XC Nationals!

 

Sometimes you just get tired of sitting. Perching is the new thing.

 

 

Rachael being smart and stuff. Biology majors.

 

Trouble-makers.

 

Coach drove for a total of 36 hours - 18 to Ohio and 18 back.

 

Pre-race dinner at Olive Garden.

 

Presenting the surprise scrapbooks to Coach and Mary. Sierra did a stellar job putting them together as well as conducting a covert mission to circulate the books around the bus for everyone to sign without either coach noticing. Skill.

 

Traveling to Ohio allowed me to see autumn for the first time ever. Like woah, the trees are red and orange.  0_0

 

Me with the best graduate assistant coach ever :)

 

The fabulous fire ladies - can't wait to see the things God is preparing us for next season!!!

What's Up Weekly Synopsis

 

 

 

My endeared friend's affirmation that I am indeed fabulous totally made my day.

Yes, I bought a 15 oz coffee cup from the bookstore - that's a grande in Starbucks lingo.

 

 

Care package from my family when I was suffering from the worst cold ever - stuffy nose, fatigue, cough, congestion - yes, I know you are dying to read all of the snotty details, but I will refrain. 

 

 

The ever intimidating mid-race face of death.

 

23:54. Disappointed.

 

My best friends - foam rollers and sphere-shaped objects that roll out all the knots in my quads, calves, glutes, back....

 

 

Snapshot of life as a College Freshman

 My day usually begins with my cell phone alarm going off around 6 AM. After that, it is pretty much a blur of cross country work-outs, consuming caffeine, studying, listening/trying not to doze off during class, and accepting my 20 new friend requests on Facebook (slight hyperbole). This post is a simple snapshot of my university life, sprinkled with subtle hints for those of you dying to send me care packages. :)

 

  

My dorm habitat - I am totally into aqua blues and lime greens, not to mention hot pink. The plan is to eventually install a fridge under the microwave.

 

What do I snack on? Green tea, coffee, popcorn, dark chocolate, unsalted almonds/peanuts and Clif bars. Not to mention brown sugar.
Before going to college I could not nap, I had too much energy or would start thinking about my marathon-long list of things to do. Not anymore. At about any time of day, especially after hard cross-country work-outs, I can slide into my bed and pass out for a 20 or 30 minute power nap.

 I chill with the ice tub about four times a week.

 Collegiate sports definitely take a toll on the body, but I don't plan on being sidelined for the season because I wasn't keeping up with injury prevention. My left calf has been driving me CRAZY, so I have been icing every day, elevating my legs when I read or before I go to bed, and I finally ordered a pair of hot pink compression socks for recovery. The last thing I want is shinsplints. Hopefully I can hitch a ride to Walmart soon so I can pick up a foam roller. If you don't know what I am talking about, a foam roller is a wonderful device that loosens up your muscles and rolls out all the knots in your leg muscles. Google it :)

Sometimes I bring the ice with me. Accessorizing like a runner girl. 

 

Now that I have rambled about my running life, time for the next most important element of my existence: eating. I have been devouring fruit, veggies, salad, soup, and wraps like there is no tomorrow, not to mention the amount of water, coffee, and tea that I chug drink everyday. The above pic is an example of what I eat for lunch. The salad bar also has either quinoa, barley, bulgur, or wild rice everyday that I like to mix with my soup or salads.

 

 

Proof that I don't wear running shorts and hoodies to every class. Only to some classes...

 

 I happen to live off of hot pink and light blue post-its notes - they are like pieces of my mind that I can post all over my planner and laptop so I don't forget any of the million events/essays/assignments/social gatherings that come my way. I just dislike the yellow and orange post-its....they come off as so demanding.

For those of you nerds/creepers wondering what classes & activities I am involved in, here is a quick run-down:

I am currently taking a 15 credit course load and was able to knock out 30 credits worth of general education requirements thanks to the AP classes that I slaved under in high school.

My classes include: Intro to Mass Communications, Liberal Arts Math I (the easiest math course available), Intro to Radio, Intro to Psychology, and my Honors course (Christ Culture & University).

I am currently working on an article for my university's newspaper profiling the stellar cross country team, and hope to become involved with the television program. My mornings and/or afternoons are pretty much devoted to running.

