November 23rd, 3014

Yesterday marked the final race of my junior year cross country season. The conditions were terrible but our team remained tough and didn't let the cold weather get into our heads. It rained yesterday morning and made a lot of the course slick ice. Before we started we got into a huddle and talked. Hearing everyone say that this race is what we've been working for all year and telling each other how much one another meant to each other made me even more excited to run, and maybe even a little teary eyed. Getting up to the hill was a very hard task because there was still a lot of snow that hadn't been cleared away. After that the whole back hill of the course was just ice and mud. After about the first half mile I had a lot of ground to cover to get to where I had to be. After two miles I caught up to my teammates and worked my way to the finish line from there. We run a 6K course, which I covered in 24:41. I came in 55th this year and fourth on my team. I improved my place by 28 spots from last year so I was very proud to end on a good note. Two weeks of being a bum until training begins for indoor! Gotta love being a runner.

Below are pictures of the team and me finishing the race

Atlantic Regionals Eve

November 21st, 2014

Today is the final day before our big race! The team traveled to the course today for practice and we got to run the course and see how it was. Coach plowed the course very well today and got a lot of the snow off of the path but there still is some snow and ice along the way. Getting to run the course beforehand is always beneficial because it gets me ready to race on the course the following morning. After practice I had the team over my apartment for a spaghetti dinner and then we had a meeting in BSB with Pap. Today really got me prepared for tomorrow because it got me out of the school atmosphere and into race mode. Cant wait for tomorrow! Friends, family and painted up teammates will all be there to cheer us on.

        One day until the Division II Atlantic Regional Race at Cooper's Lake!!!!!

Below are pictures of the course and my roommate Janine and I after our run on the course.

Icy Run

November 20th, 2014

Today we ran an easy four miles around town together as a team. Because there are only seven of us still in season for cross country, our group was very small. We decided to run  a loop in town that we all call 'Boys'. This loop goes all the way down Main Street towards Sheetz and passes up the elementary school on the right side of the road. We turn into a neighborhood and run behind Giant Eagle and make our way back to Main Street for the home stretch mile back to campus. During the run we had to avoid a lot of icy sidewalks which was a pain. Our coach told us that he went to work on the course today at Cooper's Lake and they couldn't shovel anything because of the ice. Saturday's race will for sure be an interesting one.

               Two days until the Division II Atlantic Regional Race at Cooper's Lake!!!!!

                         My teammate Kaylee who wore a face mask for our cold run today

2 Mile Tempo Run

November 18th, 2014

Today we had our last workout of the season. Because it was so cold and snowy outside, the girls decided to do the workout on the indoor track. The workout was a 3,200 meter tempo run with 5 200 meter striders at the end. Running on the indoor track today got me in the mind set to begin indoor track in just a few short weeks. I'm still hoping that it clears up for Saturday and is a bit warmer for us to run our last race of the year.

Four days until the Division II Atlantic Regional Race at Cooper's Lake Campground!!!!!!

First Snowy Day

November 17, 2014

Today I decided to take the day off to relax after my long run and get some school work done. Although Ill be running in the snowy weather soon enough, it was nice to not have to run in it today. The snow was very wet and all over the place. I'm glad that I missed this day of running and putting up with sidewalks and the sides of roads covered in snow and ice. I'm beginning to get excited for our race on Saturday and am hoping that the weather clears up by then so we don't have to run in snowy, wet grass. Even if we have to I know it will be a fun last race.

Five days until the Division II Atlantic Regional Race at Cooper's Lake Campground!!!!!!



Pictures I took today as I walked to class and went to the grocery store

Long Run with Jenny

November 16, 2014

Today was the first day of the last week of the cross country season. In just six short days, the top seven people form every team in our region will travel to Cooper's Lake in Slippery Rock, Pa to compete in the Division II Atlantic Region race. At this race, the top three teams will travel to Nationals! We hope to close in on the fourth spot.

Today's run was 80% of your typical long run. Jenny, one of my teammates, joined me in running 8 miles. This took us just over an hour, as we ran a pretty consistent pace. We started at the Morrow Field House on campus and ran a loop familiar to most runners on the team, Heinz. We ran on alot of backroads in town and even saw some cows and horses on farms. Our run began at 11am and it was just below 40 degrees so we were semi bundled up to endure the cold temperature. We talked alot during the run about school, running and other topics. Overall this was a very good run that got us both ready for the week of light training to come.

Six days until the Division II Atlantic Regional Race at Cooper's Lake Campground!!!!!!