me every day she has gym, "Why is it a 'special'?  There isn't anything special about it."  She gets so stressed out the night before because she is thinking about what she should wear, why doesn't the teacher smile, and what if we have to do situps.  She thinks her teacher doesn't smile because she isn't married.  She thinks her teacher is making fun of her because she is always last.  She is already thinking about field day, worried she will make her team lose.  The thing I don't get is that she gets Outstandings on her grade card for gym.  So....this tells me that Kate is working very, very hard to try and please her teacher.  Bless her heart!  What should I do?  There are only like 4-5 more gym classes I am guessing for the remainder of the year.  Should I call the teacher?  How should I best encourage Kate?  It is so sad and awful to see my precious seven year old suffering because of gym.  I have this battle in my heart and mind between wanting to protect her, keep her safe, coddle her and then helping her to realize life just plain out stinks sometimes, no one can make you feel lousy unless you let them, this is character development, ....    Please feel free to offer your own thoughts, ideas, and advice.  Thanks!

*Update:  I ended up calling the gym teacher.  I was praying my words would come out right.  I told her how nervous Kate was for gym because she wants to please and perform well for the teacher.  She had no idea Kate was so nervous and felt bad.  I gently asked her if she could please encourage Kate today during class and she said she would do so.  She said she gets so focused on correcting those who are goofing off and never noticed Kate to not be performing well.  Anyhow, I am glad I called her and think we can survive just a few more gym classes. 

**Update #2:  As soon as Kate got home from school she ran right to me and threw her arms around me in the biggest hug I have received from her in a long time.  She just kept saying, "Thank you Mommy!  Thank you Mommy!"  I wasn't sure what exactly I had done (I was still in cheesecake factory heaven!) so I asked her.  She said her gym teacher told her she was doing a fantastic job in gym class and then asked her to be the speical assistant for the day.  YEAH!!  She told me I was her hero!