 

 

 

Legit member of the Fire family

I finally signed and sent my letter of intent to run for SouthEastern University, making me part of the Fire family. 
Before I signed, Coach called me on Tuesday night to talk about my past experience and to gauge how serious I was about running for the fire - I was absolutely stoked. Before we ended the conversation, he threw in an offer that jolted me like an unexpected pothole in the middle of a race. "I know that it isn't much, but I would like to offer you $500 on behalf of SEU for running on the cross-country team". My jaw almost slammed to the ground. After being deflated on Senior Awards night, I thought that the rewards that I reap from running would just involve endorphins.  I must of stuttered my appreciation in about a hundred different ways before hanging up.
After that phone call, I was on fire - I spent the better part of the evening transferring my logs onto the computer to send to Coach as well as my racing stats. Coach's biggest mistake was saying that I could email or text him at any time if I had questions - I have spent the past two days blowing up his phone and inbox.
I am extremely glad to have a sense of direction now - Coach told me to lay off tempo and interval running and to focus on increasing my mileage. Last week I ran 20.56 miles, so if I increase my mileage by 10% each week, I should be in good shape by the fall.
Summer = 11 weeks = increase mileage by 10% each week = 40 miles per week by the fall

In other news, I have added a College page to my prayer journal - where I am basically begging for miracles. My biggest request is to graduate from SEU without debt. My impending request is for my future roommate - I find out who she is tomorrow! I also am praying for my Coach, who is moving down to FL in July but has yet to find a house.
Another one of my prayers is that all of those around me - my Coaches, professors, peers, and teammates, will find in me a cause for joy.

The LORD will send rain at the proper time from his rich treasury in the heavens and will bless all the work you do. You will lend to many nations, but you will never need to borrow from them.      Deuteronomy 28:12

 

Wake up call

Tempo Run
.62 mile warm
3 miles, 24:49 (8:06) (8:33) (8:10)
.75 mile cool


After watching college cross-country races on Youtube, I have come to the conclusion that in order to place in the top ten for smaller meets (think 120 runners) you need to race in the 18 minute zone. To place between 10 and 30 you need to clock within the 19 minute zone. To place between 30 and 50 you need to be in the 20 minute zone. After that, you can fall anywhere between 60 and last place.
 At my current level of fitness, I would probably be bringing up the rear in a collegiate race. This is definitely a wake up call for me. If I can whittle down my time to 22 minutes by the fall, then I will be alright. If I eventually get to the 21 and 20 zone, then I can place higher. If I dig deep and find a miracle, I can break the 20 zone.

I have never been in a situation where I have allowed myself to go all out, to dig deep mentally and physically. I was a decent runner in highschool, placing between 10 and 20 something out of 70 in meets, but I just didn't dig. Was it the fact that the team was in a state of reconstruction? That my work-outs weren't long or challenging enough? I have a few theories, but I know that I enjoyed serving as the Captain for my team, watching the confidence of my teammates grow as they passed new milestones. I remember one Freshman runner who was estatic when she ran her first full mile without stopping. Another runner who had never imagined that she could run from our school to the beach and back, but found herself running the route on a weekly basis. When I become discouraged over my times, I remind myself why I run - to help others improve, to inspire others, to be a source of encouragement, and to experience a certain kind of freedom that only comes with running shorts and sneakers.

Running reminds me of my full dependence on God and causes me to thank Him for the mere ability to run. I am blessed to be have been born in a family that can afford things I take for granted such as running sneakers. I am blessed to be born in a society that doesn't forbid women from basic freedoms such as lacing up their sneakers and heading out the door. And although I may have questioned it at times, I have been blessed by going to a high school that doesn't have a windfall of funding or a well-oiled running program. Because of it, I avoid looking down on others and have learned the importance of humility in leadership.

Romans 12:7-8

"If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly."

Savor Summer

 As Summer approaches, I have to start waking up at the crack of dawn for my runs. Here are some reasons why:
8 AM-5 PM = Hades.
6 PM - all night long = Gnats.
4 AM - 7 AM = Calm.

9 AM - 10 AM
4 by 1 mile repeats with a 2:40 minute recovery in between
Splits: (7:06) (7:39) (7:54) (7:48)

The mantra "savor the pain, savor the fight" was running through my head during the last split when I thought I was going to pass out from heat stroke. This pain-embracing motto reminds me of the training method I need in order to compete. There will always be a fight between my mind and my body when I push out of my comfort zone. My body sometimes cries and screams for me to stop while my inner being tells to to keep going, to go faster, to take down one more mile. You can only listen to your body so much when you train competitively - listen too much and you will not see improvement.
However, it also holds true that if you ignore your body, you will eventually crash and burn. There is a difference between sore, excusable pain and sharp, injury-induced pain. It just takes time and experience to tell the difference.
I also have to keep in mind that I am young - I am able to accomplish things that will be genetically more difficult for me to achieve when I am older. It is best to savor the rest of my todays so that in the future I will be stronger from my yesterdays.

As summer approaches with the hope of college in the distance, I have an opportunity to break my self-inflicted barriers - the excuses that keep me from giving my all in everything that I do.
I am not too tall/short/skinny/fat to surpass my goals. Sometimes I pass runs because it is too hot/windy/humid. A little planning can fix that. I simply need to destroy the word "too" and my excuses crumble to the ground like dust.

The source of this profound post can be traced to the fact that:

1. I earned my drivers license today, and am feeling more responsbile/independent.
2. SEU is starting a cross-country team in the fall, and I have contacted the athletic director and sent the athletic eligibility form, making me more critical of my times and excited about the prospect of competitively running in college.

The work-out doesn't end with the run - injury prevention, core conditioning, and strength sculpting sessions will keep you on the road longer.

Districts

 NOT a good end to my senior cross-country season. Nope. No way. My time went up by three minutes. That is huge. The worst part was probably watching the top fifteen girls receive their ribbons as their coaches and team members bursted with cheers and applause . I thought that God was going to strike me down with lightning because of the vast amount of envy that consumed me.  I cooled down on the bus by unintentionally taking a nap and dreaming about the day that I complete an Ironwoman and qualify for the Ironman race in Hawaii.  

 

Cold front, Championships, FAU

South Florida has the singular national privelege of calling a drop to 60 degrees Fahrenheit a cold front. The 20 to 30 degree drop from summer temperatures is a welcome relief, allowing us to cast our worn shorts and tank-tops and sundresses aside. We can finally delve into our full fashionable potential, layering sweaters, pulling on long socks, and slipping on fur-lined boots. It is an undeniable fact of human nature that we dress better and look more classy when fall and winter arrive. Gone is the hair-frizzing humidity, energy-draining heat, and sticky sweat.

The weather during cross-country county championships was beautiful, with breezes and temps in the low 70s. This was a huge help in cutting down my time, and I set a new PR for my senior season, 24:30. Monday's long tempo run and Tuesday's hard speedwork also helped cut-down my time on Thursday.

When I came home from championships I found out that FAU accepted my application! So I've got my safe school down, now it's time to finish up my applications for my ideal universities. My dad wants me to go to Southeastern, a private Christian university with a reasonable price tag, great food, and a gorgeous campus. I am personally infatuated with Columbia College in Chicago, which is where two of my Tias live. My family says that I will change my mind after a week of their winter - I am a sun-basking South Floridian chick after all. (:

Strength, Sweat, Swag

Racing over rolling hills and mud, the three words running through my mind during the entire Westminster Invitational were "strength, sweat, swag". I have no idea where the word "swag" came from, but it kept thoughts of cramping  off of my mind. The pouring rain and wind made the hilly course extremely challenging, causing everyone on the team to run more cautiously. I went from a 25:13 on Tuesday (my fastest time so far for this season) to a 25:26.  I was  inspired during my race by a slogan imprinted on the shirts they were selling at the meet  - "Too tough 4 time-outs". My repeated alliteration as well as the shirts' slogan kept me from stopping during the race.

After a wet 45 minute bus ride back to the school, during which rain continually dripped down from the roof, my mom picked Kristina and I up. Promptly upon arriving home I devoured a bowl of rice and red beans before taking a hot shower. Once I was clean and dry, I happily curled underneath my sheets and drifted into a well-earned nap.

I resurfaced back to consciouness after Kristina maniacally threw a pillow at my face, asking me if I wanted to accompany her, her friend Tina, and Erin to the Farmer's Market. Muttering some kind of affirmative answer, I slipped on my shoes and  accompanied the trio of freshies. It was during this walk to the Farmer's Market that I dubbed a new term - "swambling". A combination of "ambling" and "swag", it describes the way that many teenagers move from point A to point B. This kind of walking is reinforced by the shoes of the "swambler", which are usually  slides worn with socks, untied converse with the laces tucked into the shoe, or flip flops. (I just checked the dictionary to make sure that my new word isn't some kind of sick allusion or curse word.)